Personal Stories

Personal Stories
A personal history of the 15th Engineers and
1/84th Artillery as told
by those who were there in Vietnam

Listed below are the personal stories of members of the 15th Engineer Battalion, Combat and a personal story from Randall K. (Doc) Logan, 1/84th Artillery.

There are two "stories" about the "Ben Luc Bridge" below and detailed maps and photos have been posted of the Ben Luc area. For views of the photos/maps select "The Ben Luc Bridge(s)" below. Confused - don't worry: just read all articles about the Ben Luc Bridge. History is not an easy subject. The Ben Luc Bridges are no exception.

Anchor Away (Not Aweigh)
The Ben Luc Float Bridge
- July 1968 -

By: COL Morton Roth

Major Roth (retired COL) was S-3 (Operations), 15^th Engineer Battalion, Combat – 1967/1968

Introduction –

I was delighted to see 1^st SGT Carter Glass’ write-up on the Ben Luc float bridge that was built in early July ‘68. I had wanted to relate another aspect of that operation for a long time, as it was rather unique; his write-up was all the impetus I needed. I too have a fuzzy recollection of some of the facts going back 35 years, and I especially regret not being able to recall the names of all the troops who worked this project and were so deserving of recognition. In my book they are all heroes, then and now.

As early July ‘68 came I was ending my tour as S-3 (Operations) for the Battalion and was due to rotate back to the States. As I suspect is natural, I wasn’t hoping for another Tet and thought I’d just ease onto that freedom bird and peacefully fade away.

When I went into the S-3 shop at O-dark thirty that 1 July 1968 morning the Operations Sgt. greeted me with the news that the Ben Luc Bridge had been blown, cutting the primary route to Saigon from the Delta, which, among other dire consequences, caused the price of rice in Saigon to go up by some bazaar amount each day the bridge was out. I immediately went into the denial mode. In a few more weeks I would have made a clean get away. It seemed like forever but when the Ops. Sgt. repeated the dreaded news a few seconds later, I came back to reality and after coordinating with any and everyone who knew about float bridging, learned that the ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) would be putting in the float bridge.

Ben Luc Float Bridge

Although I can’t recall how it came about, but suspect I got direction from Col. Loper, I learned that the ARVN needed support and tasked Capt. Best (C, Company) with the mission. The float bridge went in in very good time, thanks in part to the efforts of the 1st platoon, C Co.

The float bridge had been placed on the up-stream side of the permanent bridge that had been blown. The river at that location was tidal and it was secured to the blown bridge at various locations, which prevented it from moving up-stream as the tide came in.

To secure the float bridge during an outgoing tide, a 2-inch diameter wire rope had been strung across the river, up-stream of the float bridge, and anchored on both banks. (See 1^st SGT Carter’s story “Float Bridge at Ben Luc” regarding installation of this cable)

The up-stream cable anchors were an issue. There was no way to predict if the anchors would hold as the days and weeks went by. That, plus any debris or other things the bad guys might float down the river to take out the float bridge, caused a good deal of concern. An additional up-stream restraint was needed to secure the float bridge during an outgoing tide.

Anchor the Bridge, Literally: Round One -

I had some time before seen a huge ocean-going ship anchor in the depot in Saigon and thought why not? Plop that thing in the middle of the river with a fan of cables running from it to the float bridge and that bridge wasn’t going anywhere.

I don’t know how he did it, but Maj. Stu Williams, the S-4, had that anchor delivered on a flat bed the day after I asked him to get it. In the mean time, I arranged for a flying crane, CH-54, to lift the anchor and place it in the river. Must have asked for it the day after the anchor got on site, as we had to hook cables of various lengths, with floats, to run from the anchor to the bridge and arrange to have the crews in boats to do the attaching. I can’t swear to it but I must have tasked C Co with that mission as well as they were familiar with the operation. Must not have been 1st Platoon or Sgt. Glass would certainly have remembered that aspect of the operation. Well, the next day came and everything was ready.

The CH-54 arrived mid morning, let out its cable and was hooked onto the anchor. And like an elephant letting out a mouse fart, lifted that anchor about 6 inches off the ground and no more. The lift capacity of a CH-54 is something on the order of 22,000 pounds (11 tons). So that anchor must have weighed with cables and all maybe 6 or 7 tons, well below the max lift capacity of the CH 54. Somewhere in the back of my mind is the figure of 13,000 pounds, which would make sense. Must have got that number from the depot documents, but whatever it was, it was too much for that time of day. The mid-morning heat reduced the air density, reducing the lift capacity of the chopper. Scratch that day.

Round Two: Improvise -

Told the chopper to be back as early as possible the next day and had the cable on the anchor that the 54 would hook onto shortened as much as possible so as to gain lift through ground effect of the chopper’s rotors.

Next day every thing went like clockwork - almost. Chopper arrived early, hovered as low as he could, was hooked up to the anchor, lifted off without a problem, out to the middle of the river, enough up stream to allow for a fan of cables, with floats attached, to run from the anchor to the bridge. The hookup crews in boats were ready to do the job. I’ve got the chopper on one frequency and the guys in the boats on another. Gave the OK to the chopper to lower the anchor to the riverbed and drag it a little way down stream to set it. That seemed to work as he couldn’t drag it any more and the chopper started to tilt sideways, making for one nervous pilot. Gave the OK to release the cable -- and nothing happened. As explained to me, the release mechanism is an electrically activated device. It shorted out in the water and wouldn’t open.

Told the pilot to lift the anchor and drop it when the release mechanism was clear of the water. He thought about that for a few seconds and thought the jolt from a sudden release of such a great weight might throw the chopper out of control and he didn’t want to risk it. A good chance he could be right and I didn’t need an accident investigation to extend my tour. Brought the anchor back to the flat bed on the Saigon near side shore. By then too hot for any more attempts so released the CH 54 and asked him to be back early next day while we tried to come up with a solution.

Round Three: Anchor Away - Murphy RULES! -

Next plan was to have the anchor lifted with a shorter cable and bring it to the far shore where a crew would remove the short cable, attach a long cable to allow the chopper to drag the anchor out to the middle of the river. The cable would be long enough to keep the release mechanism clear of the water. Crews would get the floating tie cables to the bridge and we’d be in business. Anyway, that was the plan. Early next morning the chopper was on site (probably with one PO’ed pilot), short cable attached, lifted off without a problem, over to the far shore, crews standing by to attach the long cable, boat crews with the float supported tie cables, chopper lowers the anchor to the ground, and from what I understand, it just kept going down, down, down into the muddy bank. That anchor wasn’t going to be dragged anywhere.

Well, making the best of what you’ve got to work with, as good combat engineers are supposed to do, tied the bridge to the anchor where it was. Left a few days later for the land of the big PX and have no idea if that rather bazaar approach to anchoring a float bridge stood the test of time. But I'm sure that anchor isn't going anywhere. In a 1,000 years when archeologists come across that anchor, they'll be scratching their heads as to what it’s doing there.

For that whole operation I spent the entire time on the site, sleeping on the ground on the blown bridge overlooking the float bridge. Next to me was the Provost Marshal who also spent the entire time there and also slept on the ground. I didn’t want to waste time going back and forth as it all started early and had other things on site to take care of, and the PM was there to oversee traffic and supervise control of the civilians using the float bridge. One night woke up as a group of captured VC came by under ARVN guard. That was the closest I came to the bad guys.

Epilog -

I may have overlooked some aspects but the essence of what I’ve written is how it was. Maybe some of the guys on shore or in the boats have photos of a CH-54 flying with a sea anchor hooked to it, or can add or correct anything I may have misstated. Again my regret is that I didn’t personally thank the guys who did the work. If you’re out there now, please accept a much belated “thank you” for a most unusual job well done.

And now you know the rest of the story. If you're wondering what happens to engineer S-3 Majors with strange solutions, they wind up as engineer O-6's with strange solutions. Called it quits in '87 after 30 years and would do it all over again if I could. I'm afraid health problems may prevent me from attending the next reunion, but I wish the best to all of you

Float Bridge at Ben Luc, Vietnam
- July 1968-

By: Sergeant First Class Carter Glass
Acting First Sergeant and 1^st Platoon Sergeant, C Company, 15^th Engineers

Introduction -

All of the accounts in this story are from my memory, photos, and other papers that I have saved for the past 35 years. I retired from the Army in 1968.

My version of the following does not by any means intend to imply that other accounts or memories by other people are the same as mine. With this in mind, here is my story of the 1^st Platoon, Company “C”, 15^th Engineer (Combat) Battalion, 9^th Infantry Division, APO San Francisco 96370 and its involvement in the spanning of the float bridge across the river south of Saigon on Route 4, leading south into the Mekong Delta.

Tan An, South Vietnam : July 1968 location of Company “C”, 15^th ECB

Commanding Officer: Captain Tom Best

On or about the 1^st of July 1968, Captain Best informed me I was to call a meeting of all Platoon Leaders and Platoon Sergeants in the mess hall at 11:00 hours for a briefing on upcoming operations At this time I was the Acting 1^st Sergeant for the Company. The meeting got under way around 11:00 hours and Captain Best talked of the upcoming operation, which was to put a float bridge across the river (the Song Vam Co Dong) near Ben Luc, and that Company “C” had the mission of aiding and providing technical advice and assistance to the ARVN Engineer Unit on the far shore. The pontoons would be assembled and made ready to put on the river by them. After Company “C” had prepared the access road and approaches to the bridge site (south), we were to make ready the anchorage system on the near shore (south), and prepare the guy lines.

Upon completion of the bridge, security, maintenance, and upkeep of all access roads would be the responsibility of the ARVN troops. A personal note here : I did not say anything to Captain Best, but I had a lot of experience with ARVN security or rather the lack of it, (while at Tan Tru) which allowed “Charlie” to blow the south section of the main bridge on Route 4, while the ARVN Company in charge of security on the south side slept (‘nuff said).

Captain Best then invited questions and comments. Of course there was some concern as to our part in the operation, but the meeting was kept as short as possible, and the Company Commander informed me, that we would move to the site as soon as we could get our vehicles loaded and all other preparations had been made.

He then gave us our assignments. The 1^st Platoon would be responsible for the near‑shore anchor system and assist in any other way possible.

The 2^nd and 3^rd Platoons were given the task of preparing the access road leading to the site (south bank of the river), and the approach ramps. They were also to assist with other problems that could arise. Because none of us had ever viewed the site, we pictured in our minds the worst case scenario foreseeable.

After the noon meal we prepared to move our troops and tools, and the Commanding Officer led the unit out of Tan An. Getting to the site was not difficult because of a small road leading from Route 4 down to the river and the future bridge site. We proceeded with caution. On the downstream side the ground was high enough to provide cover and concealment for our vehicles, while the upstream side was a different story. The terrain was flat, swampy, and had rice paddies, but no cover.

Arrival at the Ben Luc Site -

As I recall, the Company arrived on site about 15:00 hours. A real short recon of the area was conducted by each platoon to cover their designated area of responsibility, and as much security as possible was put in place.

About one hour later, we began receiving small arms fire from the upstream side of the river, not heavy, but enough to be dangerous. Lt. Scott and I were near the river when the firing took place, but there is not much one can do except try to find the source of the problem and eliminate it.

I asked for two volunteers to go with me up river to seek out the snipers and “take care of them”, if possible. The first man to step forward was our Platoon Medic,” Tony” and one other man whose name I can’t recall, but I had what I needed.

We walked away from the river, about _500 yards down the access road to get away from the river and then continued upstream, about ¼ mile or so. Then we headed down to the river, getting as close as we could without entering the swamp area. We proceeded downriver looking for the source of our problem to no avail. “Charlie” was too well hidden and the firing continued during the whole operation. Fortunately nobody was wounded.

Establishing an Anchor System For the Pontoon Bridge -

A basic layout of the site. The river (Song Vam Co Dong) was about 350 meters wide at high tide and 250 meters wide at low tide

I remember we got back to the Platoon and began our recon to find a suitable place to install the anchor system. The ground behind the mangrove swamp was two to three feet below the water level and provided no place to install a system that would hold. We held a short meeting at the future site of the anchor system to discuss the problem we faced.

After some discussion, we came to the conclusion the only way to do the job was to use two Bailey Bridge panels (pinned together),and to pull them up against the mangrove roots. To do this, we decided to use demolitions and blast a large and deep enough hole behind the mangroves to put the panels in place. We agreed that three 5 pound charges would do the trick.

1 - General layout of where the anchoring cable and debris clearing cable were located upstream of the actual site of the pontoon bridge (noted by the C/L or center line on the drawing). Understand the drawing is NOT to scale.
2 - A drawing of the two Bailey bridge panels used to provide the south anchoring system in the mangrove trees

We spaced the charges five feet apart, and wired in series primed with electrical caps, then placed the charges in the desired location, ran the wires some 200 feet back, cleared the area, took cover and let it rip. Boy, what a nice explosion We forgot that water is the best tamping material, but we got the desired results. The crater was about four to five feet deep, about 40 feet long, and about four feet behind the mangrove roots. Wading into the crater to check its depth, we found it sufficient for the panels. The charges had worked

The only way to get the panels in place was by manpower, but by this time it was too dark to do the job, and the cable could not be brought over from the far shore by boat. We had no choice but to wait until daybreak the next morning, when the ARVN troops would do this job.

Harassing Mortar Fire And Wounded -

About dusk we received several rounds of mortar fire along the access road and near where we had been working a short while ago. Everyone took cover under the vehicles, since they were on the road close by and provided the best protection available to us.

I remember that Sgt. Frank Givan was near the approach area to the bridge, standing in water up to his waist, when the last round exploded near him. Tony and I were by the platoon jeep and in a position to see Sgt. Givan fall backward into the water. We rushed down to him and pulled him out of the river. That was when Tony (Doc) told me Sgt. Givan had been hit in the right side of his chest. I seem to recall Lt. Scott was on the radio immediate calling for a dust off. Within minutes the chopper sat down on the access road, Tony (Doc) and other medics had Sgt. Givan on board and on his way to the hospital in Saigon. Tony (DOC) went along and did not return until the next morning.

Meanwhile the Company made ready to spend a long night near the bridge site. I do not recall any other troops being hit by the mortar rounds earlier in the evening. The bridge site was quiet the rest of the night, “Charlie” being good to us.

The morning brought some fog on the river and visibility was not the best. We asked for a small detachment of ARVN Infantry to come across the river to search upstream for any VC that could hold up the operation. They did a good job, because we had no more trouble.

About 07:00 Tony (DOC) returned by chopper from Saigon and reported that Sgt. Givan was OK He had suffered a collapsed lung from a piece of shrapnel, but he was already up and walking around and anxious to be released for his trip home to the land of the big PX. The Company was losing one of the best Engineers I have ever known, and I was losing a very good friend and teacher. I would miss him very much as would the entire Company.

Positioning The Anchor System And A Surprise From Victor Charlie -

As soon as we could, we began to move the panels in place. This required a lot of manpower, but we accomplished the job and then requested a boat from the far shore to bring the wire rope to our side. Everything had been prepared, so when the boat was in position we attached the line to our panels and sent the boat on its way to the far shore. As the boat pulled away, the panels began to move slowly and were pulled into place against the mangrove roots and trees. So far so good. It looked perfect and communication by radio between the near and far shore worked like a dream. Things worked out as we had planned, and the anchor system was in place in spite of small arms fire during most of our time on the river.

The ARVN troops on the far shore began to move the pontoons onto the river and made the necessary hookups and adjustments. Around noon about half of the pontoons were in place, but then “Charlie” came back with a big surprise. Upriver he had cut down banana trees and rigged them and other debris with explosives and firing devices, put them in the river to float down to the bridge, hoping to destroy it before it was ever completed. To prevent “Charlie” from succeeding, we suggested that a large cable be run across the river at a 45 degree angle to divert the debris to the far shore, where it would be sliding along the cable upon impact. It worked, but some of the stuff ’became entangled in the pontoons and cables, and had to be removed by hand and guided on down the river. This caused a lot of work for the ARVN troops, but they rose to the challenge and did manage to keep the river open.

Sometime during the afternoon I was instructed to return the 1^st Platoon and our vehicles to the Company area at Tan An. The troops were a worn out and dirty bunch, but they had performed as well as they had on the other two bridge building projects. Mission accomplished!

A Short Timer And A Thank You To All -

I cannot lay enough praise on the 1^st Platoon for its outstanding efforts under the most adverse conditions imaginable. Medals for all the troops that had participated in this monumental task should have been approved and issued. Thanks to the efforts of Company “C”, 15^th Engineer Battalion (combat), the route from Saigon to the southernmost point in the Delta was again open. The 1^st Platoon did not witness the last pontoons being put in place to complete the operation, because our assigned task had been fulfilled.

After Company “C” returned to Tan An, and all equipment had been secured, Captain Best gave us some time off to relax and get cleaned up. I went to the Orderly Room to make up for lost time, getting caught up on administrative details which I had missed in the past few days. Reports and “paperwork” had to be done to get things back to normal in the Company.

Right then and there it dawned on me that I was to return to the US of A in the near future. But no word from HQs had arrived as to my DEROS. Early on the 15^th of August, word came down that I was to report to the 90^th Replacement Battalion, Long Binh, RVN and that my DEROS date was 16 August 1968. With such short notice, Lt. Kaye Scott, 1^st Platoon Leader, told me he would take me by jeep to the Replacement Battalion. We had to stop and pick up the paperwork, so I could clear Vietnam. With all the rushing around I had not cleared Company “C” of all personal equipment, and all I had taken with me was my weapon, which I turned in at the Replacement Battalion. The rest of my gear and personal items were left behind in my room in the NCO Quarters in Tan An. Lt. Scott and I said our good‑byes and he returned to Tan An.

After I finished processing, I was issued one summer uniform, which was all I needed to go home to my wife and two children, who stayed in E1 Paso, Texas (Fort Bliss ). On the morning of August 16^th, I boarded the “Freedom Bird” for the trip home. Our first stop on August 17^th was Honolulu, Hawaii, then we continued on to Travis AFB in California. After a short processing I was given a 14 day leave, until August 31^st, which enabled me to celebrate my 40^th birthday ( August 24^th 1968) with my family. On the 1^st of September 1968 1 quietly retired from the Army without any fanfare.

I am very proud of the tasks Company “C”, 15^th ECB performed in Vietnam and equally proud that I had the privilege of serving with such outstanding officers and enlisted men from 1967 to 1968.

OH YES, I DID GET TO CROSS THE PONTOON BRIDGE ON MY WAY OUT OF VIETNAM!!

By: Colonel Thomas Loper,
Commanding Officer, 15th Engineer Battalion, Combat

Introduction -

My reason for writing about my time as Commanding Officer (CO) of the 15th
Engineer Battalion, Combat (EBC) is to personalize some of my and perhaps
other 15th EBC veteran's experiences while in Vietnam. The Operational
Report Lessons Learned submitted for the period 1 Jan. '68 - 30 Apr. '68,
as found on the 15 CEB Web Site is very dry reading. It really does not tell
the story of what went on, on a daily and personal basis, in the Battalion.

Since I was a major commands branch action officer, then Branch Chief, in
the Officer Personnel Requirements (OPXR) under DCS Personnel from June
1965 to Summer 1967, I was able to follow the buildup of Army troops in
RVN rather closely. The branch was responsible for filling deploying and
activating units with officers in the ranks lower than full colonel. I knew
who was going and when and when they would rotate. When the 9th INF Div

Was activated at Fort Riley, Kansas, I took a special interest in the 15th
Engineer Bn. I knew Bill Read, the 15th's Commanding Officer (CO), who was
a classmate of mine from USMA, and I knew that I wanted to be his
replacement. At the appropriate time, when the requisition for his
replacement came across my desk, with my boss's permission, I walked it to
the Engineer Branch Chief, and said that I would like to replace Bill. That's
how I wound up as the CO of the 15th.

Arrival in Vietnam -
I departed CONUS on 24 Sep 1967, from Travis AFB on a charter flight, as
many of you did, arriving first in Hawaii, then Tokyo, and finally at Tan
Son Nhut AFB, RVN. I was processed in and for the night was put up in a
wooden barracks/BOQ. It was a quiet night. The next morning my driver, Sgt.
Whiteside (?), arrived with jeep and trailer. We loaded my gear, and off we
went, as I recall, in convoy with a deuce and a half with replacements for
the 9th Div. Sgt. Whiteside was a great driver and NCO, that he was
selected to drive for the Bn CO came from an action where he was awarded
the Silver Star.

When I arrived at Bear Cat, after an uneventful trip, we went straight to
15th Bn HQs and met LTC Bill Read the CO. After a few words of greeting
Sgt. Whiteside and I unloaded my gear in a tent, which had a wooden floor,
a fridge, and a shower. The lap of luxury! I can't remember what went on
the rest of the day, but that I met the Bn XO, Bill Rhine, and staff (Jon
Vandedbosch) and several of the Company COs (Neal Smart and Brink Miller)
who were located at Bear Cat. That evening, I met most of the Division
Staff and most likely, MG O'Connor, the Div CG. Col Maury Kendall was the
COFS (Chief of Staff) and he welcomed me and showed me around the
Division Headquarters and the Division Tactical Operations Center (DTOC).

Most memorable was the dinner that night at the General Officer's (GO's)
Mess, a converted "T" shaped mess hall that had been gussied up to warrant
it's title. All arrived in newly starched fatigues and polished boots. I had
yet to take advantage of the local laundry facility, run as I remember with
a steel hand of a rather good looking mamsan, so I fell a bit below the
sartorial standards of the GO's Mess. We dined well, on white tablecloths,
non-GI silver and glassware. Food was well prepared and served. After
dinner, the group, GO's, the Division General and the Division Special Staff
(being the Bn CO of the 15th Engineer and therefore the Division Engineer I
was a member of the Division Special Staff), assembled in a lounge where we,
at least most of us, relaxed in overstuffed arm chairs, smoked and sipped a
brandy while we watched the movie "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf" starring
Liz Taylor and Richard Burton. Some Movie for my first night in the
division!

The change of command ceremony was held a Bear Cat on 30 Sep 1967, with
the Bn SGM Trent passing the colors of the Bn from Bill Read to me. MG G.G.
O'Connor, BG Morgan Roseborough, Assistant Division Commander Support
(ADC SUP), and BG Bill Fulton, Assistant division Commander Operations
(ADC OPS), attended the ceremony, as did the II Field Force Engineer, Col
Art Surkamp and several of the battalion commanders whose units supported
the division. style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">

Anchor Away (Not Aweigh) The Ben Luc Float Bridge - July 1968 -

By: COL Morton Roth

Introduction –

Ben Luc Float Bridge

Anchor the Bridge, Literally: Round One -

Round Two: Improvise -

Round Three: Anchor Away - Murphy RULES! -

Epilog -

Anchor Away (Not Aweigh)
The Ben Luc Float Bridge
- July 1968 -