feb 1, 1967 - Skip behind friendly lines to find witnesses

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Two FLC cases involving two Marines who were separately charged with committing the same offense, reflected the difficulty in securing Vietnamese witnesses for trial. The trial counsel, Captain Franklin P. Glenn, caught a ride to the Da Nang Airbase where he was able to get manifested on a C-130 departing at 0630 for Dong Ha. At Dong Ha he transferred to the unlikely-named "African Queen II," a 4-knot per hour LCM (landing craft) that took him down the Cua Viet River to the Gulf of Tonkin.

There he crossed sand dunes, waded a stream, and traversed marshlands, finally reaching the small fishing village of Phoi Hoi, located in an area of heavy enemy activity. He found the witnesses and escorted them back to Da Nang. They testified, then departed for Phoi Hoi via a helicopter, arranged for by Captain Glenn. He accompanied them on the helicopter to persuade them of the need for them to later journey to Da Nang, again, for the trial of the second accused. At Phoi Hoi the trial counsel inadvertently was left behind by the helicopter pilot. After a tense night beyond friendly lines Captain Glenn caught an LCM and began his journey back to Red Beach.

The Vietnamese witnesses would not return for the second trial, and the case had to be dropped for lack of proof.

- Solis, G. D., & United States. (1989). Marines and military law in Vietnam: Trial by fire. Washington, D.C: History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p.50

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