In this post I include first person accounts of what it was like going into the area. These comments were published in The Mobile Riverine Force Association publication River Currents Volume 21, Number 2, Summer 2012.
The title of the article is, Down A Canal at 8 Knots, in their own words.
Roy M. C CO 4th/47th 9th Inf. Div. (10/67-10/68)
"I will never forget the feeling I had before and during a tango boat ride down the rivers and canals. On the morning of the mission, we were awaken around 0300 to 0400 depending on how far we had to travel. The company would assemble on the mess deck, and if we wanted it we could eat breakfast. Most of us never wanted to eat as our stomachs were in knots for the fear of the mission. When it was time, we would go down to the pontoon, gear up, and load into the Tangos. If it was a Tango with no seats, we would just lay down on the steel floor of the boat. There was very little room and we were packed in like sardines. I think I can speak for everyone, the smell of diesel fuel and the sound of the engines in the Tangos is something we will never forget. Most of us had no idea where we were going or how long it would take to get there. We might be able to get a little sleep but mostly our minds were on the mission ahead. It was usually very quiet and little conversation was had between us; just blank expressions and looks of fear on our faces. As long as we were on the big rivers, we weren't too scared, but once we got on the small canals we worried about an ambush. There were places on some of the canals that one could reach out and touch the vegetation on the side of the canal, not a good feeling at all. After some time on the boat, we could hear and feel the engine back off and know that the Tango was making a sharp turn to let us off at the river bank. The ramp dropped and we got off the Tango as quick as possible, although most of the time we stepped off into waist deep mud that was impossible to walk in. Only with help from a fellow soldier could we get out. In a way it felt good to off the Tango that was just a big target for the VC, but then we were in the jungle with Charlie. I don't know which was worse."
Gerald B. Tango-27 (05/59-05/70)
"We did not worry about getting hit on the way to an ambush in day light or the next morning returning to base camp. I don't know of anyone who got hit at those times. Charlie did not like daylight, but when the sun went down it was time to look sharp. How much did a 56 ft long boat stick out on a 90 foot canal? We were sitting ducks, and a fire fight was pretty intense and up close for a few minutes as we cold slug it out on a Tango boat.."
Al B. RivDiv 91 (10/66-12/67)
"Thought of Going Up Snoopy's Nose"
"After the first time the MRF went up Snoopy's Nose, we all knew it was going to be a shooting match on subsequent trips. My recollection is after awhile we 'accepted' that fact and put our faith in our guns, boats, God, and most of all, our troops and shipmates. I believe the first time anyone came under fire, the 'hardened' themselves to the situation. No one looked forward to it, but we accepted if the the most part. I can say there was calming feeling once the troops were discharged from the boats and on the ground. We felt we had a definite layer of protection around us. Also, specific to Snoopy's Nose--our confidence in our chances of making it through the ambush was bolstered by artillery fire that walked up the banks as we advanced. On other occasions, we had helo Gunship support, or USAF jets strafing the banks. On other areas that were new to us, we just pushed through, being vigilant and looking for 'the fight'. If it didn't happen, it was great."
Bill B., 4th of the 47th Company B, 9th Infantry Division ( January 17 to April 25, 1969 ) stationed on the USS Nueces APB-49.
"On my first outing we went into an area called The Crossroads that was two rivers crossed on the way to Ben Tre. Once we got down into the smaller canals, my first thought was that we were not going fast enough and therefore an easy target for the Viet Cong. Several guys said that they had been hit by RPGs on missions like this. Fortunately, we weren't hit that day. I hated those missions because we were slow moving targets. On a couple of occasions, we did get hit by small arms and RPGs but lucked out. To this day when I get onto a pontoon boat and go into a small outlet(inlet), I can feel the hair on the back of of the neck start to rise and my heart rate goes up."
Jack S. D Co. 3rd/60th (10/68-07-69)
"As Delta Company's 3rd Platoon Leader, here's what I recall about tango boat insertions in 1968 and 1969. Usually we boarded the boats at 0200 or 0300 hours fully equipped for 2 to 4 days mission. We were all tired or hung over or both, but off we went to wherever the Navy took us. Maybe it's because I was a 23 year-old lieutenant, naive, immortal, and dumb. I do not recall any fear because the Navy was going to protect us ( I didn't think about RPGs ). I guess you should ask Tom Kelly* about about those and the damage they can do. Seldom did we land in a hot LZ, but if we did, then the Navy had the firepower to suppress the VC until we found cover in some muddy ditch or that's what we thought. Usually our ride on the tangos was spent heating coffee with small chunks of C-4 and throwing away the uneatable stuff in our C-rations, which was everything except the pound cake, cheese and crackers, peanut butter, coffee, cocoa, and stale cigarettes. Once, one of the troops had a FNG (Fucking New Guy) stomp on the still burning C-4 and it blew the heel off his boot. Oh well, he still limped through the operation with one heel. The bad part of these operations was for the Navy. The VC were smart enough to wait until the Army had evacuated, then ambush them on their return to the ships. Only once did they hit us while we were onboard and 30 troops blindly returned fire, not exposing our heads to see the targets. I'm sure we scared the hell out of them if nothing else. Our saving grace was the loud diesel engines announcing our arrival that gave the VC time to ditty-mau. Thank you Navy for your unmuffled engines. In hindsight, you could not pay me enough to participate in a tango boat operation."
*Tom Kelly was a Navy Commander who was severely wounded by an RPG in a fire fight, yet stayed in command to direct the mission. He received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions.
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