Da Son Valley and Snor Ben Da River are just to the west Pepper Ridge from FSB Hill 4-11. The Snor Ben Da River (large stream) connected to the Song Tra Khuc River on the eastern side of the Horseshoe. Da Son was a village much further up stream of the Snor Ben Da River and the area was known by most grunts as "Da Son Valley."
This "Virtual Tour" of the Da Son Valley and Snor Ben Da River area was provided by Phillip Tinkle who was a rifleman with C Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry from July, 1970 to July, 1971.
Photograph by Phillip Tinkle
This picture was taken in the foothills along the Snor Ben Da River not too far from the old village of Da Son. At the time, Charlie Company was on a patrol sweeping up the valley towards Da Son when someone noticed something in the water. As it turned out, it was a rocket pod with rockets, presumably from a downed helicopter gunship. The VC were transporting it down the valley and ditched it in the river when they saw Charlie Company coming.
Photograph by Phillip Tinkle
After fishing the rocket pod out of the river, this group of grunts decided to go fishing for real fish using hand fragmentation grenades as bait. A crude way to fish but it worked. This grunt couldn't wait to cook his fish.
Photograph by Phillip Tinkle
The rest of the guys cooked their fish over a burning log. Any break from eating C-rations was always welcomed! Pictured from left to right are J.B. Baker (RTO), Doc Claude Bradley (Medic), an unidentified grunt, and LT Bar Delk from 1st Platoon of C Company.
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