720th Military Police Battalion Vietnam History Project |
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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.
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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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1972 |
Preparation For Stand-down |
January |
HQ Long Binh Detachment The company commander at the start of 1972 was CPT Paul B. Pusey. |
12 January, HQ Long Binh Detachment The Battalion authorized the following company personnel for the issuance of SECRET security clearances: SSG Harry Sherman; Confidential- PFC James M. Alfonso, PFC Jesue Cruz, PFC Anthony L. Desmond, PFC Jack H. Duffell, PFC Paul R. Dyer, PFC Robert J. Feliszak, PFC Alburn R. Fischer, PFC Clabert R. Fontenot, PVT Melvin L. Fuoss, PFC Edward E. Galloway, III., PFC Howard R. Hamilton, PFC Jack W. Hobbs, PFC Samuel H. Jackson, PFC James H. Jones, PVT Edward Klepacz, PFC Michael J. Leonard, SGT Paul L. Marshall, PFC John W. Mayrer, PFC Larry V. Mitchell, PFC Henry N. Morey, PFC Morris H. King, PFC Ernest J. Nunn, PFC William L. Presslor, PFC James Robinson, Jr., PFC Norman R. Root, PVT George A. Rouse, PFC Joachim W. Schilling, PFC Anthony S. Venturo, PVT Ernest D. Webb, PFC Tommy G. Wood, PFC Thomas A. Wright, SP/4 Jerome D. Saunders. |
March |
30 March 1972-28 January 1973 |
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April |
19 April, The Battalion started downsizing with a major command change at the company level. In an evening ceremony at the officers club of the 3rd Ordnance Battalion on Long Binh Post they bid farewell to CPT James A. Silva- Company A, CPT Gary M. Woods- Company C, CPT Paul B. Pusey- 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog) who was replaced by CPT Bristow F. Fontenot, CPT Douglas M. MacDonald- Provost Marshal of Vung Tau, and CWO/2 George W. Wright- HQ Detachment Assistant Adjutant. Major General Paul M. Timmerburg Commanding General, 18th MP Brigade and Provost Marshal USARV whose Army career as a young 2nd. Lieutenant began with the battalion in Occupied Japan, was also present. Toasts were made to Richard M. Nixon, President and Commander In Chief, Robert F. Proehkle the Secretary of The Army, Admiral Thomas A. Moorer the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff and General William C. Westmoreland the Army Chief of Staff. |
Change In The Theater Chain Of Command |
15 May, Headquarters, United States Army Republic of Vietnam (USARV), located on Long Binh Post, was merged with United States Military Assistance Command (MACV) in Saigon to become USARV/MACV Support Command, Saigon. |
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According to SP/4 John Meier of the company's Phu Bai Detachment, his DD214 shows his assignment to the detachment and the 212th from B Company, 504th MP Battalion was through U.S. Army Pacific Area Command (USARPAC). At the time USARPAC provided personnel, training, administrative and logistics support for USARV/MACV Support Command, Saigon. |
June |
3 June, HQ Long Binh Detachment 1LT John T. Murray was assigned as the new company executive officer. |
Personal Reflections “I transferred in from the 97th MP Battalion in Cam Ranh Bay after stand-down where I was company commander of the 981st MP Company (Sentry Dog). I joined the 720th in April as company commander of the 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog) from April until June when it had been reduced to approximately a platoon size unit. I was then reassigned as company commander of B Company until August when the Battalion completed its stand-down. |
From there I transferred to the 716th MP Battalion in Saigon where I completed my tour in October. I guess I will go down in the Battalion history as the last company commander of the 212th and B Company in South Vietnam.” CPT Bristow F. “Biff” Fontenot, Commanding Officer, 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog), April-June 1972. |
4th Change Of Command Structure |
July |
1 July The Headquarters Company, 8th MP Group was inactivated. The battalion chain of command was then 18th MP Brigade, USARV/MAVC Support Command. According to SSG John R. Hunter, (SMG Retired), HQ & HQ Detachment, 720th MP Battalion, February 1972-August 1972, he stayed at battalion until their last day and delivered their reports to a unit formed in USARV as USARV MP Group (Provisional). |
Exact Date Unknown, Phu Bai Detachment According to SP/4 Bernie Melancon of the company's Phu Bai Detachment,, after receiving orders to stand-down the detachment members crated their K9's and shipped them to the company headquarters on Long Binh Post. At that time the Phu Bai Detachment staff consisted of approximately eight handlers, two NCO's and a Vet Tech. The personnel count and duty status of any of the other company's remote detachments is still unknown. |
 If you can provide any information on you detachment at the time of the stand down, and to where you were reassigned, please contact the History Project Manager via the Email Link at the top of this page. |
5th Change Of Command Structure |
August |
13 August The 720th MP Battalion was deactivated and its colors left Vietnam for Fort Hood, Texas. It is unclear what command authority the 212th was attached to until their departure. Records indicate that at this time the 212th was down to a platoon size, probably just the HQ Detachment, attached to the USARV MP Group (Provisional). CPT Bristow F. Fontenot, the last company commander of B Company, identified 1LT Theodore Hashimoto (formerly of C Company) as the last "provisional" commanding officer of 212th MP Company. |
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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