Acting on numerous intelligence indicators, the 2nd battalion 8th cavalry entered an area of operations in Cambodia just north of Binh Long province. Almost immediately the battalion began to find caches. It was not until 26 May however that the unit discovered what turned out to be one of the major ammunitions caches of the operation. Because the site was so rich in munitions the cache was named "Picatinny East" after a major U.S. arsenal. Here is a cache that contained 65.1 tons of ammunition including the following:

ITEM

EACH

ITEM

EACH

108

12

155

Enough rocket, recoilless rifle and mortar rounds were uncovered at this one cache to launch 404 attacks by fire. Enough AK 47 rounds were captured to supply each man in the 5th V.C., 7th NVA and 9th V.C. divisions with ammunition for 30 AK 47 banana magazines. Many American and South Vietnamese lives were saved by the battalions work.

Although it was large, Picatinny East was merely the center of a cache complex which contained stores of medical, automotive and communications equipment. In addition the 2nd battalion 8th cavalry discovered scattered widely over the rolling hills of Cambodia 26 other caches filled with a great variety of material. The figures are impressive:

Individual weapons

Crew served weapons

69.18 tons

124

50

Corn

1860 lbs

6500 lbs

To put these numbers in perspective enough rice was captured to feed 11 NVA infantry divisions for an entire week at full rations, 1.5 lb per man per day or 16.5 divisions at reduced rations, 1 lb per man per day. Enough crew served weapons were captured to equip 2 NVA infantry battalions, while enough individual weapons were discovered to equip more than 3 NVA infantry companies.

Particularly noteworthy, are the 15 107 mm rocket launchers that were found. These were the only 107 mm rocket launchers uncovered in Cambodia.

The 2nd Battalion 8th cavalry found medical, automotive and communications caches both in the Picatinny East complex and elsewhere. These caches produced some of the most significant finds of the Cambodian operation.

The Picatinny East group of caches included the K30 hospital which was operated by the 70th rear service group. This major medical facility had an operating room, laboratories, and kitchens. It consisted of 150 bunkers varying in size from 12 to 15 feet to 6 by 6 fee,t all with 2 1/2 foot overhead cover. The hospital was also a training center with classrooms and books. Among the medical supplies found were hypodermic needles, medical kits, drug bottles and test tubes. Ten kilometers away the battalion discovered a medical store house which contained 37,040 lbs of medical supplies including vitamin tablets, chloramimium B, sulfa antibiotics and chloraquinine as well as bandages, gauze and first aid kits.

On the periphery of the Picatinny East complex the 2nd battalion 8th cavalry found a vehicle repair site. Items found included 6 suspension springs, 3 drive shafts, 2 radiators, 5 generators, 6 acetylene sets and many other pieces of equipment. Out side the complex area the battalion found still more automotive equipment to include 6 vehicles, 2 arc welders, 35 tires and 12 batteries.

One of the most important finds by the 2nd battalion 8th cavalry was a major communications center. In the Cambodian caches, communications equipment was relatively rare. Not only because signal equipment is difficult for the NVA to obtain, but also because it is rather small and portable. For some reason, however, the units responsible for the signal operation were unable to remove their equipment. They were forced to leave behind 24 PRC 10 radios, 2 large transmitters, 7 switchboards, and 9 telegraph keys.

The outstanding results of the 2nd battalion 8th cavalry's operations in Cambodia was a direct result of the hard professional work of its officers and men. To the 2nd battalion 8th cavalry goes a hearty well done.

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