September C Battery, 6th Battalion, 56th Artillery, a "HAWK" missile unit, arrived in-country, was attached subordinate to USARV, and stationed within Tan Son Nhut Airbase. Their cantonment was located at the northwest area of the base close to the ammunition storage depot and Gate 0-55. The batteries were sent to Vietnam to counter any attempt by the North Vietnamese Air Force to use the Russian MIG 17s they acquired through Communist China in early 1964. Their unit departed the airbase in September 1968 for assignment elsewhere. For additional information and photographs of C Battery use this Link

     The 88th MP Company (K9) Sentry Dog Detachment was located in the C Battery cantonment, and provided perimeter and site security. This was during the early stages of the buildup, there were no hard structures, all operations were conducted from canvas field tents and physical security was paramount. The Handlers worked and lived side by side with the artillerymen.

    "The Detachment consisted of four Handler-K9 teams, providing Battery perimeter around the HAWK systems during the evening hours.

     The nighttime security involved one Team from dusk until midnight, being relieved by a second team who worked till dawn. Day security was provided by the artillery unit.

     The Team had responsibility for a short portion of a shared perimeter near the flight line with the Air Force Security Polices (AP) K9 units, but the dogs would alert on each other so we  kept our distance whenever possible. An AP handler fired on me one night, he was new in-country, and scared." Courtesy of SP/4 Eddie Hall, 88th MP Company (K9), MACV & 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog), 95th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, Tan San Nhut Detachment, Saigon, Vietnam September 1965-1966.