Southern Cross information
for 17 AHC
11 LIB
For date 700320
17 AHC was a US Army unit
11 LIB was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Quang Ngai Province, I Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Duc Pho
Description: The following is an edited version of an article titled "Frogmen Help Inf. Uncover Big Cache" prepared by SP4 Peter Sorensen of the 11th Inf Bde IO.
FSB BRONCO - In response to numerous radar sightings along the coast of the South China Sea, the 11th Inf. Bde. recently called in two Navy frogmen from the Underwater Demolition Team (UDT)-12, which is presently based in Da Nang. "Our radar has picked up personnel and metallic movement at the mouth of the Song Tra Cau, one mile northeast of Duc Pho. The spottings seem to disappear, leading us to believe that there are numerous caves and tunnels in the area," reported CPT Joseph P. Phillip (Philadelphia), 11th Inf. Bde. chemical officer. An aerial recon of the area revealed the possibility of many caves and hiding places and the need of a ground search. The shoreline infantrymen from C/1/20th Inf., along with a "Primo" LOH from the brigade's aviation section and a "Dolphin" utility helicopter from the 17th AHC secured the area while the divers conducted their search. Aviation Boatswain Handler Second Class Larry Molina (Los Angeles) and Quartermaster Second Class David James (Los Angeles), both members of UDT-12, found themselves out of water as often as in the murky inlet as their day-long venture took them through caves and tunnels and into the numerous nooks and crannies which abound on the rough landscape. The men's labors produced one sampan, seven round basket boats, six oars, 14 large nylon fishing nets, 120 pounds of rice and 40 pounds of fish. "This area is one big storage place. The VC had to have been here three to six hours before our arrival. The fish we found were fresh and in one bag we found a large crab still alive," said James. At times the men disappeared, armed only with a .45 cal. automatic pistol and a flashlight, head first into cracks in the rock handing our enemy food supplies and fishing gear. Diver Larry Melino commented after the completion of the search, "We enjoyed being tunnel rats and which that we could stay longer on this operation." Pointing to his sweat band he added, "That's not sea water. It's sweat--nervous energy. You never know what you'll find in one of those holes." At day's end the frogmen and "Jungle Warriors" were extracted by helicopter, leaving behind some hungry VC. Not only had food been confiscated but more important, its means of production.
The source for this information was 7003_311.SCR supplied by Les Hines (Southern Cross newspaper from 23rd Inf Div)
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
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Last updated
12/24/1999
Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023