212th

~ 720th Military Police Battalion Vietnam History Project ~

Phu Bai Detachment, Camp Eagle
212th MP Company (Sentry Dog)

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This Page Last Updated 27 November 2017

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MACV

USARV

Support

Command

18th MP

Brigade

89th MP

Group

Phu Bai was situated northeast of Highway QL-1 approximately one klick southeast of the ancient Capital City of Hue in Thua Thien Province, Military Region-I.

The 595th MP Company (Sentry Dog) activated on 2 January 1970 in Vietnam and was assigned by Brigade to the 16th MP Group, for operations and the 504th MP Battalion for administrative and logistical matters.

In June 1970 the company was reassigned to the 504th for all purposes with a TO&E authorizing 5 officers, 188 enlisted men and 132 sentry Dogs as of 10 July 1970. At that time the company only staffed two detachments in Da Nang. Five other (as of yet unidentified) sites were approved and awaiting kennel construction before deployment.

As best can be determined from the limited information currently available, it appears that with the stand down of U.S. units in the area under the Intensified Vietnamization Program, several members of the 595th MP Company (Sentry Dog) originally attached to the 504th MP Battalion in Military Region-I were absorbed by the 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog), 720th MP Battalion, detachment at Camp Eagle in Phu Ba.

Hand Sewn Patch

Camp Eagle was the headquarters of the 101st Airborne Division from 1969-1971, the last remaining regiment, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry departed Phu Bai in April 1972.

Photo courtesy of SP/4 Bernie Melancon, 212th Company (Sentry Dog), 18th MP Brigade, MACV PMO Unit, 1972.

1971

Without information from official records, it appears that the first 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog) assets appeared at Camp Holloway sometime in 1971.

Personal Reflection "We were a small detachment - 5-6 handlers, a vet-tech, and two E6 NCO's. I'm going by memory, but I think the MP unit at Camp Eagle, those who provided police duty and gate security were B Company, 504th MP Battalion. There may be more than one 'Camp Eagle,' but the camp I served at was on Highway 1 west of Phu Bai across the highway from the military airport.

Camp Eagle was primarily a signal base at the time, but contained units from the 1st/4th Cavalry providing gun ship support for the ARVN infantry involved in the Easter Offensive of 1972.

504th MP

Battalion

Our main security concerns for my 212th detachment at Camp Eagle was the 8th Radio Research antenna field outside the berm and bunker line used by the signal personnel, and the airfield that held airmobile gun ships and personnel." John Meier, 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog), USARPAC, 1971-1972.

1972

Without information from official records, and based on information from the handlers, it appears that the detachment was deactivated sometime in July 1972.

Personal Reflection "When the NVA came through the DMZ at the end of March of 1972, and Quan Tri and Camp Carroll fell to the NVA armored infantry, Camp Eagle got pretty hairy. We were attacked - mortars and rockets - 3-4 nights per week. We had no casualties - thank God.

In July '72 the NVA overran the ammo dump west of Camp Eagle and zapped two ammo cache chambers with some ARVN casualties. That was the best fireworks display I've ever seen - the dump blew for three days and bellowed smoked for ten." John Meier, 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog), USARPAC, 1971-1972.

Personal Reflection "I was stationed at Phu Bai from February-July, 1972 as an MP Sentry Dog Handler. I had two dogs, the first was Major, but he was retired, so then I was assigned to Lancer. His handler, Gene Tremelling was promoted to acting E-5 and assigned an office job.

I agree with everything that John Meier said, there were about eight of us, one Vet Tech and the line duty MPs of the 504th. I do remember the ammo dump exploding for a few days and it was pretty spectacular." SP/4 Bernie Melancon, 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog), February-July 1972.

Personal Reflection "Just before I left the guys to escort the dogs down to Long Binh. Another dog handler and I flew in a C-130, and since I was in charge, I was asked by the pilot if I minded if some local civilians flew also. I didn't have a problem with it and agreed to let them fly. Everything went fine. The dogs didn't take up much space so we carried about 20 extra people, as I recall.

Saying goodbye to Lancer was difficult, but any loss was part of being a soldier in a combat zone. We all prepared ourselves for the unexpected when sent to Nam. We were lucky because we didn't lose anyone, but we were all prepared mentally if we did." SP/4 Bernie Melancon, 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog), February-July 1972.

Miscellaneous Photographs

G3482	Detachment members Sparks, Tremelling, Langford, Kessler and others.
G3483	Detachment members Campbell, Langford, Howland, Tremelling and Turner.
G3484	Detachment members Howland, Campbell and Meier.
G3485	Detachment members Tremelling and unidentified driver.
G3486	Detachment members Kessler, Campbell, Meyer and their K9's.
G3487	SP/4 Melancon and his K9 Lancer before stand-down.
G3488	SP/4's Landford and Armstrong creating the Detachment K9's before stand-down.
G3489	SP/4 (Acting Sergeant) Tremelling in the Detachment Orderly Room.

1972 Miscellaneous Photographs

A "?" following the photo number denotes further identifications are needed, and an Email Link is provided.

Personnel & Facilities

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