"A large explosion that shook our V100"
15 January 1970

        The rear gunner was SP/4 Nick Cramer, I was in the turret and SGT Harris was the driver. We were about to continue the double run...one convoy leaving Bien Hoa Airbase heading towards the Newport Docks and one leaving the Newport Docks heading towards Bien Hoa Airbase. From 2330 hours (11:30 PM) to 0100hours (1:00AM), was the most vulnerable time as only one convoy would travel.

As our Operation OVERTAKE NIGHT convoy rolled out at approximately 0100 hours our left gun jeep was not with the convoy. I called back to the radio operator of the jeep and they said they were experiencing some unknown problems but were on the way. I informed then we would hang back until they caught up with the convoy.

I heard the jeep engine roaring as it came up on out left side. Just as it passed us there was a large explosion that shook our V100. I looked down into the turret and the inside was all lit up. We lurched forward about 25 feet and stopped dead. Our radio communications were out and the engine gone.

SGT Harris ordered us to stay in the V100 in case of small arms fire. We trained our machine guns to the West and watched for flashes but none came. In about 5 minutes the 615th MP Company patrols and I believe one of our escort jeeps from the convoy came back for us. The Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) was intended for the gun jeep, missed it and bounced off the road into our engine. SP/4 Cramer and SGT Harris both were injured but I was not.

SP/4 Charles R. Smith, A Company, 720th MP Battalion, December 1969 to November 1970.