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   _Farley

Infantryman scrambles through My Tho ruins
                        VC  use shops and homes for shelter

   Can Tho: Feb. 12-22—Responding to intelligence reports of a planned enemy attack on Can Tho, the MRF dropped anchor near the Phong Dinh Province capital on Feb. 13. A day later, sweeping on both sides of a canal emptying into the Can Tho River, 2d Brigade soldiers found a huge stockpile of enemy ammunition, highlighted by eighty-nine 120mm mortar rounds.
     By Feb. 10, several battles had resulted in 82 VC killed as the 2d Brigade pushed further south.
     Finally, on Feb. 22, the riverine units mounted an assault 20 miles south of Can Tho. Beaching at pre-determined locations, they came upon a well-constructed enemy bunker complex. Only one thing was wrong—the enemy, evidently expecting an airmobile attack, had faced their firing ports toward the open fields rather than the river. The unexpected beach landing drove the frenzied VC out into the open fields, where gunships and artillery dropped more than 60 of them.
     My Tho: Feb. 6-8—When the MRF shifted their attention to Vinh Long, ARVN units continued to pursue two VC battalions around My Tho. The 5th/60th and 2d/39th joined the fray and, supported by heavy air and artillery strikes, totaled 163 VC bodies during this phase of the My Tho campaign. U.S. forces sustained 12 killed.
     Tan An: Feb 9-10—In the past, the 3d Brigade base camp of Tan An, 25 miles southwest of Saigon, had received harassing and probing enemy fire, but never anything as intense or coordinated as the two-pronged attack the night of Feb. 9-10. After enemy mortars had been poured inside the camp, an estimated guerrilla company worked their way forward through the civilian communities tangent to the base and succeeded in penetrating the perimeter. Close combat ensued until morning, when the attack was finally put down. More than 30 enemy bodies were counted, and 23 detainees were identified as members of the 330th NVA Division. Four U.S. soldiers were killed and 48 wounded.
     Combat action was only half the battle against the ruthless enemy terrorists. Even before the widespread fighting had eased off, Division civic action teams rushed into the beleaguered cities with medical aid, food and other supplies. The massive destruction wreaked by the communist insurgents was effectively countered by an even more massive program to help thousands of homeless Vietnamese victims rebuild their future.