A marine digs in as another talks on a radio transmitter in preparation of combat operations. The Marines of 1st Battalion, 1st Regiment, 1st Marine Division are taking part in Operation Pipestone Canyon, aimed at clearing the Communists off their haven, Go Noi Island, 10 miles south of Da Nang and five miles inland from Hoi An. The 1st Division, together with ARVN and Korean Marines are concentrating on destroying enemy fortifications, bunkers, tunnels and supply areas to make the island useless to the Communists. The area is fertile and was once heavily populated, but is now a free fire zone.