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Last Updated 17 January 2012

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18th MP Brigade

89th MP Group

720th MP Battalion

LTC Kenneth Weinstine passed command of the 720th MP Battalion to LTC Francis E. “Frank” Payne. The newly formed 720th MP Rouges Band played at the change of command dinner.

   From 8 July to 16 July 1967 elements of the 720th MP Battalion became the first United States Army military police unit in Vietnam to utilize the V100 Commando Armored Car during combat support of the 9th Infantry Division, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 1st Royal Australian Task Force, Army of The Republic of Vietnam, and Vietnamese Marine units near Long Giao and Nui Dat during Operation PADDINGTON.

   WANTED: If you worked on this operation and can provide any information, personal stories or photographs, please contact the History Project Manager via the Email Link.

0001 hours, Journal Opened At 12:01 AM, the Daily Staff Journal/Duty Officers Log was opened by PFC Rysdon.

0400 hours, Tay Ninh Convoy At 4:00 AM, SGT Johnson, A Company, NCOIC of the Tay Ninh Convoy notified this office they departed for Tay Ninh with 9 gun jeeps and 27 MP's.

0530 hours, POW, Guard and Check Points Report At 5:30 AM, SGT, Staples, SDNCO, 89th MP Group was furnished with the POW, Guard, and Vehicle Check Point reports, 53 POW's, 30 Guards, Check Point [CP] #1, checked 10 vehicles, CP#2, checked 6 vehicles, CP#3, checked 57 vehicles. After Action Report dated 9 July 67 submitted to 89th MP Group.

0700 hours, SDNCO Relieved At 7:00 AM, SFC Alverson [615th MP Company], SDNCO relieved by SFC Broome, Battalion Operations.

0730 hours, Sandbagging Report At 7:30 AM, MSG Dupree, Battalion Operations, furnished the weekly sandbagged building report to MSG Nunn, Operations, 89th MP Group. A total of 57 buildings, 26 partly completed and 31 completed.

0745 hours, Operation SHOTGUN At 7:45 AM, SP/4 Dennis W. Floyd, A Company, EMIC [enlisted man in charge], of the SHOTGUN Escorts Team notified this office that the escorts between the 90th and Bien Hoa Air Base and return, had been completed at 0700 hours [7:00 AM], without incident. Utilized were 3 gun jeeps and 9 MP's.

0830 hours, POW Escort Request At 8:30 AM, SSG Gilchrest, 2nd Field Forces Provost Marshals Office, notified this office that 7 POW's, Tran Van Nam, Tran Van Xuot, Bui Van Dinh, Nguyen Van Thuong, Nguyen Van Binh, Nguyen Van Phan, and Nguyen Van Tu were ready to be picked up from the 25th Infantry Division, Cu Chi on 12 July and deliver them to the III Corps enclosure. CPT Leon C. Matassarin, Battalion Operations, MSG Dupree, Battalion Operations, SSG Franklin D. Brown, 615th MP Company Operations, notified.

0845 hours, Operation SHOTGUN At 8:45 AM, SP/4 Joseph R. Routhier, A Company, EMIC, 90th Replacement Battalion Escort Team, notified this office that the escorts between the 90th and Camp Alpha [ R&R Transient Billet] at Tan Son Nhut Air Base and return had been completed at 0700 hours [7:00 AM], without incident. Utilized were 3 gun jeeps and 9 MP's.

0905 hours, Operation RIFLE At 9:05 AM, SP/4 Hedge, 561st Ambulance Company requested an escort for medical evacuation patients from the 24th Evacuation Hospital to Tan Son Nhut Air Base (Operation RIFLE) and return, at 1330 hours [1:30 PM]. SP/4 Kenneth P. Laux, C Company Clerk notified.

1000 hours, Tay Ninh Convoy Meetin At 10:00 AM, MAJ Adams, Deputy Provost Marshal, 25th Infantry Division, Cu Chi, advised this office that there would be a meeting at the Provost Marshals Office, 25th Infantry Division at 1000 hours [10:00 AM], on 11 July 1967 in reference to the Tay Ninh Convoy stopping at Cu Chi and that a representative from the 720th should attend. CPT Leon C. Matassarin, Battalion Operations, CPT Martin L. Mesick, A Company, LTC Francis E. "Frank" Payne, Battalion Commanding Officer, notified. CPT Mesick designated to attend.

1030 hours, Bien Hoa Detachment Patrols Realigned At 1030 AM, LTC Daugherty, Provost Marshal, 179th MP Detachment, informed MAJ Carl C. Keese, Battalion XO, and CPT Leon C. Matassarin, Battalion Operations, that he had eliminated one motor patrol, Patrol #6, in Bien Hoa from 2330 hours [11:30 PM], to 0800 hours [8:00 AM], daily. LT Bosse and SSG Brown, Operations 615th MP Company notified.

1200 hours, Alert System Test At 12:00 Noon, The Battalion Alert System was tested by MSG Dupree [HQ Detachment]. Loud and clear.

1220 hours, Tan An Convoy At 12:20 PM, SGT Maurice Irish, A Company, NCOIC of the Tan An Convoy Escort, notified this office by radio that a 5 ton tank truck from the 538th Transportation Company broke down 3 miles north of Tan An and that an axle and drum were needed for repairs. PFC Richards, Clerk, 538th Transportation Company notified.

1300 hours, Operation PISTOL At 1:00 PM, SP/4 James R. Chupurdy, B Company, EMIC, Operation PISTOL [code name for escort operation], notified this office that the escort from United States Army Vietnam (USARV) Saigon Headquarters, to USARV, Long Binh Post, had been completed at 1200 hours [12:00 Noon], without incident. Utilized were 2 gun jeeps and 6 MP's.

1530 hours, NCOIC Hospital Guard Relieved At 3:30 PM, SGT Ernest D. Phillips, C Company, relieved SP/4 Anderson as NCOIC of Hospital Guards at 24th Evacuation Hospital and 50th Medical Company.

1630 hours, POW Escort At 4:30 PM, SGT Keith D. Allen, 615th MP Company, NCOIC POW Escort, notified this office by radio that he was at the III Corps POW enclosure and that the personnel would not accept one of the POW's (female) because she was breast feeding a 5 month old baby. SGT Allen notified to standby for an answer.

   SDNCO Relieved At 4:30 PM, SFC James C. Parrish, B Company, reported for duty as SDNCO, was briefed by MSG Dupree and posted.

1645 hours, POW Escort At 4:45 PM, SSG Gilchrest, IIFF PMO, notified this office that the aircraft for POW movement on 11 July 67 would arrive at the 9th Infantry Division, Bear Cat at 0700 hours [7:00 AM], and that only 5 MP guards could go with the aircraft. Expected time of arrival in Can Tho is 0815 hours, [8:15 AM], aircraft mission #21. CPT Leon C. Matassarin, Battalion Operations, CPT Alfred A. Alexander, CO and SSG Brown, 615th MP Company, notified. SGT Jesse R. Towell, B Company Operations, notified to provide one V100 Commando Car with driver and gunner for transport of guards to Bear Cat.

1700 hours, POW Died At 5:00 PM, SGT Willard, Admissions and Discharges Office, 24th Evacuation Hospital, notified this office that a Viet Cong suspect, name unknown, registration number #3893, had expired at 1615 hours [4:15 PM]. The suspect was pronounced by CPT Donald W. Patrick, MD, SN# 05423639. Cause of death, fragmentation wound to brain. Suspect captured in a stream at 1300 hours [1:00 PM], 10 July 1967 by B Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division.

1800 hours, POW Escort At 6:00 PM, (reference log entree 1630 hours) SGT Keith D. Allen, 615th MP Company, notified this office that 18 POW's had been delivered to the III Corps enclosure and the female POW, Vo Thi Phon with the 5 month old baby was placed into Ward #7 at the 24th Evacuation Hospital until 11 July 1967 when she will be returned to the 25th Infantry Division POW enclosure.

1900 hours, Check Point Inspection At 7:00 PM, CPT Bert D. Edmonson, C Company Commanding Officer, notified this office that he inspected Check Points #1, 2, and 3, at approximately 1700 hours [7:00 PM], and all were secure with no discrepancies.

1910 hours, Tay Ninh Convoy At 7:10 PM, SGT Johnson, A Company, NCOIC of the Tay Ninh Convoy Escort, notified this office that the escort had been completed at 1800 hours, [6:00 PM], SGT Johnson stated that their was one minor accident involving one of the vehicles, no injuries and only minor damage.

1915 hours, POW Guard Needed At 7:15 PM, SP/4 Caudell, Admissions and Discharges, 24th Evacuation Hospital, notified this office that one Viet Cong prisoner had arrived by Dust Off [medical evacuation helicopter], and that an MP guard was needed. SGT Ernest D. Phillips, C Company, NCOIC Hospital Guards notified.

1950 hours, POW Count Changed At 7:50 PM, SGT Ernest D. Phillips, C Company, NCOIC Hospital Guards, notified this office that the POWs name was Tran Van Thinh, captured by 3rd of the 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, with gunshot wound in the back, admitted to Ward #7, 24th Evacuation Hospital. POW count changed to 54.

1955 hours, Operation RIFLE At 7:55 PM, SP/4 Marion Bower, C Company, EMIC, Operation RIFLE, notified this office that the medical evacuation escort from the 24th Evacuation Hospital to Tan Son Nhut Air Base and return had been completed at 1630 hours, [4:30 PM], without incident. One gun jeep and 3 MP's were utilized.

2030 hours, Tan An Convoy At 8:30 PM SGT Maurice Irish, A Company, NCOIC of the Tan An Escort notified this office that the escort was completed at 1630 hours [4:30 PM], without incident. One gun jeep and 3 MP's were utilized.

2330 hours, NCOIC Hospital Guards Relieved At 11:30 PM, SGT Ernest D. Phillips, C Company, NCOIC of the Hospital Guard Detail at the 24th Evacuation Hospital and 50th Medical Company was relieved by SP/4 Lawrence C. Hinton, C Company.

2400 hours, Daily Log Closed.

SGT Dodge

0635 hours, POW Incident At 6:35 AM, SP/4 Lawrence C. Hinton, C Company, EMIC, Hospital Guard Detail, notified this office that at approximately 0530 hours [5:30 AM], POW, Nguyen Van Than, bed #71, Ward #5, 50th Medical Clearing Company, had shoved PFC Allen, MP guard against a wall of the ward and PFC Allen struck POW Thanh on the left cheek with his fist. SP/5 Altringer, medic, SP/4 Lucey and PFC Wlliam J. Bieber, C Company guards witnessed the incident. SP/4 Hinton stated that there was not any visible marks on POW Thanhs face at his (Hintons) arrival at Ward #5 shortly after the incident. CPT Leon C. Matassarin, Battalion Operations, and LTC Francis E. “Frank” Payne, Battalion Commander, notified. CPT Bert D. Edmundson, Commanding Officer, C Company is investigating the incident.

0700 hours, SDNCO Relieved At 7:00 AM, SFC James C. Parrish, B Company, SDNCO was relieved by MSG Dupree, Battalion Operations.

0720 hours, Operation RIFLE At 7:20 AM, SP/4 Hedge, 591st Ambulance Company, requested an escort for medical evacuation patients from the 93rd Evacuation Hospital to Bien Hoa Air Base at 0900 hours [9:00 AM], and from the 24th Evacuation Hospital to Tan Son Nhut Air Base at 1330 hours [1:30 PM]. SP/4 Kenneth P. Laux, C Company, notified.

0745 hours, Operation SHOTGUN At 7:45 AM, SP/4 Larry G. Partin, A Company, EMIC, SHOTGUN escort detail, notified this office that escorts between the 90th Replacement Battalion and Tan Son Nhut Air Base and return, and between the 90th and Bien Hoa Air Base and return, between 0700 hours [7:00 AM], 10 July 1967 and 0700 hours [7:00 AM], 11 July 1967 had been completed without incident.

1000 hours, Battalion Reaction Force At 10:00 AM, LTC Francis E. “Frank” Payne, Battalion Commander, notified CPT Leon C. Matassarin, Battalion Operations Officer that there would be a briefing at 0830 hours [8:30 AM], 12 July 1967, at the USARV Stockade [Long Binh Jail], on the operation and control of the 720th MP Battalion Reaction Force in support to the USARV Stockade. LTC Payne would like for all Lieutenants and senior NCO's to attend is at all possible. 1SG Julius E. Givens, A Company, 1SG Walter L. Rutledge, B Company, LT Eugene S. Edey, C Company, CPT Alfred A. Alexander, 615th MP Company, notified.

1200 hours, Alert System Test At 12:00 Noon, SFC Clarence L. Broome [HQ Detachment] tested the Battalion alert horn, loud and clear.

1430 hours, POW Count Change At 2:30 PM, SGT Roland A. Bellerose, C Company, NCOIC, Hospital Guard Detail, notified this office that a POW, name unknown, was admitted to the 24th Evacuation Hospital. POW count changed to 55.

1550 hours, Hospital Guard NCOIC Relieved At 3:50 PM, SGT Roland A. Bellerose, C Company, NCOIC, Hospital Guard Detail was relieved by SP/4 Bowers, C Company.

1615 hours, POW Count Chang At 4:15 PM, SP/4 Bowers, C Company, EMIC, Hospital Guard Detail, notified this office that POW Hoang Van Tinh was admitted to the 24th Evacuation Hospital from the 3rd Field Hospital Saigon. POW was captured 9 July 1967 by 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. POW count changed to 56.

1630 hours, SDNCO Relieved At 4:30 PM, SSG Kenneth McClain, B Company, relieved MSG Dupree as Battalion Staff Duty Noncommissioned officer In Charge.

1700 hours, POW Escort At 5:00 PM, PFC Wilson, 615th MP Company, notified this office that he had picked up POWs, Nguyen Van Ut, Vo Van Hien, and Nguyen Van Nam from the 50th Medical Company and delivered them to the III Corps enclosure. He also picked up POW, Vo Thi Phan (female) and her child, Nguyen Thi Phe from the 24th Evacuation Hospital and returned them to the 25th Infantry Division at Cu Chi. Closing [assignment completed] time was 1630 hours. Utilized Highway 1 & 1A, and 1 gun jeep and 3 MP's. POW count changed to 53.

1835 hours, POW Died At 6:35 PM, SP/4 Brewer, C Company, EMIC, Hospital Guard detail, notified this office that POW, Nguyen Van Hiep, admitted to 24th Evacuation Hospital at 1300 hours [1:00 PM], with gun shot wound to the abdomen expired at 1830 hours [6:30 PM], this date. POW was pronounced by CPT Charles L. Bearderff, MD SN# 05239275, 24th Evacuation Hospital. Capturing unit unknown. POW count changed to 52.

1840 hours, POW Incident At 6:40 PM, SP/4 Brewer, C Company, EMIC, Hospital Guard detail, notified this office of the following incident at the 50th Medical Company POW enclosure. At approximately 1825 hours [6:25 PM], the POW in Ward #5, Bed #82, Nguyen Van Qui was causing a ruckus across the fence at other patients according to MP PFC Anthony L. Aceto [C Company], who told him to quit making so much noise. POW, Qui then verbally attacked PFC Aceto and finally physically attacked the MP with a rolled up magazine. MP PFC Ronald F. Kidder was also struck when he came and tried to talk the POW into bed. A medic, SGT Slay, finally persuaded the POW to get into bed.

1850 hours, Tan An Convoy At 6:50 PM, SGT Norman J. E. Eck, A Company, NCOIC of the Tan An Convoy escort, notified this office that the escort to Tan An and return had been completed at 1340 hours [1:40 PM], without incident.

1900 hours, Tay Ninh Convoy At 7:00 PM, SGT Alberto M. Ochoa, A Company, NCOIC, Tay Ninh Convoy Escort, notified this office that he had completed the escort to Tay Ninh and return and rendered the following report.

   (1) At 1315 hours [1:15 PM], an accident occurred at Check Point #179, Tay Ninh, involving a military 2&1/2 ton truck with trailer and a bridge that was established by Phil/Cav. When the vehicle went across the bridge the trailer swerved to the left which broke the trailers axle. The vehicle was operated by PFC Denne M. Albright, US52657046, Battery B, 5th AN (AW) (SP) 2nd Artillery. The convoy was delayed 1 hour and 30 minutes.

   (2) At approximately 1740 hours [5:40 PM], the convoy had to stop on a road across from Tan Son Nhut Air Base. The convoy was approached by an Infantry MAJ, name unknown, who stated that due to the convoy he had to stop for approximately 20 minutes. The MAJ stated that MP's did not have any jurisdiction in controlling the traffic in Saigon, that the Vietnamese Police did. The MAJ then got the name and unit of SGT Ochoa. "WACO" [call sign 716th MP Battalion] unit did not assist SGT Ochoa. CPT Leon C. Matassarin, Battalion Operations Officer, discussed the problem with, Deputy Provost Marshal, HQ Area Command, and received permission for the convoy to continue when WACO failed to show.

2340 hours, Escort Request At 11:40 PM, SGT Staples, SDNCO, 89th MP Group, notified this office that CPT Chinn, 64th Quartermasters called his office and requested additional Highway Patrols to escort fire fighting equipment to Saigon.

2400 hours, Escort Assignment At 12:00 Midnight, SGT Staples [89th MP Group] notified this office that CPT Flannigan, Operations officer, 89th MP Group stated that Bien Hoa Provost Marshals Office [179th MP Detachment], would take the commitment for the fire equipment escort request called in at 2340 hours [11:40 PM], this date.

Daily Log Closed.

0400 hours, Tay Ninh Convoy At 4:00 AM, SGT Norman J. E. Eck, A Company, NCOIC, Tay Ninh Convoy, departed for Tay Ninh with 9 gun jeeps and 27 MP's.

0530 hours, POW, Guard and Check Point Report At 5:30 AM, furnished the POW, Guard, and Vehicle Check Point report to SGT Staples, 89th MP Group. Totals of 52 POW's, 30 MP Guards, Check Point [CP] #1 - checked 5 vehicles, CP#2 - checked 11 vehicles, CP#3 - checked 88 vehicles.

0700 hours, SDNCO Relieved At 7:00 AM: SSG Kenneth McClain [B Company], SDNCO was relieved by SFC Bloome [HQ Detachment].

0715 hours, Operation SHOTGUN At 7:15 AM, SP/4 Donald R. Gibson, A Company, EMIC, 90th Replacement Battalion escort team, notified this office that the Shotgun escorts between the 90th and Bien Hoa Air Base and return had been completed at 0700 hours [7:00 AM], without incident. Three gun jeeps and 9 MP's were utilized.

0730 hours, Operation SHOTGUN At 7:30 AM, SP/4 Robert G. Galaska, A Company, EMIC, SHOTGUN escort team, notified this office that the escorts between the 90th Replacement Battalion and Camp Alpha, Tan Son Nhut Air Base and return had been completed at 0700 hours [7:00 AM], without incident. Three gun jeeps and 9 MP's were utilized.

0845 hours, Operation RIFLE At 8:45 AM, SP/4 Hedge, 561st Ambulance Company, requested a Rifle Escort for medical evacuation patients from the 24th Evacuation Hospital to Tan Son Nhut Air Base and return at 1330 hours [1:30 PM]. PFC Stanley Van Kleeck, C Company, notified.

0920 hours, POW Escort Request At 9:20 AM, SSG Gilchrest, IIFF PMO, notified this office to pick up 3 POW's, Le Van Phu, from 1st Infantry Division at Di An, and Bui Van Si and Vo Van Tan from 199th Light Infantry Brigade, at Nha Be, on 13 July 1967 and deliver them to the III Corps enclosure. CPT Leon C. Matassarin, Operations Officer and SSG Franklin D. Brown, Operations, 615th MP Company notified.

0930 hours, Move USARV PMO At 9:30 AM, MSG Nunn, Operations, 89th MP Group, advised this office to provide one 2&1/2 ton truck and three 3/4 ton trucks with two men for each truck, to move the United States Army Vietnam [USARV] Provost Marshals Office [PMO], from Saigon to Long Binh Post on 14 and 15 July 67. The detail with vehicles are to report to LTC Ford at USARV, PMO at 0800 hours each day. CPT Leon C. Matassarin, Operations and 1LT Thomas Feurborn [B Company & HQ Detachment], Battalion Motor Officer, notified.

1200 hours, Alert System Test At 12:00 Noon, SFC Clarence L. Broome [HQ Detachment] tested the Battalion alert horn, loud and clear.

1330 hours, Tan An Convoy At 1:30 PM, SGT Johnson, A Company, NCOIC Tan An Convoy Escort notified this office that the escort had been completed at 1330 hours [1:30 PM], without incident. Three gun jeeps and 9 MP's were utilized.

1515 hours, Memorial Services At 3:15 PM, MAJ Jones, 89th MP Group Chaplain advised this office that the Memorial Services for SGT Jewell F. Dodge would be held at 0830 hours [8:30 AM], 13 July 1967 in the 720th MP Battalion Chapel. All training for 13 July canceled, all units notified.

1630 hours, SDNCO Relieved At 4:30 PM, SFC Charles C. Bigoness, A Company, reported for duty as SDNCO, was briefed by MSG Dupree, Operations, and posted.

1830 hours, Tay Ninh Convoy At 6:30 PM, SGT Norman J. E. Eck, A Company, NCOIC Tay Ninh Convoy Escort, notified this office that the escort had been completed. There was one minor traffic accident. Accident report submitted to 25th Infantry Division Provost Marshals Office.

1850 hours, Operation RIFLE At 6:50 PM, SP/4 Becker, 561st Ambulance Company, requested an escort for medical evacuation patients from the 93rd Evacuation Hospital to Tan Son Nhut Air Base at 0615 hours [6:15 AM], 13 July 1967. SGT Kryn B. Van Elswyk, Operations, C Company notified.

1855 hours, Operation RIFLE At 6:55 PM, SP/4 Smith, C Company, EMIC, Medical Evacuation escort, notified this office that the escort from 24th Evacuation Hospital to Tan Son Nhut Air Base and return was completed at 1615 hours [4:15 PM], without incident. One gun jeep and 3 MP's were utilized.

1900 hours, POW Escort At 7:00 PM, SGT Allen, 615th MP Company, notified this office that he picked up 7 POW's, Nguyen Van Tu, Nguyen Van Phan, Tran Van Xuot, Nguyen Van Thuong, Nguyen Van Binh, Bui Van Dinh, and Tran Van Nam from the 25th Infantry Division at Cu Chi and delivered them to the III Corps enclosure at 1535 hours, [3:35 PM], without incident. One 2&1/2 ton truck, 2 gun jeeps, and 9 MP's were utilized.

2330 hours, EMIC Hospital Guard Relieved At 11:30 PM, SP/4 Anderson, C Company, relieved SP/4 Thompson, C Company, as EMIC of Hospital Guards at the 24th Evacuation Hospital and 50th Medical Company.

2400 hours, Daily Log Closed.

0400 hours, Tay Ninh Convoy At 4:00 PM, SGT Alberto M. Ochoa, A Company, NCOIC, Tay Ninh Convoy Escort, notified this office the convoy escort departed with 9 gun jeeps and 27 MP's.

0530 hours, POW, Guard, and Check Point Report At 5:30 AM, The POW, MP Guard and Vehicle Check Point report was furnished to SFC Roberts, SDNCO, 89th MP Group. Totals of 52 POW's, 30 MP Guards, Check Point [CP] #1 - checked 6 vehicles, CP#2 - checked 16 vehicles, CP#3 - checked 85 vehicles.

0700 hours, SDNCO Relieved At 7:00 AM, SFC Charles C. Bigoness, Staff Duty Noncommissioned Officer, was relieved by SFC Broome, Battalion Operations.

0730 hours, Operation SHOTGUN At 7:30 PM, SP/4 Joseph R. Routhier, A Company, EMIC, SHOTGUN escort team notified this office that the escorts between the 90th Replacement Battalion and Bien Hoa Air Base and return had been completed at 0700 hours [7:00 AM], without incident. Three gun jeeps and 9 MP's were utilized.

0800 hours, Operation SHOTGUN At 8:00 AM, SP/4 Gary C. Watts, A Company, Enlisted Man In Charge [EMIC] of the SHOTGUN escort team, notified this office that the escorts between the 90th Replacement Battalion and, Camp Alpha Tan Son Nhut Air Base and return, had been completed at 0730 hours [7:30 AM] without incident. One Commando Car V100, three 3/4 ton trucks, and 12 MP's were utilized.

1200 hours, Battalion Alert Test At 12:00 Noon SFC Clarence L. Broome [HQ Detachment] tested the Battalion alert horn, loud and clear.

1215 hours, POW Release At 12:15 PM, SP/4 Smith, C Company, EMIC, Hospital Guard detail at the 50th Medical Company notified this office that POW, Tran Van Noc, captured by ARVN unit was released from the 50th to SFC Clarence L. Mizell, RA14380400, Advisory Team #70, 5th Division ARVN, at 1100 hours [11:00 AM].

1350 hours, Accident Information Request At 1:50 PM, SGT Wainright, 25th Infantry Division PMO, contacted this office by phone requesting information on the accident that occurred in Saigon at 0715 hours [7:15 AM], 12 July 67, involving a truck from the 48th Transportation Group and a Vietnamese civilian vehicle. SGT Wainright stated that the 716th MP’s did not have any record of the accident. SGT Norman J. E. Eck, A Company, contacted for the report.

1430 hours, 18th Brigade Cleaning Detail At 2:30 PM, CPT Flanagan, Operations Officer, 89th MP Group, advised this office to provide 6 personnel to report to the 18th MP Brigade, SMG Jefferies, at 0715 hours [7:15 AM], 14 July 1967 for a clean up detail for the USARV, Provost Marshals Office. CPT Leon C. Matassarin, Battalion Operations, contacted SGT Jesse R. Towell, B Company, and SSG Glenn E. Imler, A Company, requested each unit provide 3 men each for the detail.

1515 hours, 18th MP Brigade Special Detail At 3:15 PM, CPT Flanagan, Operations, 89th MP Group, advised this office to provide 4 MP's in town patrol uniform to the 18th MP Brigade, Criminal Investigation Headquarters, at 1100 hours [11:00 AM], on 14 July 1967, for a special detail. SSG Franklin D. Brown, Operations, 615th MP Company, notified to provide the detail.

1530 hours, Tan An Convoy At 3:30 PM, SGT Curtis J. Cofield, A Company, NCOIC, Tan An Convoy Escort, notified this office that the convoy did not show up at Check Point #10, and that he had waited for approximately 30 minutes then checked the return route without making contact with the convoy.

1545 hours, EMIC Hospital Guard Relieved At 3:45 PM, SP/4 Thomas E. Griffin, C Company, relieved SP/4 Smith as EMIC of MP Hospital Guards at 24th Evacuation Hospital and 50th Medical Company.

1600 hours, POW Detail SSG Gilchrest, IIFF PMO, notified this office that he was making arrangements for an aircraft for Monday, 17 July 1967, to move 24 POW's from the 9th Infantry Division at Bear Cat to the IV Corps enclosure at Can Tho, and that he would advise this office of the time when it became available. SSG Franklin D. Brown, 615th MP Company Operations, notified.

1630 hours, SDNCO Relieved At 4:30 PM, SSG Jackie R. Davis, 615th MP Company, reported for SDNCO, was briefed by SFC Clarence L. Broome [HQ Detachment] and posted.

1800 hours, Tay Ninh Convoy At 6:00 PM, SGT Alberto M. Ochoa, A Company, NCOIC, Tay Ninh Convoy Escort Team, notified this office that the escort had been completed and there was one minor accident. The accident occurred 2 miles north of Military Road involving one of the convoy vehicles and an ARVN military vehicle, minor damage and no injuries. SGT Ochoa debriefed by SDNCO, SSG Jackie R. Davis, After Action report obtained and filed at S-3.

1935 hours, Patrols Failed to Report At 7:35 PM, MAJ Hill, Long Binh Provost Marshal advised this office that the 3 gun jeeps, Patrols #1, #2 and #15, had not reported for duty at the Long Binh PMO. Checked with the 615th MP Company revealed that the patrols had departed at 1900 hours [7:00 PM]. Contacted SGT Thomas Lusby, MP Desk, Bien Hoa MP Station. SGT Keith D. Allen stated that the patrols had reported to him, were briefed and posted and that he would advise the patrols to report to the Long Binh PMO, Desk Sergeant.

1940 hours, Operation RIFLE At 7:40 PM, SP/4 Ronald L. Erickson, C Company, EMIC, RIFLE escort team reported the escort from the 93rd Evacuation Hospital to Bien Hoa Air Base and return had been completed at 0845 hours [8:24 AM], without incident. One gun jeep and 3 MP's were utilized.

2105 hours, EM Club Inspection At 8:05 PM, CPT Martin L. Mesick [A Company], SDO, inspected the 720th Enlisted Men's Club. All secure and in order.

2150 hours, POW Escort At 8:50 PM, SGT Keith D. Allen, 615th MP Company, notified this office that he had picked up POW's, Le Van Phu, from 1st Infantry Division, and Bui Van Si and Vo Van Tan from the 199th Light Infantry Brigade at Nha Be and delivered them to the III Corps enclosure without incident at 1700 hours [5:00 PM]. Two gun jeeps and 5 MP's were utilized.

2300 hours, NCOIC Hospital Guard Relieved At 11:00 PM, SGT Roland A. Bellerose, C Company, relieved SP/4 Thomas E. Griffin, C Company, as NCOIC of MP Hospital Guards at 24th Evacuation Hospital and 50th Medical Company.

2400 hours, Daily Log Closed.

   To reduce the U.S. command footprint in Saigon, under Operation MOOSE (Move Out Of Saigon Expeditiously) General William C. Westmoreland, Commanding General, MACV previously ordered the United State Army Republic of Vietnam (USARV), Joint General Staff Headquarters, and 1st Logistics Command to move from Saigon to their new complex on Long Binh Post.

   Construction of the new facilities on Long Binh Post was underway long before the official announcement of the move was made publicly.

MACV

USARV

1st Logistics Command

11th Armored Cavalry

  Three enlisted members of the 615th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, were awarded the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action. SP/4 Allan M. Portnoy, SP/4 Edward E. Williams and PFC Henry J. Hulst were decorated by LTG Bruce C. Palmer, Jr., USARV (United States Army Republic of Vietnam), Deputy Commanding General, during ceremonies at the 18th MP Brigade in Long Binh Post.

   The incident for which the three MPs were cited occurred on 21 July, when the they were escorting a convoy of armored and engineer vehicles during Operation EMPORIA with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 44 miles northeast of Saigon.

   At 0930 hours (9:30 AM), the lead and trail tanks in the first convoy element were knocked out, and an estimated Viet Cong Battalion, hidden along both sides of the roadway opened up with intense small arms, machine gun, rocket and recoilless rifle fire.

   The three MPs, in an armored jeep, directed deadly fire against the enemy. Wile SP/4 Portnoy and PFC Hulst continually exposed themselves in the killing zone to aid the wounded, gather ammunition and secure vital defensive positions, machine gunner SP/4 Williams continued to lay down a steady base of fire despite the fact that all three men were wounded.

   When SP/4 Portnoy and PFC Hulst moved forward to aid a wounded track crew member and killed six attacking enemy, SP/4 Williams moved his weapon into the open to a position forward of his jeep to cover their actions.

Bronze Star Medal for Valor were awarded to several, I'm not sure of all the names, CPL Clifton J. "Cliff" Walker, SP/4 Lynn Jorgensen, SP/4 David L. Kerkhoff, SP/4 Randy Stults.

Purple Heart Medals were awarded to seven MPs, their may have been several more, I'm not sure. The Purple Hearts that I have listed on General Orders Number 43 are, SGT. Allen, SP/4 Kerkhoff, SP/4 Portnoy, SP/4 Raterink, SP/4 Stults, SP/4 Williams, PFC Hulst. On other order numbers must have been SP/4 Jorgensen and probably SP/4 Wilson and one other. SP/4 Allan M. Portnoy, B Company & 615th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion.