Gary H. Westra - Riverine Dianne L. Ray Rolling Thunder XIII		In the late 60's US troops had been committed in large numbers to three of the four corps areas of Vietnam. Only in IV Corps, the Mekong Delta region, were there no large numbers of American troops. The numerous rivers, streams and canals which dissected the delta severely restricted ground movement. The primary mission of the Mobile Riverine Force was fast deployment of troops in the Delta region of Vietnam to counter growing communist strength. More often than not the units had to fight their way into an area then experience another fire fight getting out. The Force was made up of Army and Navy personnel, mostly young men, who lived and worked on the rivers and canals of the Mekong Delta. Their boats were big and slow which presented an inviting targets to the Viet Cong.