UPDATED 2/12/2013 Marine 2/5 Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Frederick D. Leder RIP, Vietnam Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines 1970, POW Jose Jesus Anzaldua Jr., Building of Liberty Bridge An Hoa 2/5 Commander Log Book Much Detail Policy, Directives, MIA, KIA, Battles, Bombing With Many Marine Officers and Men Mentioned


Lt. Col. Frederick D. Leder, Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines 15 Jan 1970 to 26 Jul 1970, POW Jose Jesus Anzaldua Jr., Building of Liberty Bridge An Hoa Da Nang AreaThis is a 125 page Log book of Lt. Col. Frederick D. Leder who was Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines during the period of 15 Jan 1970 to 26 Jul 1970. It is written military jargon and mentions that POW E4 Marine Jose Jesus Anzaldua Jr. ,who was captured around Liberty Bridge. Anzaldua was imprisoned from 15 Jan 1970 to 27 March 1973 for a total of 39 months.This log book has so much information that it will be a work in progress. Most of what is written I do not understand because of the nature of the military jargon used. My reason for posting it is so that any Vet from that era get a behind the scene look at the commanders perspective. Maybe it will answer some questions about policy at the time and why certain actions were taken. This is just a drop of information during the Vietnam War, but it is meaningful to the men that lived it and fought there and maybe can give some answers, that is my hope.This memo log book has a lot of information, from policy to directives to reports on different actions taken or implemented. I will date at the beginning and end o the posting date so you will know how recent the post is. I have tried the best I can to transcribed so if it do not make sense read the actual posting, for I might have transcribed it what it looked like to me and not actually what Leder meant when he wrote it. I would appreciate a holler if I should make a error.

End board Whole translation:  Lt. Col F. D. Leder, USMC; C.O. 2/5, 14 Jan – 16 May 70; Pistol # 828962 (2 Aug 69)  G-3 OPNS III MAF – 5461  My old desk – 5548
End Sheet: ARTY 22 – 2 LT Grumdman
Page 1; Whole translation    Div Brief 8 Jan 70  Mares Forstat; 1/5 good- SSgt Goldstien; Div Lt. Danielski 6404;  Last visit 31 Dec 69; Satisf w/my discrip; 2/5 poorest in Regt.; —————-Supply off – Lt. Bogue; Supply material Mgnt Tm.; # courtesy calls in 2/5?; Auth 8(3041)  1 (3051);  OH  7   5; Wpns accountability plns; Personal effects; Next supply courtesy -31 Jan 70—————–G-5 Good proj  build ; hamlet offices in area; S-5 under regt control; Use Civic Action as ; another sptg arm
This is Page 2 and 3  the first two pages that you can enlarge to make it easier to read
Page 2 Partial transcribed:  In this entries talks about a Col. Lucy and the brig, that real criminals should not be confined in the brig unless it is absolutely necessary. Seems he deals a lot with the legal department
Page 3 Partial transcribed: He seems to be dealing with he first takes command with a lot of administrative  directives and problems at first. Later he will get involved with problems in the companies
Page 4 Partial transcribed:  This one is dated 11 Jan 70.  Have no idea what he talking about other than Bobby Trap area
Page 6 Partial transcribed:  Dated 14 Jan 70.
Page 9. This whole page is transcribed:  Dated 14 Jan  70  Are companies commanders:  H and S 1st Lt. Andrea, Co. E 1st Lt. Stiehl, Co. F 1st Lt. Murray, Co. G 1st Lt. Collins, Co. H 1st Lt. Taylor
Page 10.  This whole page is transcribed:   This one says: 14 JAN 70; Failures of 2/5 Col. Beck; 1. Basic tactics poor; written Trag? or Frag? or Fxag?- not;  carried out.  No ammo;  sufficient when moving;  out.;  2. Helo extract of huskie;  3. Bunching up;  constantly – body;  traps – take more;  causalities than other Bn;  4. Field strenght worst in;  Regt. – month after month!;  Regt. Aig? or Reg + 135;  Example: sick bay routine;  more people in Da Nang;  Racial probs in 2/5 worst!; 45 Cal pistol missing/stolen;  Admin poor – Co level-;  MP reports – CO’s sign!
Page 10.  This is a partial transcription. This one says: Failures of 2/5 Col. Beck 1. Basic tactics poor-written Trag? or Frag? or Fxag?- not carried out. No ammo sufficient when moving out. 2. Helo extract of huskie. 3.
Bunching up constantly – body traps – take more causalities than other Bn.. 4. Field strenght worst in
Page 10.  This is a partial transcription: 2. Helo extract of huskie. 3. Bunching up constantly – body traps – take more causalities than other Bn.. 4. Field strength worst in Regt. – month after month! Regt. Aig? or Reg + 135. Example: sick bay routine more people in Da Nang. Racial probs in 2/5 worst! 45 Cal pistol missing/stolen Admin poor – Co level- MP reports – CO’s sign!
Page 11.  This is a partial transcription: Awards must be signed by CO; Send items thru Regt. courts – Bn to Div; Investigating Bn to Rpts to Div—————————15 Jan 70 1) Do not destroy bunkers in “F” sector – abandon only 2) S-4″installation  insp” ?; 1 and 3 Sat ea month; 3a) Eny destroyed booby traps +
Page 11.  This is a partial transcription: 15 Jan 70 1) Do not destroy bunkers in “F” sector – abandon only 2) S-4″installation insp” ?; 1 and 3 Sat ea month; 3a) Eny destroyed booby traps + reported same. Actually disc by 2/5-why no squd report?; b)Eng tractor out to bridge today; 4) S-5 info ? in 2/5 area; 5)22 Jan Red Cross Rep at Regt; 6)Legal Off(lawyer) to be at regt fr now on.;7) LAW or 3.5 rocket at bridge floating raft; This was written in pen along the edge: 1 RR EA F.T. has 2 LAW, 10-12 LAWS ON BRIDGE PAR 3A1 or 3A, Sect 2
This is Page 12 and 13.  I have already transcribed these two pages above.
Page 12.  This is a partial transcription: XO; 1) Mine and Bobby Trap Report to be signed by CO (me) 2) Orders to
Da Nang – copy to regt S-1;  I do not understand at all item 3) LT 5’9″Moustache, Gy Sgt 5’8″, LCpl 5’8″ Scottish Accent and on the side of it it says  Austral Club  pn’er Xmas; plump to US 12-20 yrs ago; Went to club- stole plagued wpns E6783 (Pistol) F. B.  Radom;
Page 12.  This is a partial transcription:  Gy Sgt 5’8″, LCpl 5’8″ Scottish Accent and on the side of it it says Austral Club pn’er Xmas; plump to US 12-20 yrs ago; Went to club- stole plagued wpns E6783 (Pistol) F. B. Radom; CKC rifle C 8016; AK 50 11260210; Search cantonment for contraband 4) Check unauth hot plates, TVs -power shortage problem————–16 Jan 70 1) Status of PSID batteries
Above Page 13.  This is a partial transcription.  Laws (Day) + 4 1man Op’s; 2/man   Total of 8.; (night)= 1 SQ W/ 8 LAAWS—————16 Jan 70 1) Land clearing  keep; working all day.  If ; particular area is bad;  move another position (S-4); 2) F Goi Noi island; reevaluate make move; Productive; 3) 1700 Mtg to OD + CMDR Gd for area security Bneif. Regt.

24 January 1970 Post

24 January 1970 Post

Above image is page 30 & 31 from log book, both pages are date 24 January 1970 and continue on page 32

This is January 24 & 25, 1970 post.

This is January 24 & 25, 1970 post.

January 26 & 27, 1970

January 26 & 27, 1970

 

January 27, 1970 post on both page

January 27, 1970 post on both page

January 27 & 28, 1970

January 27 & 28, 1970

 

January 28 & 29, 1970

January 28 & 29, 1970

January 30 & 31, 1970

January 30 & 31, 1970

 

January 31, 1970 & Febuary 1, 1970

January 31, 1970 & Febuary 1, 1970

Febuary 1 & 2, 1970

Febuary 1 & 2, 1970

 

Febuary 2, 1970 both pages

Febuary 2, 1970 both pages

Febuary 3 & 4, 1970

Febuary 3 & 4, 1970

 

All February 4, 1970

All February 4, 1970

All February 4, 1970

All February 4, 1970

 

All February 5, 1970

All February 5, 1970

February 6 & 7, 1970

February 6 & 7, 1970

 

February 7, 8, 9, 10 1970

February 7, 8, 9, 10 1970

February 11, 12, 13, 14 1970

February 11, 12, 13, 14 1970

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6 Responses to UPDATED 2/12/2013 Marine 2/5 Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Frederick D. Leder RIP, Vietnam Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines 1970, POW Jose Jesus Anzaldua Jr., Building of Liberty Bridge An Hoa 2/5 Commander Log Book Much Detail Policy, Directives, MIA, KIA, Battles, Bombing With Many Marine Officers and Men Mentioned

  1. Anonymous says:

    The way this notebook reads, it appears that it was used to keep notes taken with his meetings with the regimental commanding officer, Col. Nobel Beck. There is little information about the events concerning 2/5 except when one knows those events and can read between the lines.

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  2. vkerryinman says:

    Yes, I got your e-mail. The dates I am looking for are Jan 25-Feb 10. And in particular February 2 when Echo Company was hit by >friendly< fire. Thank you.

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  3. vkerryinman says:

    Page 12 is referring to an incident in which officers from 2/5 stole war trophies from the Australian Officers Club. They didn’t think it was funny. We laughed all the way back to An Hoa.

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  4. vkerryinman says:

    Yes, I was there also. I don’t want to tell the true story as it reflects badly on one particular individual. Tell me they are all dead and I will tell you what happened—that never should have happened. Anzaldua was an S-2 scout attached to Echo Company 2/5 stationed at Liberty Bridge. As I recall he spoke Vietnamese. Lt.Col. V. K. Inman USMC Ret. Is there any way I can see Col. Leder’s journal ?

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  5. Anonymous says:

    The 5th Marine Reg. plaque that was taken from the Col. office was given to a Major Donelson upon his leaving An Hoa and Viet Nam.

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  6. R.S. McCarthy says:

    I was S-2 Scout assigned to Phu Loc ^ with Anzaldua when he was captured.

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