~ 720th Military Police Battalion Vietnam History Project ~

Saigon Docks Detachment
212th MP Company (Sentry Dog)
   Regardless of MOS if you recognize or participated in any of the events listed on this detachment page and would like to contribute any official orders, media documents, information, personal stories, photographs, or information on any events not listed, please take a moment to contact Tom Watson the History Project and Website Manager at the Email Link provided on this page. Your contributions are important to the recording of the Vietnam Era history of the 88th MP Company (K9) and 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog) and always welcomed here.
   Please take the time to report any broken links on this page to the Webmaster via the same Email Link.
   If you have photographs you would like to post, contact the History Project Manager via the Email Link below. Please CLICK HERE to find out how you can help.
CLICK ON INDIVIDUAL RIBBONS FOR CRITERIA
Return To 212th Main Index
This Page Last Updated   29 November 2017
Email Link
MACV
Brigade
18th MP
Brigade
89th MP
Group

The Saigon Docks were located on the east side of the capital city on the Saigon River, Capital Military District, Gia Dinh Province, III Corps Tactical Zone.  As the buildup began in the early 1960's Saigon had the only functional deep-water port facilities in South Vietnam that was capable of handling the ever-increasing influx of military supplies to support the war effort.

     During the summer of 1965 it was recognized by a U.S. House of Representatives Oversight Committee that the existing cargo handling capabilities and security for the port and docks located on the southern bank of the Saigon River was not keeping up with the ever increasing logistical shipments being off loaded and warehoused at the current facilities.

 

      To improve the security mission being provided by Saigon Port Operations Command, in 1965 it was decided by the U.S. Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV) to utilized the expertise of the Military Police Corps and establish a separate Port Provost Marshal Office to take over responsibility for all military and civilian cargo security interest both on (ship) and off (docks) the water. The 92nd MP Battalion, 188th & 300th MP Companies were eventually assigned the mission.

.

Map of the Saigon Dock Facilities

.

.

     After negotiations with the Vietnamese government land was purchased on the north bank of the river and with oversight provided by MACV construction began for a new separate and secure dock facility to handle the sensitive U.S. Military cargo needed to support the war effort.

     The new facility was named Newport and construction was finally completed in July of 1967. With its completion the majority of military cargo destined for delivery outside of Saigon was directed there. The conditions vastly improved in several ways, cargo ships were off loaded much quicker, storage security was greatly improved and military related port traffic congestion in Saigon was greatly reduced.

.

Photograph of the Newport Dock Facilities
1965
August According to PFC Arthur K. Przybyl of the 72nd MP Detachment, [soon to be reflagged as the 88th MP Company (K9)] upon their arrival in Vietnam some of the members were assigned to dismounted patrol on the piers and wharves of the Saigon Docks where cargo arrived and was subject to high theft rates. However, only a few of the handlers did that- mainly SP/4 level and higher.
 If you have any information or photographs of this mission at the Saigon Docks, please use the Email Link at the top of this page.
1966
 If you have any information or photographs on any 212th MP Company missions at the Saigon Docks for this year, please use the Email Link at the top of this page.
1967

19 April The 18th MP Brigade tasked the 89th MP Group's 720th MP Battalion to assume the mission of operating joint checkpoints in conjunction with the Vietnamese National Police [Canh Sat], and Army of the Republic of Vietnam Military Police [Quan Cahn], within the Saigon area.

   The checkpoints were utilized to control the movement of restricted commodities trucked by civilian contractors from the Saigon Port. The checkpoints were largely ineffective without the necessary 'overall' command and control of the groups of transport vehicles, and would be a prelude to what would become Operation OVERTAKE, the suppression of convoy bound cargo theft and black-marketing operations.
720th MP
Battalion
 If you have any information or photographs on any 212th MP Company missions at the Saigon Docks for this year, please use the Email Link at the top of this page.
1968

December Members of the 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog) and their organic Scout Dog Unit assisted the 92nd MP Battalion working shifts at the Saigon Docks to aid in night security for military cargo of a sensitive nature awaiting transportation. It's unknown what company from the 92nd was assigned. Editors Note: the type of the cargo and the reason it wasn't off loaded at the Newport Docks remains unknown.

   Two teams, one MP from the 92nd MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade and one MP handler team from the 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog), alternated patrol duties in assigned areas of the Saigon Docks from 1800 hours to 0600 hours.
92nd MP
Battalion

     The areas patrolled were traversed in an irregular pattern, concentrating on places where military cargo susceptible to theft was stored.

      The Saigon Docks presented problems that required dogs with characteristics of both sentry and scout dogs. K9’s King and Waco were the two dogs chosen for the demanding assignment because they were trained as Scout Dogs and also maintained the aggressive nature of a Sentry Dog.

      CPL Monte H. Eggers was assigned as the Noncommissioned Officer in charge [NCOIC], of the detachment. SP/4 Robert W. Felcher, and others yet identified, were assigned as dog handlers.

      During the first forty-eight days of operation, not a single theft was reported in areas where dogs were patrolling.

Right: CPL Monte Eggers and his Scout Dog Waco, both members of the 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog), 720th MP Battalion on patrol in the Saigon Docks. Courtesy of The 18th MP Brigade Newspaper, The Roundup, March 1969.
1969
Cargo Theft Is Drastically Reduced

January Three separate attempts of thefts were thwarted with a total of approximately twenty-one thieves apprehended as a direct result of the joint K9 patrols on the docks.

     It was estimated that the theft rate from the docks was cut by 75% since the addition of the detachment K9’s and handlers paired with the MPs of the 92nd MP Battalion.

1970

February-April The 212th MP Company continued to provide handlers and K9’s for physical security at the Saigon Docks. Available 720th MP Battalion records do not mention when the mission was ended.
1971
 If you have any information or photographs on any 212th MP Company missions at the Saigon Docks for this year, please use the Email Link at the top of this page.
1972
 If you have any information or photographs on any 212th MP Company missions at the Saigon Docks for this year, please use the Email Link at the top of this page.
Return To Top Of Page
Use Your Browser Button To Return