While researching my HMV's I have discovered not one, but two large secret
operations during the Vietnam war. The first is float, or ponton (not
pontoon) bridges, the second, firefighting.
I have a LeRoi compressor truck, it's TM indicates it could have been
used by Engineer Float Bridge companies. I have the TOE for engineer float
bridge companies, which indicates same. I have seen in books, magazines and
on the web photographs of US built float bridges in Vietnam. BUT, despite
looking at every Vietnam war engineer related web site I can find, looking at
every book I can find on same subject, and inquiring at the Engineer Museum
at Ft. Leonard Wood, I cannot find out what US Army Engineer Float Bridge
Companies were sent to Vietnam.
I am therefore forced to the conclusion that these ponton bridges, while
looking relatively simply, must really be giant antenna used for CIA
listening devices or such. I can't think of any other way there could be such
a vacuum of information!
Likewise Engineer Firefighters. I recognize that a lot of the
firefighting operations in Vietnam were contracted out to Pacific Architects
and Engineers, but there were SOME US soldiers there with this MOS, but who
were they attached to? The only reference I have ever found is a song
dedication in a recording of an AFVN broadcast to the "145th Fire Department."
I sure would like to properly mark my trucks, but am at the end of my
rope (having been at this for better than a year).
Any ideas anyone?
Thanks,
David Doyle
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