Plei Djereng — A large cache of explosives, ammunitions and weapons
was found recently by Company C, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry, while
participating in the 4th Division’s Operation Sam Houston.
The company was conducting a search and destroy mission in the dense
jungle west of Nam Sathay River when the troops came upon a small hut that
contained the enemy ordnance.
Included in the find were three 60mm mortars and four French light
machine guns. All were coated with cosmoline and carefully wrapped.
Seven bangalore torpedoes, six cases of a plastic explosive resembling
C-4, one can of blasting caps, six boxes of rifle grenades, 6,000 rounds of
small arms ammunition and nine cases of mortar rounds were also found. Forty
leather ammunition pouches, three shovels and 10 picks were among the field
gear in the cache.
The find was too large to be carried along with the company as it
continued its search and destroy mission.
Captain Ronald Rykowski, Company C commander, called for a
"Huey" helicopter to haul the enemy ordnance back to the unit fire
base. Because no landing zone was nearby the equipment was loaded into bags
and attached to an 120-foot rope dangling from the helicopter.
Twelve trips were necessary to carry all of the captured material into
the fire base.