HISTORY OF THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE MARINE CORPS

Some Long Range Patrol Activities

Captain Phan Van Than

1. After My Chanh river defensive line had been established, Long Range Patrol Company C sent group after group and crossed the river to sound the enemy condition several times.

After having collected much information, the company received orders to cross the river and to become a spring board for the Marines Battalion to advance and reoccupy Quang Tri. 

2. In only one week, Long Range Patrol Company A had twice infiltrated the Trieu Phong district to investigate about the enemy's condition there. Then on the third time, it simultaneously jumped down in it with the 1st Marine Battalion to try and cut the enemy logistics line.

3. In Bich La Thon, Long Range Patrol Company B excellently performed a patrol tactic and showed great individual fighting technique. It dispersed widely in small groups and then members of each small group would split again. There were explosions everywhere. There was a ghostly presence of the Long Range Patrol members everywhere.

4. In 1973, a group of Long Range Patrol Company A soldiers under the command of 2nd Lieutenant Duong van Hung intruded into the DMZ. At 300m south of the southern bank of Ben Hai River, it encountered a NVA sapper team. Violence broke out. The NVA sappers were annihilated by the group but 2nd Lieutenant Hung was killed. Group B of 1st Marine Battalion was quick to support so that the remainder of the group could search the battlefield and medevac. It was noteworthy to mention that a number of Red china equipment was seized, eg. Compasses, binoculars and maps which had been marked and noted in detail all the fires bases A1, A2, C1, C2... Dong Ha airfield etc.

5. In 1974, Company A of 1st Lieutenant Danh sent three groups to observe from Cua Viet to My Thuy. The 2nd Lieutenant Duc commanded the first group. The 2nd Lieutenant Pham Ngoc Son led the second. While, 1st lieutenant Danh himself directed the third group. They observed a NVA ferry carrying food and then a NVA big cargo ship. The groups reported their presence. Both were sunk by artillery and air strikes.

6. Some Company A members were killed in action:

2nd Lieutenant Tran Van Cho, 2nd Lieutenant Le Minh Tuong, 2nd Lieutenant Duong Van Hung, 2nd Lieutenant Nguyen Du, Sergeant Quyen, Sergeant Hoanh, Sergeant Canh, Sergeant Hai, 1st Corporal Nghiep, Corporal Sang, Corporal Hiep, Corporal Hung, Corporal Dung, Private 1st Class Tuan and Private 2nd Class Dung.

Captain Phan Van Than