The Brown Water Navy

“Brown Water Navy” In my books I talk a lot about the relationship that we had with the US Navy River Division that we dealt with at Ap Bac (aka Ap Bing) and at Moc Hoa (aka Moc Loi)

When I arrived at Ap Bac (Ap Bing in “The Advisor”, we were heavily involved with the US Navy River Divisions 553 and 571 operating from their Advanced Tactical Support Base ATSB) at Tuyen Nhon (Twin Non). The base sat at the junction of the Kênh Mười Hai Canal (Canal Number 12) (renamed the Duong Van Duong canal after the communist takeover in 1975, also referred to as the La Grange Canal [French]) and the Vàm Cỏ Tây River. It was about seven miles from Tuyen Nhon and Ap Bac.

During 1969 and 1970 Seabees, using materials brought in from Danang constructed an operation center, defensive bunkers, ammunition and fuel storage facilities, a helicopter pad, sleeping quarters, and a mess hall.

Our relationship with the Naval forces was excellent. They immediately realized our isolated and vulnerable situation at Ap Bac and made sure that if we were ever threatened that a relief force would be sent immediately to help us or evacuate us if needed.

We conducted numerous operations in support of the Patrol Boat River (PBR) and we enjoyed outstanding support and camaraderie with our “Brown Water” Brothers.

I had an especially good working relationship with the NILO at Tuyen Nhon and we were able to generate and share a lot of great intelligence together. We worked a number of major operations with naval support, and we were able to provide them with outstanding artillery support when then needed our 105mm battery to support their operations. Our Vietnamese artillery unit was superb. The boats realized this and relied on the Ap Bac artillery for heavy support when needed.

In “The Advisor” I discussed a couple of major and minor operations that we conducted with the support of the guys from Riv-Div 553. In Chapter 15 I discussed a mission to break up a Việt Cộng tax collection team along the “Tram Key Stream” (Cai Tom). We went up this small stream in our Kenner Ski Barge with a group of Vietnamese soldiers to break up the operation. A US Navy PBR slowly accompanied us at a distance up this small stream to provide additional fire support if needed. As I mentioned in the book the mission was a failure when the Vietnamese Army Captain failed to follow the original plan resulting in the death of one ARVN soldier and the wounding of four others. When the PBR Captain (A Petty Officer IIRC) heard the explosions, he immediately came forward and assisted us in evacuating the wounded back to the main canal.

Cai Tom Stream

The book describes a number of significant operations that we conducted jointly with the US Navy out of Tuyen Nhon.

We were required to have two Americans on any operation that we conducted and occasionally we’d have one or two of the US Navy Petty Officers or Chiefs stay at the compound with us if one of us had to be away from Ap Bac for any reason. When one of us would go on R&R we’d have one or two US Navy personnel detailed from Tuyen Nhon to provide for the needed manpower requirement. The Navy guys liked the opportunity to stay with us.

The main reason they liked staying with us was the fact that on the Navy Base at Tuyen Nhon the only thing that thy were allowed to drink was beer. We didn’t have those restrictions at Ap Bac. In fact, we probably had ‘the best stocked bar south of Saigon’ and the ‘bar’ was open. We even had a couple of Chief’s who took a three-day in-country R&R and stayed with us. It was always great because they would bring along a case of chicken or steaks for us that they could ‘procure’ from the Mess Hall.

Personally, I always enjoyed visiting the base because I could get good American chow at the Mess Hall. It beat a constant diet of rice and ‘shit fish’. Towards the end of my first tour at Ap Bac I was co-assigned as the Phoenix/Intelligence Advisor to Tuyen Nhon District. Our HQ was located near the Navy Support Facility, and I visited there every time that I went to visit my other District, Tuyen Nhon. (Towards the end of my assignment at Ap Bac as the Phoenix Advisor I was given the responsibility as the Phoenix/S-2 [Intelligence] advisor to both Kien Binh and Tuyen Nhon Districts due to the draw-down of US troops and the lack of replacements)

When the US Navy transferred Tuyen Nhon to the Vietnamese Navy we were invited to attend the transfer of command ceremony.

Transfer Ceremonies

US Navy Troops forming up for the transfer ceremonies

River Division PBRs lined up for the transfer

We were always thankful for the camaraderie that we developed with the men of the River Divisions. I just wish my memory was better in being able to remember all of the names and faces that have faded over the past fifty and some odd years. But I can never forget the brave men that I had the honor to serve with on that tour.

When I was assigned as the Province Senior Intelligence Advisor (Book #2 in the Advisor Series) I was a good friend of the NILO assigned to the ATSB at Moc Hoa. Lieutenant (USN) Gary… (sorry Gary I can’t remember the last name). He moved from one of the floating barges sleeping areas to our Intelligence Team house on the MACV compound.

In a later blog I’ll talk about an important intelligence operation that I was on with the Seal Team from Moc Hoa. It was the first attempt to actually use intrusion detectors to gather combat intelligence.

As an aside, I retired from the US Army in 1994. My last active-duty assignment was at Norfolk, Virginia on the Joint Staff, US Atlantic Command. So, my first and last assignments were serving with the US Navy in a joint capacity.

If you’ve enjoyed my Blog entry or have any comments of questions please leave a comment or please drop me a message or an email.

If you are a fellow Vietnam Veteran, “Welcome Home My Brother and Sister! We Made It!” Please pass this welcome on to any of our brothers or sisters that you meet. It’s the welcome that we didn’t get!

If you do purchase any of my books let me know how you liked them.

Thanks!

Pete “Hardcharger” Taylor.

MACV ‘69- ‘71, 525 MI Group ‘72- ‘73

If you’re enjoying these blogs please drop me a comment or if you have any questions that I might answer, again submit a comment on the comment pages. I’m always glad to hear from you.

Again, please take a look at all of my books that I have listed. They can be purchased from Amazon.com with the click of a button directly from the website. Until Friday, Have a good one.

The Advisor Series:

• “The Advisor, Kien Bing, South Vietnam, 1969-1970. A Novel” (Available on Amazon ASIN: B09L4X5NQ3)
• “The Province Senior Intelligence Advisor, Kien Song Province 1970-1971; A Novel” (Available on Amazon ASIN: B0BHL2XCX5)
• “The Hardchargers,” Vietnam 1972-1973; A Novel” (Available on Amazon ASIN: B0C7SPR1JY)
• “The Tuscarora Trail”(Available on Amazon ASIN: B0D3QY2GM6)

Check out my website for other books that I’ve written or edited.

For more information visit my website: ptaylorvietnamadvisor.com