Redcatchers today killed five Viet Cong 10 miles southwest of Saigon, while set up in night defensive positions near My Yen village.

An ambush patrol of Alpha Co, 4^th Bn, 12^th Inf engaged an estimated eight to ten Viet Cong with small arms, automatic weapons and M-79 grenade fire. Two enemy were killed and an AK-47 rifle, map and documents recovered.

The enemy then split into two smaller groups, but ran into three more U.S. ambush elements. Three additional Viet Cong were killed and a second AK-47 rifle recovered.

Elements of 2^nd Bn, 3^rd Inf, under operational control of the 25^th Inf Div, teamed with supporting elements to kill 18 enemy while conducting offensive operations 22 miles northeast of Saigon. Elsewhere, Redcatchers killed seven more enemy in scattered actions west of Saigon.

At approximately 8:45 a.m., a company from 2^nd Bn, 3^rd Inf engaged an estimated enemy squad while working with units from the 25^th Inf Div northeast of Saigon. Small arms fire was exchanged as helicopter gun ships and air strikes supported the infantrymen from overhead. Contact continued throughout the day, as the "Old Guard" troops were supported by other Brigade elements and by an armored unit from the 25^th Div.'s 2^nd Brigade. Contact with the enemy was lost at dusk when the enemy force evaded and withdrew. The bodies of 18 enemy soldiers were found during a sweep of the area.

Operating in the "pineapple" region west of Saigon, night ambush patrols from 4^th Bn, 12^th Inf came in contact with four separate forces of Viet Cong. The patrols engaged all four groups, accumulating a body count of five enemy and capturing two AK-47 rifles. An early morning sweep of the area revealed one more enemy body and uncovered a 9mm Chicom pistol. Further sweeps of the area during the day accounted for the destruction of two grenade booby traps and eight bunkers.

An element of 5^th Bn, 12^th Inf sweeping an area 12 miles south of Duc Hoa, sighted an armed Viet Cong soldier. In the ensuing action, the enemy was killed and his AK-47 rifle with five loaded magazines was recovered. Other battalion elements discovered 10 punji pits with 2 to 4 inches of water 3 miles southeast of Duc Hoa.

One of the largest cordons ever undertaken in the Saigon area got underway at first light this morning in an area 8 miles south of Saigon when the Brigade joined forces with the 5^th ARVN Rangers, Regional Forces and National Police Force Units. In addition, Vietnamese river line assault boats provided a floating blocking force along the Rach Can Giouc River.

The massive cordon operation taking place in Hung Long village processed more than 200 of the approximately 4,500 villagers in the Cordon's second day and resulted in six suspects detained for questioning.

In other action, "Cottonbalers" of Bravo Co, 3^rd Bn, 7^th Inf engaged and killed one Viet Cong tonight 12 miles west of Saigon while on a recon-in-force operation.

More than 700 Vietnamese civilians passed through the combined holding and interrogation center (CHIC) during the third day of the combined U.S.-ARVN cordon.

Sixteen suspects were detained for further questioning.

The brigade's cordon ended its fourth day of operation by processing 294villagers. Four detainees were held for questioning.

Elsewhere, infantrymen from the 71^st Det were searching a bunker complex 9 miles south of Due Hoa when they heard voices approaching. Concealing themselves, they waited for the enemy to come within range. Two Viet Cong appeared in front of them and the Redcatchers opened fire, killing one, and the other escaped into the nipa palm. The enemy soldiers were carrying AK-47 rifle but no weapons were recovered.

The combined cordon went into its sixth day today with 304 people processing through the combined holding and interrogation center. Thirteen detainees were held as a result of today's questioning.

In other action, elements of 5^th Bn, 12^th Inf destroyed nine bunkers 6 miles southeast of Due Hoa while members of 4^th Bn, 12^th Inf destroyed four more 8 miles southwest of Saigon.

Brigade elements continued search and reconnaissance operations west of Saigon, killing four Viet Cong and destroying 90 enemy fortifications.

In early evening, a team from the brigade's 71^st Inf Det observed six Viet Cong in a sampan 5 miles southwest of Due Hoa, along the Vam Co Dong River. When team members verbally challenged the enemy soldiers, they received fire. Returning the fire, the Redcatchers killed three Viet Cong, while "Razorback" gunship helicopters killed another and caused secondary explosions. Earlier the team discovered two tunnels, which troops from Charlie Co, 5^th Bn, 12^th Inf later destroyed.

Elsewhere, "Warriors" of Bravo Co, 4^th Bn, 12^th Inf found and destroyed most of the bunkers 3 miles north of Ben Luc, just east of the "parrot's beak," scene of bitter fighting in late January. A total of 74 bunkers and 6 fighting positions was found and destroyed by Bravo Co in the area, while Charlie and Delta Co.'s 8 miles southwest of Saigon, destroyed 8 bunkers and 1 booby trap.

The cordon in Hung Long village ended today with more than 3,800 villagers processed during the eight-day operation. A total of 58 detainees were held during the operation.

In other action, infantrymen from Alpha Co, 4^th Bn, 12^th Inf found one Viet Cong body during an early morning sweep near the Bien Dinh Bridge.

Earlier, the bridge received about 45 rounds of mixed enemy 60mm mortar and rocket-grenade fire. The indirect fire attack was followed by a ground attack against the bridge and nearby fire support base "Sue" by an unknown number of enemy employing automatic weapons fire.

The Redcatchers and Vietnamese Regional Force troops returned fire supported by artillery. Action continued for about 20 minutes when contact was lost as the enemy withdrew. Damage to the bridge was reported light.

The facilities used for the Hung Long cordon were disassembled today and moved 10 miles southwest of Saigon into the Tan Nhut Triangle. The combined holding and interrogation center was positioned just outside the cordoned area near Binh Chanh.

Unlike the first, the outer ring of the new cordon was manned exclusively by elements of the Brigade's four infantry battalions. Regional forces established interior cordon positions. Processing began in late afternoon and "Warriors" of 4^th Bn, 12^th Inf held three suspects apprehended within the cordoned area.

Other members of 4^th Bn, 12^th Inf found over 500 punji stakes in a complex of 32 bunkers in the "pineapple" area 5 miles southeast of Duc Hoa. Six miles southwest of Due Hoa, members of 3^rd Bn, 12^th Inf held two detainees while Redcatchers of 5^th Bn, 12^th Inf destroyed one bunker and found 200 rounds of AK-47 and 100 rounds of carbine ammunition in am M-60 ammo can 9 miles south of Due Hoa.

Almost 800 of 2200 civilians affected by the Tan Nhut Triangle cordon were processed today. Flanked on two sides of the triangle by the Kinh Sang and Ben Luc Rivers, the new cordon, like the last, attempted to break up Viet Cong activities in an area marked by recent enemy activities.

A Psyops team as well as Medcap and Dentcap units also operated within the collection points, capable of handling about 1,000 civilians at one time.

Brigade elements killed three Viet Cong and captured two AK-47 rifles during light action west of Saigon.

In the early morning while on a recon-in-force operation 5 miles southeast of Duc Hoa, elements from Alpha Co, 5^th Bn, 12^th Inf engaged and killed one Viet Cong and captured his AK-47 rifle.

In other action, five Viet Cong were engaged by Charlie Co, 3^rd Bn, 7^th Inf, 8 miles west of Saigon. Two enemy were killed and an AK-47 rifle and a small amount of web gear and documents was captured.