NIGHT OF MAY 8-9, 1968
During the night, 1LT Humphreys, CO, E/3-39th, "flew a continuous VR [visual
reconnaissance] south of Saigon," noted a brigade after-action report; the
recon helo was referred to as the Eye-in-the-Sky.  "Using a starlight scope,
he spotted several sampans and one group of 10 VC during the night.  Using
helicopter gunships and arty, he killed 6 VC . . . and sank 3 sampans . . . "
    The brigade log notes that the 3-39th spotted the first sampan at 1:30 AM
approximately twenty kilometers south of Saigon; when the chopper approached
the sampan, it stopped in middle of river.  "It is past curfew time," noted
the log, "sampan will be fired upon."  The brigade log notes that at 2:05 AM
in the same general area "the Eye-in-the-sky engaged 2 large sampans and 1
small one.  Sank 2 large sampans and 4 personnel swam ashore.  Engaged the
woodline.  Report negative results all around."  The brigade log adds that
the "Eye-in-the-Sky spotted 10 personnel at 0325H moving vic XS 713710
[approximately fifteen kilometers southwest of Saigon] and fired artillery
into the area resulting in 6 VC confirmed BC [Body Count], and 4 VC possible."

At 2:25 AM, the Battalion Field CP in the pagoda below the Y-Bridge began
taking mortar fire; fifty 82mm rounds hit the area before the fire ceased at
2:55 AM.
    Next, at 3:45 AM, the position came under a mortar and ground attack,
supported by RPGs.  Artillery and gunships were called in (the gunships were
overhead by 4:05 AM), and a USAF C47 flareship orbited the battle, dropping
flares and firing its minigun.  The attack broke off at 6:30 AM, with the
enemy pulling back to the south and west.  The 3-39th reported that it was
still under sporadic sniper and RPG fire as the enemy withdrew.  A/3-39th
reported 1 US KIA and 5 US WIA.  B/3-39th reported 2 US WIA.  Other reports
put the 3-39th's casualties as 2 US KIA and 67 US WIA.
    PFCs Elport Chess and Voltaire J. Soto of A/3-39th were awarded Silver
Stars for their two-man defense that night of the little Rach Bo De Bridge,
which spanned a feeder canal near the Y Bridge; each man was cited for
pushing back two enemy assaults over the course of three hours with grenades
and M60 fire.
    At 8:20 AM, A/3-39th had just begun to move out when it reported finding
four dead VC.  The wounded from the night attack were medevacked by 9:05 AM.
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