Army Reporter information
for 2 BDE 1 INF

For date 681104


2 BDE 1 INF was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
South Vietnam
Location, Phu Huu
Description: The following is an edited version of an article titled "Reach isolated village MEDCAPS go airmobile" dated 4 Nov 1968. VC attempts to isolate the village of Phu Huu, 10 miles west of Saigon, have been thwarted by airmobile MEDCAPS conducted by Vietnamese Army personnel and members of the 1st Inf Div's 2nd Bde. The airmobile approach was made necessary by VC damage to bridges along the road from Saigon to Phu Huu. Apparently, the enemy destruction was wrought to disrupt the health, conditions, morale and political stability of the village which has a population of approximately 1,000. The degeneration of village life expected by the VC has not occurred, and the regular MEDCAP visits have played a major part in enabling the village to retain its identity and stability. To begin the most recent MEDCAP in the village, a team left Di An early in the morning by Chinook and flew to Phu Huu. Included on the team were three men from the brigade civil affairs section, three members of the 257th Medical Detachment (Dental), five representatives of the 1st Med Bn, two ARVN NCOs, an interpreter and an armed propaganda team of seven Hoi Chanhs. Recording used When the team arrived at the village, Payne set up a tape recorder and a speaker system which played the Vietnamese national anthem and informed the people that the allied soldiers had come to conduct a MEDCAP. The recording went on to explain the procedure which should be followed by those desiring treatment. Working for four hours, two physicians and their assistants treated more than 100 people. Those with serious ailments were separated from the rest and treated first. Then came patients with such troubles as common colds and skin ailments. CPT Latimer Blount, a dentist, observed that he had fewer patients than on some earlier visits, but he treated about 20 patients. While treatment was being conducted a Vietnamese sergeant spoke to a crowd of several hundred explaining "why we want to help you and want you to help us." The members of the armed propaganda team circulated through the crowd asking questions concerning enemy activities. Food distributed Some Vietnamese flags and school supplies were left in the village as well as food and clothing which were distributed to the neediest people in the village who had been selected by the village chief. MAJ Jose C. Barbosa, 2nd Bde Civil Affairs Officer summed up what had taken place saying. "As long as we continue to bring these MEDCAPS to villages harassed by the VC, the settlements will be less likely to be isolated or weakened."

The source for this information was 6811AR.AVN supplied by Les Hines


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Date posted on this site: 05/13/2023