Gardner corrected Roger -- NO VC. These were civilians. This was a negative incident (not reprimand material, but reportable) that was falsely reported as a combat engagement.
Obviously. However, civilians did do some dirty work because they could infiltrate more easily.
What was a family doing on the river at night?
One side tells me they were VC running supplies, food not necessarily weapons.
The other side tells me maybe they were innocent people caught in the war trying to get a food supply to their village. VC could have taken their food.
My only point was that they should not have been reported as enemy unless they were sure about that.