C 2/5 Cav - March 1971

My name is Romeo Trevino, I was the S-2, 2nd Battalion 5th Cavalry, 1 Air Cavalry Division. On 30 March 1971, I requested to lead a combat raid of a VC base camp, based on intelligence received from a POW. I was certain of its location, since, I had conducted search and destroy operations on a smaller VC Camp as the 2nd platoon leader with "Charlie" Company in the same AO. Two earlier attempts, by the LRRPs and Echo Recon, to locate the Base were unsuccessful, so, LTC Leonard P. Wishart, gave his permission, if I could get five volunteers from C Company, which had perimeter security that week on Firebase Sandra, III Corps. I asked for five volunteers from 2nd Platoon, my last assignment before I was brought up to battalion. I got 9, including "Panama," an M-60 Gunner from Florida. The next morning, LTC Wishart, the finest example of a Battalion Commander, as I have ever known, added a scout dog and handler, the POW, and a Kit Carson Scout to our raiding party.

We were inserted by helicopter, about 2 kilometers away, and we made our way up the mountain. The going was extremely difficult and our point men tired one right after the other, as we climbed over rock slabs and undergrowth. Even the scout dog became so exhausted that we passed her by. I took the last point to keep our patrol from lagging. When I spotted the area where I was sure the camp was located, I waited for the men to catch up and placed them on line for the assault. Panama had flank security as we conducted our raid. It was completely successful, and we found the camp deserted with rice sifters and other clothes scattered as they fled the site to the other side. We found letters, ordnance, and most importantly, their battle flag. The camp had a tall bamboo hut, so well built, that it could have been used as a prisoner detainment area. There was also a very sturdy two-man human stock. The very sight of which made us want to completely destroy it to prevent its further use. Our machetes were no match for the strength of these structures, so, I ordered the camp burned. We then moved to our extraction point, and, again, encountered the going so demanding, that I had to carry the rucksack and M-16 of the dog handler, so he could carry his scout dog. On returning to firebase Sandra, we debriefed and the ordnance was destroyed by the Engineers.

Fire Support Base Sandra was located near Tanh Linh miles east of FSB Mace at Xuan Loc, in Binh Tuy Province. It was a pretty spot in the hills on the edge of the Highlands. Guys who were in C-2/5 at that time should remember it. The first picture is of the ridge, the highest point of the base, which covered one side of the hill. The hill in the background was frequented by the bad guys from time to time. The next is looking down the hill toward the mess tent. The third shot was taken looking back up to the ridge. At the bottom, looking towards the mountains between FSB Sandra and the village of Tanh Linh. (Source: Kevin Perrier, formerly of Company B and Echo recon, 2/7^th Cav) Notice the aiming stakes in the top and bottom pictures.


	Click on the photos to see larger version Courtesy Kevin Perrier