Southern Cross information
for 11 BDE 23 INF
MCB-7

For date 700703


11 BDE 23 INF was a US Army unit
MCB-7 was a US Navy unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Quang Ngai Province, I Corps, South Vietnam
Location, LZ BRONCO
Description: The following is an edited version of an article titled "Seabees drill for Jungle Warriors" by SP4 Peter R. Sorensen (11th INF BDE IO). FSB BRONCO - The Navy's Mobile Construction Battalion-7 is turning the 11th Infantry Brigade's fire support bases into oases. For the past month the "Seabees" have been drilling water wells on the "Jungle Warriors" firebases to equip them with a self-sufficient water supply. "The biggest problem has been getting the drill into the location of a proposed well. Our commander in Chu Lai looks a site over after receiving a job order, but getting the equipment into position can be difficult," said Equipment Operator Second Class George W. Stewart from Pine Bank, Pa. Equipment Operator Third Class C.A. Foster, Richwood, W. Va., added, "The granite rock in this area is hard to drill. Also, it is hard to judge the depth when you are working with granite." "Water is not that hard to find in Vietnam, especially in the north. The trick is to find it where you want it. Vietnam is funny in that you don't find water in a good looking site, but you do in some of the most unlikely spots," continued Operator Stewart. "The equipment we install is worth $14,000. It pumps the water out of the well, chlorinates it automatically and filter sediment in a 3,000 gallon tank before storing it into other 3,000 gallon tanks." said Utilityman John Kreider, Joy, Pa. Utilityman Berry Helherington, Doylestown, Pa., commented, "When a well is in full operation there are 9,000 gallons of water on hand." "We sank an 88 foot well at FSB 4-11. At first it pumped five gallons a minute. Now it pumps between ten and 15 gallons a minute which is plenty of water for a firebase," added Operator Stewart.

The source for this information was 7007_324_scr supplied by Les Hines 12/23/2000


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Last updated 12/23/2000

Date posted on this site: 05/13/2023