The Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricant (POL) Barge Site was situated on the eastern bank of the Dong Nai River, just several hundred meters southeast of the Dong Nai River Bridge in III Corps Tactical Zone, Bien Hoa Provence. The bridge supported Highway 1A the main supply route (MSR) from Bien Hoa, Long Binh Post to Saigon. The fuel barges were towed to the barge jetty in the river awaiting off loading.

   The compound was accessed via Highway 317 which bordered the southern perimeter of Long Binh Post, the highway was also known by the transportation unit truckers as Bearcat Road.

   Direct access to the small pump station-security compound was gained via a 1,000 meter long single lane dirt road from Highway 317, south towards the river.

   Paralleling the dirt roadway was an approximately 36 inch in diameter above ground pipeline that began in the pump station compound, and ended at Highway 317 where in went underground into Long Binh Post, ending at the  1st Logistics Command (LOG) POL Depot in Tanker Valley. Rear access to the POL depot was gained during daylight hours via Gate-10 on Highway 317.

     Direct Operation and maintenance on the pumps and barge equipment at the compound was conducted by civilian contractors, overseen by 1st LOG. The facility was critical to insure the continued flow of bulk fuel that was eventually trucked from Long Binh Post to allied units throughout III Corps Tactical Zone.

     Just below the POL barge jetty was the Deep Sea Barge, operated by civilian contractors. It was used to keep the river channels and facilities at Cogido, and the POL site open.

     The compound security was provided by members of D Company, 87th Infantry (Rifle Security), subordinate to the 95th MP Battalion.

     River and barge security was provided by elements of the 720th MP Battalion River Patrol Unit, and Ambush & Recon Squads. The 95th MP Battalion was responsible for interior operational control and security staffing, while the 720th maintained area security.

     The Enemy activity on the river, and within the immediate area of the compound on land in the Villages of Tam Mang (northwest) and Long Binh Tan (northeast) varied in intensity, involving occasional nighttime sniper activity.

    720th Ambush Teams were often assigned to conduct night sweeps of the pipeline and villages in response to the sniping, and when intelligence reports indicated an immediate threat. Given its vulnerability to attack there is no record of any such incidents in the three year history of Operation STABILIZE.

   It may have been due largely to the fact that it was only pumping fuel during the daytime hours, and that being above ground repairs would be quickly completed. The local VC squads very seldom conducted any offensive operations unless they were guaranteed an effective long term result.