Re: BONG SON BRIDGE -- 84th Engineer Battalion (Construction)

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Date Posted: 12:33:09 12/22/99 Wed
Author: Tom Roberts
Subject: Re: BONG SON BRIDGE
In reply to: CORK PETERSON 's message, "BONG SON BRIDGE" on 11:55:56 12/11/99 Sat

> THE PICTURES OF THE BRIDGE ON THIS SITE BRING BACK
> MEMORIES. IWAS WITH 523RD ENGR CO.PORT CONST. AND WE
> WENT TO BONG SON IN 1967 TO DRIVE A PILING PIER AND
> RESET THE DROPPED SPANS ON THE OLD BRIDGE. THIS WAS
> USED ALONG WITH THE RAILROAD BRIDGE UNTIL REPLACED BY
> NEW BRIEGE IN 1970. WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM OTHERS IN
> 523RD.
> THANKS--CORK PETERSON

I was with the 523rd PC during my second tour from April, 1971 to January, 1972 near Vinh Long down in the Delta. At that time I was assigned to one of the three barges we had in the unit which had a crane mounted on it and we drove concrete pilings for a bridge. We had a house barge attached with four hooches on it and we lived on the river, only going in to the company compound on pay day. I was one of two E-5's on the barge which was supervised by an E-6. In July, 1971 the local VC floated a mine down on us and blew us up but the barge somehow stayed afloat and we were able to rebuild and keep on going. Fortunately no one was killed althoug we did lose three guys while I was there, each one falling over the side and drowning. The unit also had three 'mike boats' which ran all over the Delta delivering supplies. I'm also very familiar with the Bong Son area since I was assigned to Co. B of the 84th which built the bridge in Bong Son in 1970. I drove one of the two ready-mix trucks in the unit. I understand the bridge stood for about 2 years before they blew it up.
Glad to see that there are still some 523rd guys out there. It was such a small unit I was very surprised to see your post.
Take care.
Tom Roberts
Tyler, Texas

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Replies:

Re: BONG SON BRIDGE -- tai ton, 06:36:55 06/13/00 Tue
- Re: BONG SON BRIDGE -- TOM BIXBY, 11:18:45 07/10/00 Mon
Re: BONG SON BRIDGE -- Dennis Galke, 19:47:14 04/25/08 Fri