In the late months of 1965 and early months of 1966, the Saigon River from the mouth to the port of Saigon, was definite "Injun Country". Ships were unloaded off-shore and barges carried their cargo up the river to Saigon. It was common for the VC to fire on the barges and equally as common for the swiftboats of the USN to jump in and "fumigate" the jungles on the banks of the river. In any case, it was a very dicey trip for a lot of soldiers and sailors. It was also common for barges filled with cargo to run aground on sandbars and sunken barges and other hazards to navigation. When that happened, units from the surrounding area were tasked to send out a rescue mission. Sometimes, if the neighboring units were all tasked out, they announced on AFN radio that they needed volunteers from the greater Saigon area to mount a rescue opertation. These requests were met with lukewarm response at best...with one notable exception. When the radio sent out a request for volunteers to go downriver to help rescue a barge that was loaded with beer, they were flooded with dozens of eager volunteers. Silly, I know...but it is still a happy memory, listening to the guy on the radio telling us that they needed us to quit coming to the station to volunteer, enough already!