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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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Posted on 01/12/2003 12:01:16 AM PST by SAMWolf
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are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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Mekong Delta River Raider I, the search and destroy mission carried out in the Rung Sat during February and March of 1967, was the first joint operation by Army and Navy forces. The Vietnamese Navy had provided some of the craft for use in the campaign since the full American contingent of vessels had not yet arrived. Throughout the spring of 1967 the Mobile Riverine Force gradually built up its strength, and carried out small local operations. During April and May the Kemper County (LST-854), the Benewah (APB-35), and the Colleton (APB-36) arrived in-country and began supporting the riverine craft. In mid-May TF 117 joined the TF 116 (Game Warden) forces to carry out the largest riverine operation by US forces to date in the Rung Sat. This operation also marked the first time both Task Forces worked together in support of one nother.  Shortly after this joint operation was concluded, OPERATION HOPTAC XVIII was carried out in the area between the Rach Ba and Rach Tra Tan Rivers in IV Corps. Even larger than the Rung Sat operation, it resulted in the first heavy contact with the Viet Cong. After landing the infantry, the ATCs, supported by Monitors, blocked off the enemy's line of retreat, and despite fierce fighting the VC were unable to escape the net thrown around them. Pressed from all sides they broke and ran, losing over 100 men. Casualties among the infantry and sailors were light and damage to the various river craft was minor. The boats had proven they could stand up to rocket and recoilless rifle fire, even at extremely close range, and their ability to block the VC's escape had been the decisive factor in sealing the fate of the guerrilla force. Without them, the guerrillas would have been able to slip away to fight again. Shortly after this operation was completed on 2 June, the MRF received a directive from MACV in Saigon, assigned the code name CORONADO to future riverine operations. Two days later CORONADO 1 began in Dinh Tuoug and Kien Hoa Provinces to secure the Cho Gao Canal. During the move up river to insert an infantry platoon ATC-112-3, acting as a minesweeper, had a mine detonate under its stern and had to be towed back to the new Army base at Dong Tam. This was the first successful mining of an MRF boat and highlighted the need for a specialized minesweeper. Unfortunately, while most of the remaining modified landing craft arrived during June, the ASPBs were not among them. The lack of these specially designed boats had some effects on operations but other craft were assigned the minesweeping duty until the ASPBs finally reached TF 117. Although without the ASPBs the Mobile Riverine Force was not up to authorized strength, the arrival of the last of the modified LCMs allowed the Navy to return borrowed riverine craft to the Vietnamese Navy without jeopardizing the force's ability to carry out its mission. Throughout the summer and fall of 1967 the riverine force was constantly on the move. In late June Coronado OPERATION CONCORDIA trapped a VC unit of some 400 men near Ap Bac. Together with ARVN units the soldiers and sailors of the MRF killed over 250 of the enemy while losing 46 men. Again the riverine craft helped cut the enemy's line of retreat, and while heavy fire was taken, there were only fifteen sailors wounded during the battle. CONCORDIA II followed at the beginning of July and lasted until 24 July. During this campaign PBRs of TF 116 (Game Warden) assisted the MRF in blocking operations but their limited armor protection hindered their use in the close confines of the small canals where their primary protection, speed, could not be used effectively. At this time the MRF began operating H-23 and UH-1 helicopters off the ATC(H)s which increased the flexibility of the force's reconnaissance and medivac ability. The first of the converted helicopter barges arrived on 22 July and was pressed into service immediately to supplement the ATC(H)s.  From August through October TF 117 carried out a series of operations against the VC in the Rung Sat Special Zone to keep the main shipping channel open. These included CORONADO III (5-17 August), CORONADO VI (11-18 October), and CORONADO VIII (27-29 October). None of these resulted in significant contact with large VC units. Only scattered resistance was encountered but these operations prevented the VC from carrying out attacks on the shipping channel due to this constant probing by the riverine force. In conjunction with these forays into the Rung Sat the MRF also carried out a number of other operations in the surrounding areas. CONONADO IV (19 August to 9 September) took place south and southwest of Saigon in Long An, Co Cong, and Kien Hoa Provinces. Elements of the 506th VC Battalion were encountered and thirty-four of the guerrillas were killed. Numerous supply and arms caches were also discovered but contact was light. Close on the heels of this came CORONADO V (September 12th to October 8th) in Dinh Tuong and Kien Hoa Provinces, southwest of the capital. Working with US and ARVN troops from the 7th Division, the MRF encountered the 263rd VC battalion and in a series of running battles the allied forces killed over 500 of the guerrillas. However, the 263rd fought hard and eighteen Riverine boats were hit by rockets, grenades, and recoilless rifle fire. Though none were sunk, this was the heaviest fire that the MRF had yet come under. This underlined the ability of the boats to take a great deal of punishment and also the need for additional armament to counter the growing number of heavy caliber weapons being employed by the communists. During CORONADO V the first ASPBs arrived and received their baptism of fire. Toward the end of the operation the first attempt to use flamethrowers took place in Kien Hoa Province near Dong Tam with satisfactory results. An M-132 flamethrower armored personnel carrier (APC) was placed in an ATC and tested under high wind conditions. No problems were encountered and additional M-132 were requested until a suitably modified monitor could be substituted for the ATC/APC arrangement. To help protect Vietnamese civilians during the 1967 National Elections Coronado VII (20-24 October) was conducted. During the elections the MRF dispersed itself throughout the Can Guioc District, but very little contact resulted. Over eighty per cent of the registered voters turned out due to the tight security the riverine craft and personnel provided. The year ended on a more resounding note combat-wise, with Coronado IX (1 November to 21 January). This long operation was started in part, to counter VC attacks against patrolling PBRs in the Giao Pue District.  Working with Vietnamese Marines the MRF met the Viet Cong twice during 1967 in large scale actions. Near the town of Sa Dec in mid-November a VC unit was cornered and in pitched fighting 178 of the enemy were killed. On 4 December at the boundaries between Dinh Tuong and Kien Phong Provinces, the allied force ran into both the 267th and 302nd VC battalions. Vietnamese Marines, with the aid of an ATC/APC flamethrower, stormed ashore under withering fire while US units maneuvered to cut off the guerrilla's escape. In two days of fierce fighting over 260 VC were killed against fifty US and Vietnamese casualties. Over forty riverine craft were hit by a variety of communist weapons, but none were sunk, and the majority continued to take part in the operation. After this battle contact dropped off sharply and the remainder of the operation turned into a mopping up campaign. When CORONADO IX was finally terminated, over 600 Viet Cong lay dead, US and Vietnamese fatalities were 100.
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LOL. Good Morning J
(Actually, the graphic was stolen from GailA. I must confess)
ROFLMAO! Hey, I ain't as dumb as I look......
LOL
That song is Cielito Lindo. It's a Classic. The refrain translated into English means "Sing don't Cry". Since I am a son of the Texas/Mexican Border (Born and raised just about a "stones throw" from the Rio Grande river), It's one of my all time favorites. Glad you liked it J
God Bless
You mean like this?
Click the Pic
LOL
Hope you're feeling better today. I know what screwdrivers can do to you, hehehe.
Btw, I love your tribute to BKO & BCM. Great job!
Memorial Day 2000, dedication of the MRF Memorial at Ft. Snelling National Cemetary
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