Class 60 M4T6 Aluminum Balk Float Bridge
(Pontoon Bridge)

Across the Saigon River Main Supply Route  (MSR) between
Long Binh and Chu Chi. 65% of which was Built by C & D
Companies On 6 November 1968
Below is what we found when we arrived at the bridge over the Saigon River on the MSR
between Long Binh and Chu Chir, and traffic was backed up for miles in both directions.
This photo was taken and sent to me by one of my buddies, Greg Mize....... C-Company Thanks
Greg
Aerial View of the completed float bridge we in C-Company helped build. We built 65% of the
pontoon bridge with the help of D-Company. Picture shows traffic once again flowing down the
MSR and across the Saigon River after only 26 hours from when the bridge was blown
Class 60  M4T6 Aluminum Balk Float Bridge Across the Saigon River

During the night of November 6th  1968 the VC blew up the bridge over the Saigon River on the Main
Supply Route  (MSR) between Long Binh and Chu Chi Phu Cuong.

The story goes that the bridge was a concrete prestressed T-beam design.  The explosive charges
were set off under water in the middle of one span, causing a geyser of water to go upward against
the bottom of the span, which reversed the stresses (loads) on the bottom chord of the span,
cracking the concrete T beams and the span collapsed under its own weight.  Allegedly the demo
team was led by a Cuban and composed of NVA sappers, which were supposedly caught later the next
day.  Anyway the demo guys knew their business.

The 46th Engineer Bn (Construction) got the mission in support of the 65th Engineers Battalion
( Divisional) to put in a temporary float bridge to bypass the blown bridge starting from the near
shore.  The 65th Engineer Battalion was to start from the far shore.  C Company of the 46th got the
mission to build the near shore approach, roads, and deck the bridge. D Company of the 46th inflated
the rubber pontoons and installed the saddle assemblies.  The bridge was to be approximately 900-
1,000 feet long, Class 60 (to allow tanks to cross) and guyed (anchored) on both sides because of the
tidal effects on the river currents.

C Company did the initial recon and proceeded to mobilize the entire company with two bridge
companies in tow.  Needless to say, traffic had stopped on the MSR and was backed up for miles in
both directions.  The MPs were having a field day trying to control traffic, get everything parked on
the road shoulders and praying the VC didn’t attack the stopped ammo and fuel trucks. I can only
assume that the locals didn’t know in advance of the demo effort. In the middle of the confusion, C
Company comes charging to the rescue with almost 200 more vehicles, barreling down the road and
ignoring the MPs.  They (the MPs) never did understand just what we were going to do for them.  I
can only assume that Ltc. Jordan (46th Bn CO) or Col. Bates Burnell (159th Group CO.) smoothed their
ruffled feathers since they were really PO’d at us for ignoring their orders to park on the road
shoulder like everyone else.

C Company completed the recon that morning and started working on the near shore roads and
abutment and work areas while the rest of the C company and B company mobilized with the two
bridge companies.  We worked from early afternoon until just before daylight putting our portion
(over 65% of the total length) in place, including anchorages and spare raft sections.  We worked
under blackout conditions all night since we were occasionally getting shot at.  We supposedly had
infantry security, but I never saw it personally.  The bridge companies provided excellent technical
assistance and were able to deliver the balk closer to the assembly locations by backing onto the
partial bridge for unloading of balk.  D Company did an excellent job of getting us the needed
pontoon assemblies, as we needed them for extending the bridge.  The bridge companies operated
the bridge assembly boats. First traffic crossed the float bridge at 0830on November 7th,  26 hours
after the fixed bridge was blown.

The entire company was committed to this project including all of the officers and NCOs, mechanics,
cooks and clerks.  First Sergeant Aubrey Redding conducted the M4T6 bridge training before the
company left Long Binh for the site and coordinated all our requirements with battalion and SFC Jim
Kuipers  (maintenance sergeant) was the field first sergeant.  The battalion provided excellent
support and kept out of our way as long as we kept them informed of our progress.  An interesting
sidelight was the large number of Huey helicopters that kept flying overhead (must never have seen
a float bridge under construction before) that a mobile air traffic control unit was sent in so that the
aerial rubber neckers didn’t hurt each other. Col. Jorden reported later that the transportation folks
that used the replacement float bridge were extremely appreciative of the float bridge because it
saved them a lot of miles over a VC infested detour.

The men worked extremely hard (to the point of exhaustion) on this bridge, exceeding all
expectations for productivity, despite the blackout and occasional incoming rounds.  Not one man
was killed or injured which is a tribute to the leadership, training and discipline of the platoon NCOs
and officers.  I was never more proud of any group of men before or since.

Written by Philip Johnson, PE, Ltc. USA CE Ret.  former Company Commander of C Company. Thanks
Phil for this bridge project story based on memory and review by some of the people involved.
Members of D-Company who, with C-Company and the 65th Engineer
Battalion (Divisional) built the pontoon bridge over the Saigon River in
6 November 1968.
Picture sent to me by Craig Williams (pictured on far left here) Thanks
Craig for this great picture.
The following 6 pictures were also sent to me by Craig Williams Craig was
a member of D-Company and worked with us on building the pontoon
float bridge.
Again, Craig, thanks for sharing your pictures.