overview

Port & Harbor Security Responsibilities ~ Vietnam
~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association ~ Vietnam History Project ~

1965

The U.S. Army was assigned operational control of all Saigon Port facilities

During the summer it was recognized that the tremendous build up of United States Forces and the subsequent logistical support was rapidly creating havoc at the Saigon Port.

Shortly thereafter, the U.S. Army was assigned the mission of operating that portion of the port off loading military cargo. This was later expanded to also include the U.S. interfest cargo such as civilian contractor equipment, supplies, and all United States Agency for International Development [USAID], cargo. Along with the mission the U.S. Army operating the Saigon Port assumed the mission of Port and Harbor Security in the III and IV Corps Tactical Zone on a limited basis.

October A modest security guard force was established to supplement the limited manpower the 716th MP Battalion was providing.

December The security section, until then under Port Operations, had grown into a separate Provost Marshal Division.

716th

1966

The Military Police are assigned the security mission for Ports and Harbors

June United States Army Republic Of Vietnam [USARV] Provost Marshal assigned full operational responsibility of the III and IV Corps port and harbor areas to the Saigon Port Provost Marshal. The 615th MP Company was initially assigned to support this mission.

USARV

July The 92nd MP Battalion, arrived in South Vietnam and was assigned the mission.

November The mission had expanded and the Saigon Port Provost Marshal was posting one-hundred and sixty-five MP's each shift. These personnel were provided by the 92nd MP Battalion, 720th MP Battalion, a detachment from the 615th MP Company, and one-hundred MP's and Security Guards assigned to the Port Headquarters Company.

92nd

720th

The assignments consisted of joint harbor patrols at;

92nd MP Battalion

720th MP Battalion

The joint harbor patrols also expanded physical security and population and resources control at the facilities. Enemy influence, pilferage, and access was limited by the use of water borne, motorized, and foot patrols, ship guards, check points, off limit areas, and facility curfews.

1967

The focus then expanded to prevention of highway transport theft under Operation Overtake

December With the success of the Military Police port and harbor security mission, organized Vietnamese criminal elements redirected their resources to hijacking and theft of tens of thousands of dollars of logistical materials from the many civilian convoys transporting the high end post exchange items from the docks.

Once again the MPs were assigned the mission of coordinating and escorting the civilian contractor convoys from point of origin to destination under Operation OVERTAKE. The plan developed by the 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, was first operationally assigned to the 92nd MP Battalion, and later reassigned to the 95th and 720th MP Battalion's under the oversight of the 177th Provost Marshal Detachment on Long Binh Post.

95th

18th Bde.

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