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Description This Campaign period was from 1 May to 30 June 1970. The allied push into Cambodia during the spring of 1970 brought the SEALORDS forces into a unique operational environment. At 0730 local time on 9 May, 10 days after ground troops crossed the border, a combined Vietnamese-American naval task force steamed up the Mekong River to wrest control of that key waterway from North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces.
The flotilla, led by a Vietnamese naval officer, was composed of American PCFs, ASPBs, PBRs, HAL-3 and VAL-4 aircraft, Benewah, Askari, Hunterdon County, YRBM 16, YRBM 21 and 10 strike assault boats (STAB) of Strike Assault Boat Squadron 20, a fast-reaction unit created by Admiral Zumwalt in 1969. The Vietnamese contingent included riverine assault craft of many types, PCFs, PBRs, and marine battalions.
Naval Advisory Group personnel sailed with each Vietnamese vessel. By the end of the first day, Vietnamese naval units reached the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, while to the south the combined force stormed enemy-held Neak Luong, a strategic ferry crossing point on the river. For political reasons, no U.S. personnel were allowed past Neak Luong, midway to Phnom Penh.
Although the American component pulled out of Cambodia by 29 June, the Vietnamese continued to guard the Mekong and evacuate to South Vietnam over 82,000 ethnic Vietnamese jeopardized by the conflict.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
May / 1970
To Month/Year
June / 1970
Last Updated: Dec 22, 2023
Personal Memories
People You Remember Crewmembers of VO67 (Observation Squadron Sixty Seven). 20 KIA's
Memories VO67 dropped sensors at low levels around the KheSanh Firebase and the HoChiMinh Trail. These sensors detected enemy troop and truck movements which help detect the NVA buildup before the KheSanh Seige.Twenty of our crewmembers were KIA in support of the KSFB. VO67 was expected to possibly lose 75% of its aircraft before we were deployed. It is only by the Grace of God and close association with Forward Air Controllers of the USAF that helped keep our casualty rate down. VO67 was awarded the PUC for our mission.
