Snipers And Monsoon Rains

Snipers And Monsoon Rains

On Jan 6, 1969 the Song Ba Ren River Bridge was completed by the 9th Engineer Battalion. It was 29 miles south of DaNang and was 722 feet in length. It is believed to be the longest bridge built in the history of the Marine Corps.

The bridge was completed by 3rd platoon “D” Company, 9th Engineer Battalion. In all two were killed and four were wounded seriously during the completion of the bridge. Enemy snipers and monsoon rains could not stop the bridge. It contained 380,000 two-by-sixes and 20,000 four-by-eights. The river raised 12 feet higher during the rains. The Viet Cong and the NVA repeatedly tried to damage the new bridge and at one point floated 20 sampans of NVA soldiers in a suicidal attempt to destroy the span. Snipers also shot repeatedly at the men from a nearby abandoned church. The bridge was dedicated in the name of Arlon Glen Schaffer Loveland, Colorado who was killed in action on 24 September 1968.

Semper Fi
Eric Kenney