Troop Ship: USNS Gen. E.D. Patrick departing Oakland

Patrick sales under the Golden Gate

From TayNinh, we traveled east toward my old base camp of Phu Loi. We arrived at a new dam built by the Russians. They are very proud of it. It floods the DauTieng area in which some of our units operated under the radio sign of "Danger North". Now it is peaceful, and under water.

We arrived in RVN in 1966 on USNS Gen E. D. Patrick, just out of the reserve fleet. Of course the boilers failed in min-Pacific, and it took 23 days to make the passage, 2 of them in a typhoon at 2 knots.

There were 90 ships in VungTau harbor when we arrived, but we had a high priority, so off loaded into LSU's and went ashore over the beach of what used to be an elegent French resort on the South China Sea. F-100's entertained us on the high ground. You would think such an area would be secure.

We were picked up immediately at a landing area on the high ground by a C-123 Provider. We flew west past Saigon and descended on a plain over water with trees sticking through it. After waiting for a break in the rain, we landed in 14 inches of water and we slogged a few hundred yards to our new battalion area. We had little shelter tents and our advanced party had been able to smuggle cots to us. It is a good thing, for they were the only thing above water on which to sleep.

Phu Loi was a Japanese Airstrip before and during WWII. There is a little village by that name nearby, and the VietNamese security people have a prison work camp nearby. We were part of the build up of 66, and the 1st Infantry Division Artillery was setting up base camp here. We built bunkers and survived as best we could as the artillery began to assemble in some quantity. Within months we had rotating in and out 5 batteries of various types, from 105's to 175 guns. The night rocked with fire missions and H&I fire.

The 1st Air Cav arrived and began to use our little airstrip for their helicopters. The local Phu Loi Batallion arrived too. Our first attack was on our 3rd night.

Now, in 1999, I anticipated traveling the last 5 or 10 miles to see this place where I spent much of my time in country. My guide shook his head and said I couldn't go there. This was the only time I was restricted in any way, so I questioned him about it. He said there were things there I could not see. I asked again. He said the government was there. I asked again, he replied "prison camp", then shut up completely. I assumed he meant one of the so-called "re-education camps", and we began our trip back to Saigon, the long way.

Arriving at the Saigon Star Hotel again, I slide gratefully into the tub of cold water. John went shopping to find each of us a Bia Tiger in a local market while I got out the Motrin. Arising with only aches and pains, we ate a big breakfast with lots of great fruit, then washed our clothes in the tub, drying our socks with the Otel Model 1200 Sock and Tooth Brush Dryer provided in our room, and headed for the MeKong Delta, an area I did not visit in my last journey here.

Ap Phu Loi, 1966

A relaxed moment