The Special Platoon

        The VIP escort and interior security of the United States Army Republic Of Vietnam (USARV) Headquarters on Long Binh Post, were the exclusive responsibilities of a specialized platoon of the 95th Military Police Battalion.

        It was a specialized assignment where the MP's had to look sharp and be sharp at all times. The 146th MP Platoon Commander, 1LT William Taylor, would select the men for the assignment based on their experience and military bearing.

        The MP's worked eight-hour shifts, guarding the top security offices and command entrance to the USARV Headquarters. The MP's manned the entrances to all restricted areas. All military personnel wanting entrance to the restricted areas had to first have their name on a "special roster," or be granted approval for entrance by a staff member of the particular room.

        Some notable VIP escort assignments were, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, General William C. Westmorland, Bob Hope and Miss World, Jennifer Hosten from Grenada.

        The VIP escort team would prepare for each escort by conducting reconnaissance of the area of travel, map the route, plan for hazardous areas and traffic congestion.

        The escorts were conducted with two MP gun jeeps, the lead vehicle contained an MP and the escort officer, usually from the USARV Protocol Office, and a trail jeep with an MP and the Noncommissioned Officer of the 146th MP Platoon.

        The MP's that worked the assignment were proud the their specialized job and showed it in their performance record.

        This information was edited by the History Project Manager from an October 1970 MP Journal article.