615th

March-April With the stand down of the 95th MP Battalion (Long Binh Post) which departed Vietnam on 13 April 1972 and the 557th MP Company (also subordinate to the 95th) on 20 March 1972, the 615th MP Company, also subordinate to the 95th, was again reassigned to the 720th MP Battalion and remained on Long Binh Post. Some of the members of the 557th MP Company that were not eligible for DEROS (Date Eligible To Return From Overseas) were reassigned to the 615th to continue their tour.

720th

Under the 720th the duties performed by the 615th were, Long Binh Post security patrol, including four to six access gates, perimeter security, highway security, discipline, law and order (DLO) patrols and the post MP Desk.

The company also performed Combined discipline, law and order patrols in the City of Bien Hoa with members of the 3rd Quan Canh Battalion (Vietnamese Military Police) and 307th Canh Sat Battalion (Vietnamese National Police).

Off post patrols were responsible for highway security in Tan Hep, Tam Hi and the surrounding area, convoy escorts to allied bases south of Long Binh Post, and a platoon size detachment stationed in Vung Tau.

By this time Long Binh Post was almost an empty shell. Because of the troop reductions of the Vietnamization program most of the buildings were empty and dilapidated or assigned to ARVN units. Scavengers were constantly being chased from the base.There were also numerous packs of stray dogs running wild and a rabies problem.

Local prostitutes moved into the post and were setting up shop in the vacant buildings. It was also rumored that a small squad of local Viet Cong (VC) was alleged to be living within the post perimeter.

Even though the Long Binh Post area was becoming a ghost town, certain amenities such as the Enlisted Men's clubs and the 160th Signal Battalion swimming pool were still available to the U.S. troops stationed there.

< Left Unauthorized Pocket Patch worn by members of the 615th MP Company in 1972. The patch depicted the face of their mascot Andy the Bloodhound. Andy at his duty station in front of the entrance to the company Orderly Room. Right >

12 July The following twenty-five personnel from C Company, 720th MP Battalion, were reassigned to the 615th MP Company preceding the Battalion stand down. SP/4’s Herbert Clark, Edwin J. Cook, Paul T. Creswell, Jimmy B. Crisp, Jeffrey Coulter, Barry L. Dale, Randall K. Davis, Terry E. Davis, Dixon Dunn, Peter J. Earlandson, Joseph C. Evans, James V. Fielder, Roderick A. Fireck, Lawrence O. Frank, Timothy E. Furrow, David M. Gedigian, Paul T. Gilrain, Timothy C. Goforth, Pedro Gursky, Jimmy D. Hensley, Robert K. Hohn, Frederick Hokamp, Joseph R. Howell, Robert A. Hrabovsky, John M. Hyde.

August The 615th was still subordinate to the 720th MP Battalion when the Battalion stood down in August 1972. One of the Battalion’s letter companies was redesignated as the 615th MP Company. Many of the 720th MP’s that had yet to complete their tours were transferred to the newly formed 615th. I was then transferred to the 615th as a platoon leader along with 1LT Danny Rule. The Commanding Officer of the 615th MP Company at this time was CPT Randy Richardson. 1LT Tim Naccarato, B Company & 615th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, June to August 1972.

WANTED Information on the circumstances of the redesignation and what 720th MP Battalion company was redesignated, also what command unit the 615th was assigned subordinate to, please notify the History Project Manager at the Email Link above.

13 August Viet Cong sappers entered the ammunition storage base that was under ARVN control on Long Binh Post before dawn and destroyed an estimated 70 ammunition bunkers of high explosives, white phosphorous and tear gas. There were no casualties or injuries reported.

11 November Long Binh Post, the largest U.S. military base in South Vietnam, was formally given to the South Vietnamese government in a ceremony held at the United States Army Republic Of Vietnam (USARV) Headquarters Complex, Long Binh Post. At one time Long Binh Post was home to 30 thousand US troops and was the Army’s biggest foreign base.

The base, two thirds of it now occupied by Army Of The Republic Of South Vietnam (ARVN), will contain less than 300 American civilian contractors and one MP company guarding the remaining U.S. prisoners at Long Binh Stockade by the end of the month.

The ARVN plan to use the United States Army Republic Of South Vietnam (USARV) Complex and headquarters to house their headquarters for their regional logistics command, airborne, artillery and other units. For the final flag lowering there were approximately 100 members of the US and and equal number of South Vietnamese military looking on.

During the ceremony the honor of lowering the last American flag flown over the base was assigned to SGT Williams and SP/4 Tim Wiggins of the 615th MP Company. The flag lowering was followed by the raising of the South Vietnamese Flag, both the US and ARVN Commanders exchanging copies of the government agreements followed by then retiring to a reception where strawberries in Champaign were served.

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20 November The 615th MP Company started its move north from Long Binh Post, Military Region III, to its new home at Camp Horn in DaNang in Military Region I. Already in DaNang were former members of the 560th MP Company that had been stationed there and were reassigned as members of the 615th.

The 615th departs Long Binh Post for DaNang

The newly formed company was located on the DaNang Air Force Base. 1LT Pelfrey was the commanding officer, the First Sergeant was (SFC) Anderson. The company was assigned the primary mission of discipline, law and order patrols in and around DaNang.

Their first base was Camp Hoa Long next to the air base at Marble Mountain near the South China Sea. The company patrolled DaNang, performed interior and perimeter security of the camp. When they first arrived there their shifts were 12 hours on and 12 hours off seven days a week.

It Got Pretty Hairy At Times SP/4 Frank M Fucaloro, 504th MP Battalion, 560th MP Company, 615th MP Company, April 1972 to March 1973.

The company was subordinate to the 178th MP Detachment (PMO) Provost Marshal Office, commanded by LTC Fred J. Villela, who in 1967-1968 was the 720th MP Battalion S3, and Executive Officer. The 178th was located across the river near the 95th Medical Evacuation Hospital (China Beach).

Shortly after arrival 1LT Pelfrey rotated back to the states and was replaced as commanding officer by CPT Joseph A. Wooton.

The company also maintained one V100 Commando Armored Car formerly used by the 560th MP Company. The V100 was used extensively around DaNang for special escorts and on occasion as a convoy escort vehicle to Camp Eagle south of Hue.

December Due to the pending extraction of all U.S. Forces from South Vietnam the company was also tasked with overseeing the destruction of all local U.S. supplies and weapons not being assigned to the local Vietnamese armed forces units. The company patrols were running around the clock escorting convoys of supplies. Many of the excess weapons were dumped into the river, the food items burned at the property disposal site.

27 December SP/4 Dallas C. Alexander, Jr. age 20 of Hamilton, Ohio died from injuries received as the result of a non-hostile vehicle crash in Quang Nam Province. Details of the circumstances surrounding his casualty are pending further research.

WANTED Photograph of and information concerning the circumstances of SP/4 Alexander's casualty, please contact the History Project Manager via the Email Link above.