~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association Vietnam History Project ~
 
Quan Loi Convoy Ambush
Monday, 28 April 1969

This Page Last Updated ~ 14 September 2009

     Three C Company MP's saved several soldiers from a fiery death when, despite heavy enemy fire and wounds, they pulled the men from a burning helicopter and trucks disabled during the ambush of the 1st Infantry Division Quan Loi Convoy they were escorting.

     The MPs were part of the six man armored escort team on the convoy which runs from Long Binh Post along Highway OL-13 (Thunder Road) to the 1st Infantry Division base camp at Quan Loi.

The convoy was nearing its destination some 55 miles north of Saigon when a battalion size North Vietnamese Army force opened fire on the convoy with rocket propelled grenades (RPG’s), heavy machine gun and small arms fire.
     The first RPG’s and automatic weapons fire struck trucks of the 538th Transportation Company, 54th Quartermaster Battalion, 1st Logistical Command, who were in the center of the convoy. The C Company V100 armored car C54, moved forward to confront the enemy force and was struck by two RPG’s and .51 caliber heavy machine gun fire setting it on fire and wounding all three MP crew members.
1st ID
1st LOG
18th Bde.
89th Gp.
Charlie Co.720th
If you were a member of this convoy escort please contact the Histopry Project Manager via this Email Link

     With the V100 in flames the Crew Chief, SGT John A. Golembeuski, suffering from severe burns, and the driver, SP/4 Johm C. Mitchell, a shrapnel wound of the hip, escaped from the burning hull and pulled their unconscious gunner, PFC Wilborn, who had multiple shrapnel wounds, from the vehicle.

     In their haste to escape the burning V100 they were unable to bring their rifles with them. The three MP's immediately crawled into nearby elephant grass by the side of the roadway.

 

     With the V100 in flames the Crew Chief, SGT John A. Golembeuski, suffering from severe burns, and the driver, SP/4 Johm C. Mitchell, a shrapnel wound of the hip, escaped from the burning hull and pulled their unconscious gunner, PFC Wilborn, who had multiple shrapnel wounds, from the vehicle.

     In their haste to escape the burning V100 they were unable to bring their rifles with them. The three MP's immediately crawled into nearby elephant grass by the side of the roadway.

 

     As the battle raged around and above them, although unarmed, they rescued several wounded truck drivers from their burning vehicles.

     A light observation helicopter made an unsuccessful attempt to extract them without success due to heavy enemy fire. Shortly afterwards a second rescue attempt was made by a Huey helicopter that landed about 20 feet from the men. They started crawling towards it but before the they could reach it that helicopter was struck by an RPG and burst into flames.

 
SGT Golembeuski
SP/4 Mitchell
PHOTOGRAPH needed
PFC Wilborn
 

     SGT Golembeuski, and SP4 Mitchell, disregarded the heavy enemy fire and went to the rescue of the chopper crew.

     Disregarding their wounds, the enemy small arms fire and the heavy flames from the wreckage, SGT Golembeuski and SP/4 Mitchell managed to successfully rescue the three surviving crew members, including one who’s clothing was on fire while he was still strapped into his seat in the helicopter. The fourth helicopter crewman, a door gunner, was killed instantly when the RPG first struck.

     They dragged the three wounded crewmen away from the burning wreck into the tall grass where they administered first aid to them and waited for assistance. A 1st Infantry Division armored reaction force moved in and drove the enemy force from the area ending the five-hour battle which left 14 of the enemy dead and 1 captured.

     U.S. Casualties were 2 Killed In Action, 11 Wounded In Action, 5 Petroleum, Oil, Lubricant [POL] tankers were destroyed, 1 S&B ammunition truck destroyed, the C Company V100 was destroyed and 4 helicopters were destroyed.

     SGT Golembeuski and PFC Wilborn were evacuated to the U.S. due to the severity of their wounds. SP/4 Mitchell eventually returned to C Company after his recovery from the base hospital.

General Orders 2564 Award Of The Silver Star

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Courtesy of MP Corps Museum Archives

 
     Later, the three C Company MP's would be decorated for their actions that day. SGT Golembeuski received Silver Star and Purple Heart Medals, SP/4 John C. Mitchell the Bronze Star Medal for Valor and a Purple Heart Medal, PFC Wilborn the Purple Heart Medal.
 
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