~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association Vietnam History Project ~
January 1967 ~ Battalion Time Line
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Last Updated
8 January 2012
18th MP
Brigade
89th MP
Group
720th MP
Battalion
At the start of the year Battalion HQ Detachment and its letter companies were headquartered subordinate to the 18th MP Brigade, 89th MP Group, III Corps Tactical Zone, Bien Hoa Provence, Long Binh Post,  South Vietnam.
2 January
   The Battalion was officially assigned the responsibility of securing and escorting resupply convoys from Tan Son Nhut Air Base outside of Saigon to the Tay Ninh Base Camp of the 25th Infantry Division. The Battalion committed a platoon of 27 MPs and 9 gun jeeps of A Company on the first run. The Tay Ninh Convoy would become the largest and longest continuous daily convoy escort conducted by Allied Forces during the Vietnam War.
25th Infantry
Division
196th LI
Brigade
   With the addition of the A Company MPs on the Tay Ninh Convoy escort detail the 25th Infantry Division and 196th Light Infantry Brigade were able to free up one armored cavalry platoon for other combat missions under Operation CEDAR FALLS. They were also able to reduced their mileage of Armored Personnel Carriers within the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry by approximately 25% during the period.
   The 25th Infantry Division Commander was so appreciative for the assistance he directed a letter of appreciation, 21 January 1967, to the Commanding Officer of the 18th MP Brigade praising the MP convoy escort operations. The MP escorts were instrumental in the increased efficiency of convoy movement to their numerous base camps during the initial phases of Operation CEDAR FALLS, a reduction in traffic disruption and vehicle crashes, greatly enhancing the division civic action program.
3 January
Operation DECKHOUSE-V
   During the period of 3 to 24 January 1967, one platoon of Battalion MPs from A Company were committed in support of Operation DECKHOUSE-V.
5 January
Operation CEDAR FALLS
   During the period of 5 January to 26 January 1967, the Battalion provided one Platoon of twenty B Company MPs for direct support of Operation CEDAR FALLS.. The platoon was committed to the operational control of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Missions included convoy escort, traffic control, refugee control, POW security, defile control, security of the 173rd Tactical Operation Command, and route reconnaissance. During the course of these missions, enemy action occurred and one MP was wounded by enemy small arms fire.
8 January
   The Battalion completed the last 20 vehicle convoy escort of Operation CANARY begun on 4 December 1966. The entire 36 day continuous convoy operation was completed without any major accidents or incidents.
199th LI
Brigade
11 January
   SP/4 Gerald E. Reddaway of B Company, distinguished himself and earned an Army Commendation Medal for Valor for his rescue of a wounded MP while serving as a member of a squad supporting the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment during Operation CEDAR FALLS.
11th AC
Regiment
15 January
   LTC Geln A. Hill who brought the 720th to South Vietnam on 19 October 1966 from Fort Hood, Texas, passed command of the 720th MP Battalion to LTC Kenneth Weinstein.
LTC Hill
LTC Weinstein
21 January
   The Commanding Officer of the 25th Infantry Division issued a letter of appreciation to the 18th MP Brigade Commander expressing his appreciation for the assistance and efficiency of escort operations rendered by the platoon of A Company MPs first assigned to the Tay Ninh Convoy on 2 January.
24 January
   The A Company platoon assigned to support the Marine and ARVN elements in Operation DECKHOUSE-V on 3 January completed its mission and returned to operational control of the Battalion.
26 January
   The B Company platoon assigned to support the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Operation CEDAR FALLS on 5 January completed its mission and returned to operational control of the Battalion.
31 January

   Members of the 4th Squad, 3rd Platoon, B Company gather to receive their mail by the squad tent on Long Binh Post. The photograph was taken from the fire watch security shack known as the "Tree House" built in a tree in the Battalion compound.
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