1099TH TRANSPORTATION COMPANY (MEDIUM BOAT) "River Rats" The 1099th Transportation Company (Medium Boat, LCM-8) is Headquartered at Camp Davies near Saigon The 1099th supports units in the Mekong Delta whenever called upon. Their missions range from assisting in recovering downed helicopters in the Dong Nai River, pushing cargo barges anywhere in the Saigon area and pushing gravel laden barges from French Fort to Tan An in support of base camp construction by the U.S. 9th Infantry Division.
The 1099th Transportation Company (Medium Boat) was deployed to the Republic of Vietnam in 1965 to provide landing craft for the movement of personnel and cargo in support of Saigon Port and Vung Tau sub-port operations. The mission has expanded to include all types of cargo which is moved throughout III and IV military regions on the inland waterways. The 1099th is one of 3 Landing Craft Medium or LCM-8 Boat companies in the Republic of Vietnam. The 1099th was based at the Cat Lai Army Terminal about 8 miles due east of Saigon. The boats of the "brown water navy" have been deployed as far south as the old French resort town of Cap. Ste. Jacques (Vung Tau), and as far west as the Cambodian border. Of course, trips to Saigon and the neighboring area were common. The boats generally transport two commodities: ammunition and general cargo.
The Cat Lai Terminal is the primary ammunition offloading point for most of southern and Delta area of Vietnam. Ocean going ships, unable to travel further upstream, discharge their cargo in mid-river to barges and the boats which transport the ammunition up to the main depot at Long Binh.
The company was involved in an important combat support operation in the U Minh Forest during the last part of November 1970. The 1099th River Rats provides POL and ammunition to the 1st Aviation Brigade's 164th Combat Air Group (CAG) supporting the 21st ARVN Division's search and clear operations. The 1099th "Mike" boats were fitted with 5000 gallon POL tanks or 10,000 gallon bladders in their well decks in order to bring JP4 from the mouth of the Song Ong Doc River up river to Thoi Binh for discharge. There is also a maintenance boat along with other boats which carry ammunition that are involved in this operation. They operate out of Ca Mau, the base of operations. The crews of these boats are faced with danger everyday. During trips up and down the river, they are constantly subject to river ambushes and operate continually under extremely adverse conditions. All of this has helped to make the 1099th the most decorated Transportation Boat Unit in Vietnam. They have been awarded numerous Silver Stars, Bronze Stars for valor and Army Commendation Medals. As a unit the 1099th has been awarded the Valorous Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Award and has been recommended for a Presidential Unit Citation.