1 February, HQ Long Binh Detachment  Due to a shortage of enlisted personnel serving as handlers in the company, the 720th MP Battalion initiated a program through which volunteers for Sentry Dog duty were recruited from qualified military policemen now serving within the battalion.

     A total of four enlisted men were ultimately selected from within the Battalion and underwent a four-week period of on-the-job training and formal classroom instruction. The period of training commenced 1 February and ended 28 February, at which time BG Wallace K. Wittwer, Commanding General, 18th Military Police Brigade, presented the four enlisted men with certificates of achievement.

     The Company was 46 enlisted men and 26 sentry dogs short of its TOE authorized strength. This shortage of both handlers and dogs has resulted in sentry dog support for the 307 CAB, Can Tho and for the 91st Technical Supply, Long Binh Post being held in abeyance pending receipt of additional qualified handlers and sentry dogs.

30 April, HQ 18th MP Brigade Brigade Commander BG Wallace K. Wittwer submitted an evaluation to HQ USARV in it's quarterly report stating; that based on the observation and the evaluation of patrol dogs and sentry dogs conducted in October 1970, that the patrol dog teams can perform not only the security function of the sentry dog team but also, because of the patrol dogs greater tolerance of distractions, can be worked in more varied situations in which the sentry dog would be ineffective.

     The Brigade then recommended that expansion of the patrol dog program within the Army be considered not as a replacement for, but as an adjunction to the current sentry dog program.

     The recommendation was concurred by USARV and forwarded to United States Pacific Area Command (USAPAC) and the Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Development, Department of the Army.

28 June, Long Binh Detachment  Battalion TOC was notified of a "Dog Alert" at post Y5, 3rd Ordnance Ammunition Supply Depot. Investigation met with negative results.

     SP/4 Leib was briefed and posted as the Battalion Motor Pool guard.

1 July-30 November 1971

7 July, Long Binh Detachment  The battalion was required to provide 20 enlisted personnel to provide a security staff for the new Drug Treatment Center (DTC) established inside the compound of the United States Army Republic of South Vietnam (USARV) Installation Stockade on Long Binh Post.

Personal Reflection  “There was a detox unit over in LBJ [Long Binh USARV Stockade]. I went over there one time to deliver a prisoner, and ran into a guy I knew from MP school who was working the jail. He showed me around, and I specifically recall seeing that section. It was not a place I would want to spend more than fifteen seconds! At the time I was in-country there was a horrible heroin problem around Long Binh, and there were quite a few guys in the 720th who were using.

     One sad event I vividly recall was when I was driving in a really remote area on post, and saw a young GI stumbling down the side of the road. By the time I got to him he had collapsed and was totally incoherent. I loaded him into the jeep, and drove him to the 24th Evacuation Hospital. He was unconscious by the time I got him there. It turns out he had quite a history, and this was not his first time doing this. He had somehow gotten out of detox, or was released...I don't know, but had immediately gone out and overdosed.

     As can be typical in these cases, these guys will establish a habit and build a high tolerance to the drug. When they get through detox they will go out and retake the same levels they were previously used to, which can be fatal. Also, some of the stuff over there was so pure that even small amounts could be deadly. From what I was told later, but do not know as fact, they were not able to revive this young man from this overdose."   SP/4 Mel Cheney, 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog) & HQ Detachment.

9 July, Long Binh Detachment  Battalion Staff Duty NCO, SSG Richard Boynton of C Company and SDO, 2LT Richard R. Wells of the 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog), supervised the closing of Annex 11 (Enlisted Men’s Club) with negative incidents.

24 August, The Battalion Reaction Force under the command of MAJ Herman C. Statum the battalion executive officer, provided security for the 5th Miss America USO tour of Long Binh Post. The stop at Long Binh Post was one of many in South Vietnam during the 22-day tour.

     Several enlisted men of the battalion were chosen to dine with Miss America-Phyllis George and her entourage representing Miss Arizona-Karen Griffin, Miss Arkansas-Donna Jo Connelly, Miss Iowa-Cheryl Browne, Miss New Jersey-Hela Yungst, Miss Nevada-Vicky Jo Todd, and Miss Texas-Bellinda Myrick, and Miss Irene Bryant, the Miss America Pageant traveling companion during a special luncheon in the battalion consolidated mess hall arranged through CPT Douglas MacDonald the 89th MP Group S-3.

     Three of the MP’s have been identified as SP/4’s Randy M. Lasseter of the 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog), and Ted Latham and Donald Banta of HQ & HQ Detachment. Following the meal the group visited C Company compound where one of their V100 Armored Commando Cars had the name “Miss America” painted on its side in red, white and blue letters and a painted characterization of Playboy Magazines “Granny,” as the queen.

24 September, HQ Long Binh Detachment   The company's 1SG William W. Warnick was assigned to the Battalion Proficiency Pay (Superior Performance) Selection Board for an indefinite period. The board evaluates recommended battalion enlisted personnel for awards of Proficiency Pay based on records check and the administrative points packet pertaining to the program. The results were to be posted on a composite list indicating the individual’s name, MOS and total points.

1 October, HQ Long Binh Detachment  SFC Robert L. Nicholas of the company was assigned on temporary duty to assist with the Annual General Inspection to Headquarters USARV Special Troops, Long Binh Post for a period of 5 days, effective 101071.

6 October, HQ Long Binh Detachment  The company's 1SG William W. Warnick was assigned to the Battalion Character Guidance Council.

11 October, HQ Long Binh Detachment  The following company personnel were promoted from Specialist 4th class to the rank of Sergeant E5: Terry M. Chaffins, Donald L. Hyatt, Elmer E. Trost and Michael J. Trost.

31 October, Phu Loi Detachment The promised kennel facility upgrades promised by command at the Phu Loi base camp by 1 September had yet to be initiated for the thirty handlers and K9’s of the 212th Detachment deployed there on 22 August. The lack of proper facilities endangered the health of the K9’s, so a command letter from the 720th MP Battalion outlining the problems was forwarded through channels requesting expeditious action.

29 November, Phu Loi Detachment  The 18th MP Brigade commander BG Timmerberg, presented the 18th MP Brigade Gold Medallion Award for outstanding professionalism and dedication to SFC Samuel Nickens NCOIC of the Phu Loi Detachment. The award was presented in a brief ceremony after an inspection at the detachment by the general on the progress of the building and refurbishing of the detachment area begun on 22 August with the assignment of the 30-man team.

1 December 1971-29 March 1972

20 December,  The 89th MP Group departed Vietnam and was inactivated 21 December 1971. The 720th MP Battalion and 212th MP Company (attached), was assigned subordinate to the 8th Military Police Group (Criminal Investigation), 18th MP Brigade, USARV (Provost Marshal), also located on Long Binh Post.

23 December, Long Binh Detachment  In accordance with the 18th MP Brigade Supplemental to AR 350-1, SGT Paul L. Marshall successfully completed the prescribed course in Republic of Vietnam In-Country Training Class #50-71.