On the morning at 0740 hrs 2nd plt [under the operational control of HQ 1-6] was given the mission to conduct combat sweeps in the area of abandoned airfied at (BT 526569).

By 0815 2nd plt was patrolling to the southwest of FSB along the road # 8 (BT 543587).

At 0830 LRRP Team met 2nd plt at LZ Bush at BT529585. 2nd plt was give the command to have some rest.

While 2nd plt was conducting combat sweeps the 1st plt took responsibility of staff, guard and other duties at FSB Picarelli.

At 1410 hours LRRP Detachment 1 spotted VC camp at BT527582. A few minutes later this detachment detonated an unknown type booby trap; 3 US KHA. At 1445 hours KHAs were dusted off at BT 526581

At 1500 hours the S3, 1-6 Inf, reported that soldiers from 2nd plt cleared the area of VC camp and destroyed it.

At 1515 2nd plt moved forward toward BT 526569 (abandoned airfield) with LRRP Team Detachment # 2 in the lead. On 1645 the combined unit reached the airfield and found 14 unknown type booby traps across the main runaway at airfield. All where removed and desactivated.

At 1745 2nd plt was released from operation and was air-lifted to FSB Picarelli for short R & R

After the arrival of 2nd plt the 1st plt [under the operational control of HQ 1-6] was given the mission to continue combat sweeps in the area of abandoned airfied at (BT 526569) and set up there Night Defense Perimeter and secure the main runaway from enemy attack.

At 2000 LRRP Team met 1st plt at LZ at BT529585 and led it toward airfield.

At 2110 PVT Kovach (LRRP Team) spotted an enemy squad sized unit moving from place where VC camp was found earlier. The next few mintues 1st plt started to receive small arms fire from several enemy locations around the VC camp. 1st plt returned automatic fire and used some frags. By 2130 hrs, firing stopped resulting in 2 US KHA. Dust off was impossible because of the darkness. SSG Popov (1st plt CO) decided to split the platoon in two squads and left one squad with bodies to wait for the morning dust off and one squad to continue the mission.

It should be noted that this action resulted in 2 VC KIA, 1 AK-47 and 1 Japan Arisaka rifle captured. Documents taken from the body of an black dressed VC identified the attacking forces as elements of the 72nd Local Battalion of VC.

28 July 1968

On 0130 when 2nd squad of 1st plt was set up night defensive perimeter at aifield at BT 526569 it came under heavy mortart fire. The squad also had incoming automatic weapons fire only 50 m. to their front. They identified four different enemy locations near their positions. Several enemy hand grenades that exploded near and inside the position of the 2nd squad. The squad moved backward to jungle to a new position. Within a few hours 2nd squad had 1 KHA and 2 WHA (M), and requested an immediate MedEvac at BT526569 but it was impossible because of the darkness. The body of KHA was picked up at 0600 when the squad was resupplied with ammunition.

To the southweast of airfield on T-shape crossroad of road # 7 1st squad which was left to secure the dead reported at 0345 that they under a ground attack at BT526583. They fired on a suspected enemy location, and at 0350 hrs reported that the firing had stopped.

At 0700 1st plt was released from operation and was air-lifted to FSB Picarelli for short R & R.

After combat sweeping missions Joint Task Force Picarelli had some spare time.

At 1300 Task Force was resupplied with ammunition, water and ... ice cream.

1800 Shit duty.

At 1835 LRRP Team "Wild Cat 1" [under the operational control of HQ 1-6] was given the mission to secure the area of LZ Bell (BT560608) and to recon the Task Force TAOR at 56/58 and 60/62. On 1845 the team was airlifted to LZ.

On late evening of the day the weather had changed: generally cloudy skies with hard rain and thunderstorm. At 2300 the enemy started their mortar and rocket attacks on FSB Picarelli. Within the next hour enemy mortar rounds as well as hand grenades landed on the firebase, including one under the guard tower and several around CP and 1st plt bunker. FSB also received heavy weapons fire and small arms fire from 300 m to the foxhole Alpha and foxhole Bravo.

At 0330 the 2nd plt tent suffered a direct hit from (BT544603) one 82mm round, resulting in 7 KHA. Immediate MedEvac was requested but it was impossible because of the darkness. The bodies were dusted off only next early morning.