188th

Before 1965 essentially all cargo entering Vietnam in deep-draft vessels came through the port of Saigon, the only port with deep draft berths. Built originally to handle about three million tons of cargo annually, Saigon Port was operating well, even with non mechanized stevedoring methods prior to the massive buildup of American Troops and stockpiles starting in mid 1965.

WANTED: Interviews, information, stories, photographs from the members of the 188th MP Company that worked the Saigon Docks Detachment. Use the Email Link at the top of this page to contact the History Project Manager.

When Washington launched one of the greatest logistics operations in history, Saigon Port became glutted by the sudden influx of tonnage, a tenfold increase of up to 10,000 tons a day. New Saigon berths were needed, and they were constructed.

The operation of this port was conducted primarily with contract stevedores under the direct supervision of 4th Transportation Command personnel. The cargo off loaded at the Saigon facilities was critical for the support of allied military units and operations throughout III and IV Corps.

4th

With the use of local labor the Viet Cong had the ability to obtain critical intelligence on cargo arrivals, storage facilities and pending shipment schedules. Security at the port and surrounding storage facilities was critical.

Operations at the Newport Docks, located two and a half miles upstream from Saigon Port, were also conducted by the 4th Transportation Command.

The physical security assignment included static gate duty, foot patrol, and jeep patrol of the warehouse areas. The assignments involved two man teams and the shifts lasted for 12 hours.