~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association Vietnam History Project ~
October 1967 ~ Battalion Time Line
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Last Updated
19 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.
4 October

   CPT George A. Sunderland assumed duties as the Battalion S4 (Supply & Logistics) Officer.

   CPT Michael E. Lenhart assumed command of A Company from CPT Martin L. Messick.
5 October
   MAJ Fred J. Villella, Jr. assumed the duties as Battalion Operations Officer (S3).
9 October
   With the initiation of Operation MOOSE on 15 July that ordered the moving of United State Army Republic of Vietnam (USARV), Joint General Staff Headquarters, and 1st Logistics Command from Saigon to their new complex on Long Binh Post (Operation PISTO), MACV decided it needed to eliminate the enemy close-in-strike capability that existed along the southern perimeter of the post where the headquarters building was located. MACV called on the 18th Military Police Brigade to handle the assignment under a Letter of Instructions, AVCG-O dated 9 October 1967.
Planning is started for Operation STABILIZE

TAOR: The 18th MP Brigade issued a Letter of Instructions (undated) to the 89th MP Groups 720th MP Battalion to perform a pacification program within a 22 square mile Tactical Area Of Responsibility (TAOR) situated along the southern perimeter of Long Binh Post. The counterinsurgency infantry mission which would involve enemy suppression and civil pacification utilizing ambush & recon, river patrol & security, local level civil & military liaison (outpost duty), and civic action quality of life programs. The first year of the mission would involve all three organic companies of the Battalion and the 615th MP Company (subordinate).

   The overall operational plan would involve three primary phases. Phase-1 to clear and secure the TAOR; Phase-2 to conduct counterinsurgency operations to eliminate guerilla activities and upgrading security screening while providing guidance and assistance for civic action pacification programs; Phase-3 return control of the TAOR to the local and national government.
   In preparation for the reconnaissance, ambush and combat patrols they were to conduct, 40 men from the three organic companies (A, B, & C), and the entire 615th MP Company attended refresher classes on recon and ambush patrol methods and techniques taught by instructors from the 5th Special Forces Group Headquarters out of Bien Hoa.
5th Special
Forces
15 October

TAOR: A twenty-two man Popular Forces [PF] platoon commanded by Army Of The Republic Of Vietnam [ARVN], Popular Forces, SGT Huynh Van Hai, was assigned to B Company.

   The platoon was to assist 2LT Robert S. Wilkerson of B Company, and his platoon of MPs in their new operations in the Battalion Tactical Area of Responsibility.
20 October
Operation STABILIZE

TAOR: Operation STABILIZE becomes official. The 720th MP Battalion made military history when It was the first time in the history of the United States Armed Forces that a military police unit was assigned an infantry counterinsurgency - pacification mission in a war zone.

   The new 22 square mile TAOR along the southern perimeter of Long Binh Post would require the Battalion to adapt to a unique responsibility of fighting as light infantry when in support of their Operation STABILIZE mission.
   Under Operation STABILIZE the Battalion’s three organic companies along with the 615th MP Company were tasked with the additional responsibility of increasing the security for the United States Army Republic of Vietnam (USARV) Headquarters, Long Binh Post and the southern ground approach to Bien Hoa and its Air Base. It also involved providing security for the waterborne traffic on the Dong Nai River, the Petrolieum, Oil and Lubricant barge offloading dock and river dredge.
21 October
Stateside: The antiwar movement held a major march on the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. attracting both anti-war protesters, New Left activists & cultural radicals. The Student Mobilization Committee worked to coordinate national activity to build up the confrontation in Washington.

TAOR: The 89th MP Group Civic Action Program (CAP) Team, a five man unit of NCO's and enlisted men headed by 1LT Clifford L. Brody of A Company, begins work in the Tactical Area of Responsibility (TAOR). Their mission is to coordinate and assist the local hamlet governments in initiating civic improvements within the villages.
27 October

Stateside: Celebrating their safe homecoming and first night stateside pending discharge, MPs from the Battalion enjoyed themselves at the San Francisco Playboy Club. The celebration continued on to another night club until dawn.

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