720th Military Police Battalion Vietnam History Project
1971 Vietnam Timeline
212th Military Police Company (Sentry Dog)
This Page Last Updated   10 January 2018

.
    During 1971 the troops of the company served subordinate to the commands depicted in the column to the right   >

Veteran's of the 212th Military Police Company (Sentry Dog), we need your assistance to obtain official documents, information, personal stories, and photographs for your history website. If you would like to assist in preserving the proud history of your units Vietnam tour, please click on the Email Link of any page to contact Tom Watson (History Project & Website Manager).

     Your historical contributions and comments are always welcomed and appreciated on this website.

18th MP
Brigade
89th MP
Group
720th MP
Battalion
     To eliminate duplication of materials and information, the 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 Long Binh Detachment. 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 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.
1971
Vietnamization Realignment & Downsizing Results In A Severe Shortage Of Handlers & K9s
     The company would undergo three changes of command before the year was out. 1LT Charles R. Wells, 1LT George F. Runner, both believed to be provisional appointments until the arrival of CPT Paul B. Puzey as the new company commander. Available records do not indicate the exact dates.
February

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.

If you were a student or trainer in the program and can provide any photos or information on the who, what, when and where, pleasecontact the History Project Manager via the Email Link provided at the top of this page.
April
6 April, HQ Long Binh Detachment 1LT John F. White the executive officer, departed the company.

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.

June
2 June, Long Binh Detachment   SP/4 Terry M. Chaffins was briefed and posted as Battalion Motor Pool guard.
3 June, HQ Long Binh Detachment   1LT John T. Murray was assigned as the new company executive officer.
8 June, Long Binh Detachment   Seidler was briefed and posted as Battalion Motor Pool guard.
If anyone can provide the full name and rank of Seidler, please use the Email Link at the top of this page.
9 June, HQ Long Binh Detachment  1LT George F. Runner was assigned as the new provisional company commander.
SP/4 Terry M. Chaffins was briefed and posted as Battalion Motor Pool guard.
10 June, Long Binh Detachment  PFC Stebbenfield  was briefed and posted as Battalion Motor Pool guard.
11 June, Long Binh Detachment  PFC Stebbenfield  was briefed and posted as Battalion Motor Pool guard.
17 June, Long Binh Detachment  SP/4 Micahel J. Trost, Jr.  was briefed and posted as Battalion Motor Pool guard.
18 June, Long Binh Detachment   The Staff Duty NCO SGT Joseph W. Thrower, C Company and Staff Duty Officer 1LT Charles R. Wells, Jr., 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog), supervised the closing of Annex #11 without incident.
19 June, Long Binh Detachment  PFC Friend  was briefed and posted as Battalion Motor Pool guard.
24 June, Long Binh Detachment  Battalion TOC was notified of a "Dog Alert" at post Y2, 3rd Ordnance Ammunition Supply Depot. Investigation met with negative results.
     SP/4 Michael J. Trost, Jr. was briefed and posted as the Battalion Motor Pool guard.
25 June, Staff Duty NCO SSG Stacy, A Company, supervised the closing of Annex #11 with negative incidents reported. The Staff Duty Officer 1LT George F. Runner of the 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog) did not show.
27 June, Long Binh Detachment  PFC Stebbenfield  was briefed and posted as Battalion Motor Pool guard.

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.

30 June, Long Binh Detachment  SP/4 Leib was briefed and posted as the Battalion Motor Pool guard.
July

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.

August

22 August, Phu Loi Detachment Thirty Sentry Dog teams from the company were deployed to the Phu Loi Base Camp, Binh Duong Province, Military Region III, based on the stand down and withdrawal of U.S. combat arms units, increase in enemy ground probes and sapper attacks against the critical facilities located there.

     Due to the immediate requirement for the Sentry Dog support, some of the normal requirements such as hot water and the proper kennel facilities were waived by the 720th MP Battalion in order to exploit the deployment. A commitment was made to provide the necessary support by 1 September 1971.

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.

September

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.

October

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.

     By the end of the month the phased withdrawal of U.S. troops under the Vietnamization Program, the manpower needs for the company were now severely strained. It was estimated that the company was thirty dog handlers short of their mission requirements and that the attrition was expected to get worse during the following ninety days.
     The 18th MP Brigade initiated in country training for volunteers indicating a desire to become dog handlers. They also contacted units that were standing down for return to the U.S. to determine who they may have that were trained as Scout and Tracker dog handlers and asked them to remain and/or extend their tours for retraining as sentry dog handlers.
     During the same time period the K9’s value as Military Police Patrol Dogs in certain situations at the detachments in Phu Loi, Long Binh Post, and Vung Tau were being recognized and recommendations were initiated for some of the handlers and K9’s to be cross trained as combined Sentry and Patrol Dog teams.
November

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.

Change In The Company Chain Of Command
December

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.

8th MP
Group (CI)
1971 Miscellaneous Photographs
A "?" following the photo number denotes further identifications are needed, and an Email Link is provided.
Personnel & Facilities
 Members in compound.
 K9 Snoopy.
 PFC Litton, PFC Colazzi, The "Chief," and SP/4 Heilgerman.
 SP/4 Walter Heilgerman.
 SP/4 Tom Testes
 SP/4 Charlie Daniels
 SP/4 Buck Owens
 Friend(?) & unidentified
 “MAC,” Willie Donohue, Unidentified, Charlie Daniels
 David H. Niemann, Willie Donohue, Unidentified
Use Your Browser Button To Return