b company

The year begins with a tragedy on the river

1 January 1LT Rickey V. Wynkoop was assigned as Platoon Leader.

13 January 1LT James P. Kalke was assigned as Platoon Leader.

24 January 2LT Scott D. Haskins was assigned as Platoon Leader.

WANTED: Photographs of and, information, on what platoon assignments the new officers had. Use the Email Link at the top of this page to contact the History Project Manager.

31 January SP/4 David Allan Johnson, PFC David Lee Hemke, and PFC Robert Lamar McArthur, B Company, members of an Ambush and Recon Team, drowned in the Dong Nai River when the River Patrol Unit boat they were being transported in was swamped during a night operation at the junction of the Rach Bien and Dong Nai Rivers in the Tactical Area Of Responsibility.

Johnson

Hemke

McArthur

WANTED: Personal accounts from the MPs on this assignment and photographs of Johnson, Hemke, and McArthur for their Honor Roll Pages. Please use the Email Link at the top of this page to contact the History Project Manager.

April (exact date unknown) Two boats of the River Patrol Unit came under intense fire from an ARVN PBR after an Ambush & Recon mission transport at the intersection of the Rach Bien and Dong Nai Rivers. SP/4 Doug Newman was wounded.

Not So Friendly Fire SGT Douglas D. Newman, HQ Detachment & B Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, 1969-September 1970.

1 May Approximately six (6) MPs from each ambush squad were assigned Temporary Duty (TDY) to 25th MP Company, 25th Infantry Division, at Katum (along the border), Tay Ninh and Cu Chi, to supplement the units manpower during a major operation into Cambodia. The B Company MPs did not participate in cross border operations, they performed gate security, DLO Patrol and compound security at Katum, Tay Ninh, and Cu Chi. They also oversaw convoy grouping and security pending departure into Cambodia, but did not escort them across the border. The duty lasted approximately 3 to 4 weeks.

WANTED: Personal accounts and photographs from the MPs on this TDY assignment. Please use the Email Link at the top of this page to contact the History Project Manager.

9 July The following personnel were promoted to private First Class: James F. Stanko, Glenn J. Straub, Daniel R. Perrine, Chris P. Bilotta.

720th

15 July The official redesignation (on morning report) of B Company, 720th MP Battalion, on Long Binh Post, III Corps Tactical Zone, as the 188th MP Company, and the 188th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, in Vinh Long, IV Corps Tactical Zone, Mekong Delta, as B Company, became official.

504th

The change was made to facilitate the physical transfer of the 188th MP Company north to the 504th MP Battalion, 16th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, at DaNang in I Corps Tactical Zone under the Vietnamization downsizing of U.S. forces.

19 July With the infantry mission in the Tactical Area Of Responsibility coming to a close (25 July), and the Battalion assuming the expanded responsibility for Provost Marshall operations in IV Corps Tactical Zone, B Company & 188th MP Company begin the exchange of personnel. Members of B Company started shipping out to Da Nang to staff the newly redesignated 188th MP Company while other members stayed behind to staff the new B Company (formerly the 188th) in the IV Corps Tactical Zone (Mekong Delta).

The 3 year B Company infantry mission under Operation STABILIZE comes to and end

25 July Operation STABILIZE Terminated The 720th MP Battalion, B Company ceased all operations under Operation Stabilize started on 11 September 1967 in the Tactical Area of Responsibility when it was assigned to elements of the 25th Infantry Division.

25th

During the following months the battalions resources would be taxed bringing what had been a strictly infantry company up to full TO&E military police company, to include training, personnel and equipment.

27 July 1LT Phillip J. Simms was assigned as the Deputy Provost Marshal for Vinh Long.

7 August The newly staffed 188th MP Company completed its move from Long Binh Post to DaNang, to join the 504th MP Battalion, and 16th MP Group who arrived at DaNang 13 August and 31 September, respectivelly. 720th MP battalion, ORLL, 1 Aug-31 Oct 1970.

22 August 1LT Frederick A. Barnett is assigned as Platoon Leader for B Company.

24 August 1LT Larry J. Garland is assigned as Platoon Leader for B Company.

B Company moves to the Mekong Delta, exchanges guidons and assignments with the 188th MP Company

September With the downsizing of US troops under the Vietnamization Program, the 188th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, was to be reassigned from the IV Corps Tactical Zone in the Mekong Delta to DaNang in I Corps Tactical Zone.

To expedite the change in location and lessen the logistical operation for the move, B Company was redesignated as the 188th MP Company and sent north to Da Nang subordinate to the 504th MP Battalion. Senior and junior enlested personnel were exchanged between both companies prior to the move.

504th

The 188th MP Company was redesignated as B Company, 720th MP Battalion, and remained in the Mekong Delta where they continued to performed discipline, law and order, highway security, and convoy escort duties.

720th

WANTED: Information, personal stories, and photographs of the movement of the 188th and B Company MPs to DaNang and Vinh Long. Please use the Email Link at the top of this page.

B Company headquarters was moved from Long Binh Post to the city of Vinh Long, Province of Vinh Long. It was located about 2 miles south of the Vinh Long Army Airfield along Highway 1 at the intersection of Highway 1 and Highway 7-A which went east to Vinh Bin Province.

One platoon of B Company MPs was located in Can Tho, with a smaller detachment in My Tho and Soc Trang, Later in November 1971 there was a detachment in Tan An.

25 December Reflections of the B Company MPs on their Christmas in Vietnam.