Anderson Trail

This page of the web site contains narratives and photos from the mine sweeps we performed on Anderson Trail. The narratives are from my memory of 30+ years ago so if I make an error or you have additional contributions, let me know. (Click on the photos to zoom in). [Floyd Rentz]

Anderson Trail ran westward from Rt.  1 (approx. 8 miles south of Danang) and terminated at an abandoned rail bed just south of the Ha Dong bridge. This road was an important supply route to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines whose CP was located about half way between Rt. 1 and the end of Anderson Trail and also provided a secondary route for the Marines at Hill 55, but it was mostly used by the 7th Engineers to haul fill dirt from Hill 55 to other construction projects located south of Danang. The road had to be swept (inspected) for mines every morning as it could not be protected at night and was rarely used by the local population. Both first and third platoons were involved in these sweeps during 1967 and we considered this a very serious business as a mistake by us (and we did make some) would have dire consequences. The sweeps were conducted using metal detectors but the detectors were of little use as the mines were usually handmade by the V.C. and generally constructed of non-metallic materials. A mine was usually discovered by a visual inspection of the road surface by the sweep team making it necessary to use one of the more experienced people for the point-man. After some experience it was not difficult to spot irregularities on a dry day but if it had rained the night before, it was a near impossible task as the mud obscured any V.C. handiwork. Trust me - this fact was not lost on the V.C.  

Click Here To View a Video
of a Mine Sweep		 Cedarbird Message1.jpg (75213 bytes)
Copy of Intelligence Report 
(provided by Dick Phaneuf)
Click to enlarge


Third Platoon Sweep Sweep team leaving 2/1 CP - wasn't often we had the Ontos with us but it sure was reassuring.
Mine Sweep It was rarely necessary to remind members of the sweep team to keep their distance from each other.
Riding High Additional security for the sweep team was provided by a Marine riding in the back of a truck. This provided a good vantage point but also exposed the lookout to sniper fire.
ambushsite.jpg (53579 bytes) This was an area along the trail that offered good cover for snipers and everyone was especially cautious at this point.
Empty Fields Fields that were empty of farmers or kids playing usually meant a mine somewhere in the road or we could expect sniper fire.
A Good Day When kids were around it was usually safe to relax a little.
bunkermine.jpg (63999 bytes) Anderson Trail connection to the old railroad bed, and the site of the first mine that I had the pleasure (sic) of removing. Usually we blew them in place but the platoon sergeant wanted to "test" the new man so I was given the job of probing the mine to insure it wasn't booby trapped and removing it. I found out later that it had been checked it out before I was brought up from the rear of the column, but at the time it was a pretty shaky deal.
bridge_at.jpg (28443 bytes) Approaching the pontoon bridge at the end of Anderson Trail. The original bridge (shown on the right side of the photo) had been blown by the V.C.
John Stroud Cpl. John Stroud relaxing at the end of a sweep. John was a good friend to many of us and we hope this web site will help in locating him.
Hafer & Stroud on Anderson Trail John Stroud and Rich Hafer - looks like they both could us some R&R

Additional pictures taken in the Anderson Trail area (most are in 2/1 CP)

White and Wartroba Rentz and Hafer Ledbetter and Jetton  Mann, Benden, Wilson, Spaleny and ?  Lurch (can't remember his real name), Kramer, Almeter, and Doc Hansen  Dave Woodard Minter, Jetton, Rentz, Woodard, Care and Wilson  Box Mine - John Stroud removed this one with a grappling hook.