720th Military Police Battalion Vietnam History Project |
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Your historical contributions and comments are always welcomed and appreciated on this website. To eliminate duplication of materials and information, the Pershing Field HQ Platoon page and 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog) Long Binh Post Detachment pages have been incorporated into this company timeline page. Specific activities relative to it are identified with- HQ Platoon (88th) and HQ Long Binh Detachment-P. In addition, all page links, linked photographs and their Email links have been reformatted and updated. The same process, with the exception of some dated photographs (most will still be maintained in their respective detachment pages), has been done with the textual timeline history of all the other 88th and 212th company detachments. |
If you have any questions about this process please feel free to direct them to the History Project and Website Manager via the Email Link at the top of this page.
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1966 |
88th MP Company (K9) redesignated as the 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog) |
January |
10 January The 212th MP Company inactivated in Germany on 16 August 1965 was reactivated in-country as a Sentry Dog unit. 17 January The 88th MP Company (K9) was deactivated and redesignated as the 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog), MACV, with their headquarters still located at Pershing Field, Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base, Capital Military District, Gia Dinh Province, III Corps Tactical Zone. |
The company remained subordinate to MACV (Tan Son Nhut Airbase) and continued their mission of fielding detachments (then called elements) throughout South Vietnam’s II, III and IV Corps Tactical Zones: Ban Me Thuot in Darlac Provence, Da Lat in Tuyen Duc Province, Nah Trang in Khanh Hoa Province, Phan Rang in Ninh Thuan Province of II Corps Tactical Zone, Vung Tau in Phuoc Tuy Province, Saigon in the Capital Military District of Gia Dinh Province, Long Binh Post in Bien Hoa Province, Vung Tau in Phuoc Tuy Province of III Corps Tactical Zone, Soc Trang (Khanh Hung) in Ba Xuyen Province, Can Tho in Phong Dinh Province of IV Corps Tactical Zone, and others yet identified. |
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 If you can provide information on other early detachments not listed, please notify the History Project Manager via the Email Link at the top of this page. |
29 January The following company personnel were promoted from Private First Class (PFC) to Specialist Fourth Class (SP/4), Donald R. Ristine, Aaron F. Helmick, Raymond E. Herman, Joseph L. Scharett, Paul D. Fowler, Frederick S. Fink, Robert L. Huggins, Allen Harris and Joel M. Anderson. |
31 January The following personnel with the rank of Specialist 4th Class were assigned MOS P95B2D, John M. Brewer, Jerry D. Hill, Edward Spaulding, Jr., Roy L. Wilson, John A. Mazoni, Michael Scott, Robert C. Gitchell, James T, Jacobson, David A. Conser, Henry F. Lombard, Charles C. Nicholson, Robert C. Dreyer, Charles L. Stephens, Ronald F. Slotnick, John R. Thwaites, Joseph F. Raison, Woodrow A. Graves, Richard L. Desmarais, Robert J. Hathaway, Willis E. Wass, Brad T. Schwartz, Leon E. Gilbert, Jr., Edward D. Ward, Robert W. Tebbs, Kent B. Wright, Charles A. Watts, Bruce E. Barter, Joel M. Anderson, Frederick S. Fink, Paul D. Fowler, Aaron F. Helmick, Raymond E. Herman, Robert L. Huggins, Joseph L. Scharett, Donald R. Ristine, and Allen E. Harris. |
Operation MOOSE |
Early in the year, the exact date unknown, GEN William C. Westmoreland initiated a campaign to materially reduce the U.S. troop presence and facility footprints in the major cities, especially the capital of Saigon. The physical security requirements of the 716th MP Battalion in the Capital Military District to guard those facilities were becoming unattainable, and the numerous and scattered facilities housed in antiquated buildings were drawing regular enemy activity like bears to honey. Under MACV’s direction, Operation MOOSE (move out of Saigon expeditiously) was established. The first movements would include USARV Headquarters, the Joint General Staff Headquarters, to include the HQ of the 18th MP Brigade, the 89th MP Group, 95th MP Battalion, and 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog). Construction of the new facilities for the Military Police Compound on Long Binh Post was underway long before the official announcement of the moves was made public on 15 July 1967. |
Long Binh Detachment-P Having your compound next to your duty assignment (3rd Ordnance Ammunition Depot) was convienient, and having it situated under a group of tall trees to shade the buildings from the hot sun was ideal. With the availability of construction materials for Operation MOOSE, the handlers of Detachment-P on Long Binh Post began construction of their new kennels. |
1st Change of Command Structure |
March |
15 March The 89th MP Group was activated in Vietnam, headquartered in Tent City B, Shea Compound, Ton San Nhut Air Force Base, Saigon in Gia Dinh Province, III Corps Tactical Zone and assigned subordinate to MACV. The date Group became fully operational is unknown, however, shortly after Group’s arrival the 212th MP Company was assigned to it for administrative and logistical support with MACV still maintaining operational control. |
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30 March, 148th MP Detachment (Dismounted Patrol) Under Special Orders No. 65 the 89th MP Group detached and separated the 148th MP Detachment (Dismounted Patrol) personnel & equipment from the 212th. Currently available 89th MP Group reports fail to disclose the reason for the separation or their duty assignment. In September the detachment personnel and equipment were again merged with the 212th. Orders Courtesy of SP/4 Gary J. Heimbigner, 88th MP Company (K9) MACV & 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog), 89th MP Group, Vietnam, 1965-1966. |
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July |
1 July 1966-31 May 1967 |
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9 July 2LT Norman "Dave" Johnston was promoted to 1LT by COL Charles F. Helderman, Commander 89th MP Group (Hellions) at Pershing Field, Saigon. 31 July The 89th MP Group reported that since 1 May a total of 166 K9’s were utilized manning a total of 16 posts, and that additional posts had been surveyed and approved for future inclusion. The company’s permanent kennels located at Vinh Long and Soc Trang in IV Corps Tactical Zone, and Long Binh Post in III Corps Tactical Zone were completed. |
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September |
3 September, 89th MP Group The 89th MP Group moved from Tent City B, Shea Compound to the Military Police Compound at Pershing Field, Tan Son Nhut Airbase, Saigon. |
8 September, 18th MP Brigade Commanded by COL Thomas F. Guidera, the 18th MP Brigade arrived in-country, and was headquartered in Saigon. The brigade was a HQ and HQ Company authorized a staff of fifty-five personnel and became the largest military police command in South Vietnam. Upon its operational activation the 89th MP Group became subordinate to the brigade. |
19 September To further lighten the load of the handlers the company headquarters submitted to Brigade a request to replace the currently issued 7.62mm M-14 rifles with 234 of the much lighter 5.56mm M-16 rifles. |
2nd Change of Command Structure |
26 September The 18th MP Brigade (activated state-side on 23 March 1966) became active upon its arrival in Vietnam, and assumed operational control of the 89th MP Group and its subordinate commands to include the 212th MP Company. The 212th was reassigned to the 18th MP Brigade for operational control and subordinate to the 95th MP Battalion (Long Binh Post) for administrative support. At this change of command the company changed from the MACV to the 18th MP Brigade patch. |
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At that time the company absorbed the personnel, K9’s and equipment of the 148th MP Detachment (Dismounted Patrol) who were recently deactivated, adding to their troop strength to staff 13 detachments throughout Corps Tactical Zones II, III and IV. |
| Editors Notes: There was no record of the platoon in past or future reports as to its mission, number of personnel or exact duties. The unit does not appear again in 18th MP Brigade or 89th MP Group reports. If you can provide any additional information, please notify the History Project Manager via the Email Link at the top of this page. |
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1- Headquarters Detachment at Saigon (Gia Dinh Province, III CTZ). |
2- A Detachment at Pleiku (Pleiku Province, II CTZ) with 6 handler posts at the Camp Holloway storage areas. |
3- B Detachment at Qui Nhon (Binh Dinh Province, II CTZ) with 6 handler posts at the Qui Nhon Support Command depot and ammunition supply depot. |
4- O Detachment at An Khe (Binh Dinh Province, II CTZ) with 6 handler posts at the 1st Air Cavalry Division (Airmobile) depot and ammunition supply depot. |
5- R Detachment at Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa Province, II CTZ) with 3 handler posts at the 5th Special Forces Group depot. |
6- P Detachment at Long Binh Post (Bien Hoa Province, CTZ III) with 5 handler posts at the 3rd Ordnance ammunition supply depot. |
7- C Detachment at Ban Me Thuot (Darlac Province, II CTZ) with 4 handler posts at the Installations Petroleum-Oil-Lubricant, ammunition supply depots and airfield. |
8- J Detachment at Da Lat (Tuyen Duc Province, II CTZ) with 1 handler post at the 362nd Signal Company Radio Relay Site. |
9- T Detachment at Phan Rang (Ninh Thuan Province, II CTZ) with 3 handler posts at the Phan Rang Support Command, Petroleum-Oil-Lubricant and ammunition supply depots. |
10- S Detachment at Can Tho (Phong Dinh Province, IV CTZ) with 3 handler posts at the Installation and airfield. |
11- L Detachment at Soc Trang (Ba Xuyen Province, IV CTZ) with 5 handler posts at the Installation, Petroleum-Oil-Lubricant, ammunition supply depots and airfield. |
12- M Detachment at Vinh Long (Vinh Long Province, IV CTZ) with 3 handler posts at the installation and airfield. |
13- F Detachment at Vung Tau (Phuoc Tuy Province, III CTZ) with 7 handler posts at the Vung Tau Support Command and ammunition supply depot. |
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Map Courtesy of SP/4 Gary J. Heimbigner, 88th MP Company (K9) MACV & 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog), 89th MP Group, Vietnam, 1965-1966. |
18th MP Brigade During the previous months a problem of parasitic contamination in the dog food shipments was substantially reduced through a program of continued inspection by the veterinary units of the 44th Medical Brigade and its 936th Veterinary Detachment (Small Animal Hospital) at Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base, Saigon. |
Although close coordination between the U.S. Army Pacific Area Command (USARPAC) Sentry Dog School, Okinawa, Japan and the company continued, Brigade initiated plans to extend the present supervisor’s refresher training class by expanding it to include a basic supervisors training class. |
In addition, to reduce the handlers basic load, Brigade moved to replace the heavy PRC-25 pack field radios currently in use by submitting a request to the 1st Logistics Command for the issuing of the much lighter Motorola HT (Handi-Talkie) Model FM portable radios with a range of 3-5 miles to each handler team for utilization on a trial basis. |
October |
28 October- Long Binh Detachment P A Viet Cong mortar round hit and ignited an ammunition pad loaded with 11,000 eight-inch shells at the 3rd Ordnance Ammunition Depot. Personal Reflections "The October 28th explosion was the result of a satchel charge, not a mortar round. We had a report that VC were spotted in the dump and were clearing the area when the pad went up. It hurled the shells (250 lbs) a mile over the compound, landing in a field behind our hootches. One hit a tree branch, broke the branch (big branch) and fell about twenty feet from the kennels." SP/4 Charles J. Hahn, 212th MP Company, MACV & 89th MP Group, 95th MP Battalion, 1966 to 1967. |
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| If any handlers that were working the shift at the depot can provide their story or additional photographs, please notify the History Project Manager via the Email Link at the top of this page. |
December |
Personal Reflection “I arrived in-country from Ft. Hood, Texas with C Company, 720th MP Battalion on 19 October, and was transferred from C Company, 720th MP Battalion to the 212th in November or December 1966 as the 1st Platoon Leader and had detachments in Qui Nhon, An Khe, Pleiku, and Nha Trang. Then I was later transferred to the Pershing Field compound as the company’s executive officer.” 1LT [COL Ret.] Arnold L. Seligman, Executive Officer, 212th MP Company, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, Vietnam, October 1966 to June 1968. |
Long Binh Detachment-P
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