Mekong River Patrol

February 28, 2014

The labyrinthine Mekong Delta was a hot zone in the war against well organized Viet Cong insurgents, immortalized by the film “Apocalypse Now.”

This beautifully photographed film is the real thing — a “slice of life” documentary showing daily operations aboard the Harnett County and on river patrols by air and water.

The USS Harnett County (LST-821) served as a floating base in the China Sea for PBR and helicopter patrol operations in the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam War.

May 17, 2023 – During the Vietnam War, US forces were fighting in terrain very different to what they’re used to at home. One of these key differences in the lack of purpose built roads across the country. The Vietnamese instead use the rivers and waterways that run through their country. As these routes were so vital to the Viet Cong, US forces had to patrol them extremely carefully.