Free World forces in the Republic of Vietnam faced the day-to-day paranoia of dealing with a civilian population whose loyalties could not be guessed. Any man, woman, or child of the local populace could be working for the resistance, reporting on troop movements, providing false information, or sniping at the enemy.

Sampans were shallow-draft boats generally used for transportation of goods or people, usually in rivers or coastal areas. It was unusual for a sampan to sail far from land as they did not have the means to survive rough weather. They strived in areas normal boats couldn’t easily sail in.