The roadway and bridge improvement projects throughout the Tactical Area Of Responsibility (TAOR) was the critical primary phase to allow for expeditious movement of heavy equipment and materials that would be needed for the Civic Action Programs (CAP's).

     It immediately enhanced the economic future of the two villages by improving the ability of local villagers to travel to and from work and the local farmers and merchants to transport their produce, livestock and material goods to larger markets. This project also opened the northeastern end of the TAOR to other merchants and manufacturers to provide additional goods and services to the area from the city of Bien Hoa and the capital of Saigon.

     Once transportation access was provided the next phase was the critical utilities upgrades need to support the expansion of services and quality of life standards.

     All minor treatment was performed at the site and any major health concerns were directed to the appropriate local Vietnamese medical facility. Any emergencies related to enemy and U.S. action were immediately evaluated and transported to a hospital on Long Binh Post. Non war related medical emergencies were transported by the supporting MPs to the nearest Vietnamese emergency medical facility.

     It wasn’t unusual for the doctors and their staff to examine and treat from 75 to 125 patients per MED-CAP for ailments ranging from minor cuts and abrasions, nutritional deficiencies, diseases of children, and age related ailments such as arthritis of the elderly.

     Especially excited when the CAP’s were announced were the village children. To them MED-CAP meant that they would all get a new tooth brush and some tooth paste or bubble gum and other candy treats from the patrol or outpost MPs who would also provide them with jeep rides to their delight.

     As far as can be determined through hundreds of interviews with the veteran MPs and available official records, none of the MED-CAP's performed in the 720th MP Battalion TAOR were ever disrupted by enemy activity, which is a testament to the planning and diligence of all involved.

      MAJ Phan Ngoc Thuy, Commander, Army of the Republic of Vietnam, 3rd MP Battalion (Quan Canh) and Provost Marshal of III Corps Tactical Zone sent a setter of Appreciation to Battalion Headquarters thanking them for their Civic Action support.

     MAJ Thuy said, “On behalf of all the officers and men of the Office of the Provost Marshal and the 3rd MP Battalion, I wish to express to you my deepest appreciation for the many contributions that the 720th MP Battalion had made to our civic action efforts.” “Through your personal effort and assistance and those of the personnel of your unit, a water well was dug in the 3rd MP Battalion Dependents Camp which has permanently solved the water supply problem for all dependents of our battalion. Moreover, the visit and donation of gifts by your Battalion Sergeant Major to the widow of a deceased member of our unit was a great comfort to all members of the bereaved family.”

     “Again, I wish to thank you for your many efforts in our behalf. The fine cooperation demonstrated by the members of your battalion is an outstanding example of the close relationship enjoyed by our two countries.”

     Many of the village bridges were swales without modern concrete culverts or rickety 24” wide planked old wooden foot bridges that could only handle minimal foot and bicycle traffic. Others were somewhat larger but given their age and construction were accidents waiting to happen with the volume of vehicular traffic above, and sampan traffic in the swift running turbulent tidal waters below.

     The main roadway bridges of the two northern villages closest to Long Binh Post LONG BINH TAN and An Hoa Hung with entrances on Highway-317, were replaced or reinforced with new concrete culverts or wooden trusses and decks so they could now handle a variety of motorized vehicular traffic. The horse shoe shaped roadway looped between the two villages ending at the steel trussed and decked bridge ("Steel Bridge") over the Ben Go River to the southeastern half of the TAOR.

     In Long Binh Tan and An Hoa Hung new village pumps and wells were constructed along with cleaning and repairs to older existing pumps and wells that immediately improved the water volume and quality.

     Was improved within the primary village proper of An Hoa Hung and its large village market square. Both programs greatly improved the health of the populace.

     The most important bridge construction project in the TAOR was undertaken in 1968 just outside the Village of AN XUAN which was a virtual island surrounded by rice paddies, deep tidal streams, and swamp.

    The bridge was well beyond the financial, technical, and logistical ability of the local villagers so the Civic Action Team (CAT) had it constructed through the assistance of the military using B Company MPs as night site security, and Army Engineers of D Company, 46th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade (Long Binh Post).

     The RDT cadre underwent an intense nine-month training program in the port city of Vung Tau. Then, much like the American VISTA volunteers, they were assigned to various districts to live and work with the people. They showed the people that their government cared and was there to assist them.

Editors Notes: The joint CAP teams also utilized support provided to the South Vietnamese government by USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development), the RDT (Rural Development Teams) supervised jointly by the South Vietnamese Ministry of Revolutionary Development, and the MACV-CORDS (Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support).

    They provided the local village civil hierarchy with Vietnamese staff trained in infrastructure, security, political, economic, and social development skills. USAID was established in 1961 and provided countless self-help projects, schools, health clinics, hospitals, highways, hydroelectric facilities, industrial centers and farming cooperatives. The agency also sent thousands of agricultural experts, doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, intelligence agents, and civilian advisers into the countryside.

     On 7 July 1968 a formal dedication celebration organized by the 18th MP Brigade, 89th MP Group, and 720th MP Battalion headquarters was held and well attended by the local villagers from An Xuan along with ARVN Military Headquarters, Regional and Popular Forces, National Police and civil government dignitaries, all from Long Binh District and Bien Hoa Provence.

   The bridge project came at a high price. During the construction and subsequent security phase the local Viet Cong, who were desperate to regain their influence in the village, initiated two major land mine attacks. The first on 12 June destroying a D Company, 46th Engineer Battalion 3/4 ton dump truck, and slightly wounding the driver. The second on 1 October destroying a B Company MP Jeep assigned to the local joint Village Outposts, killing PFC Robert Alicea and seriously disabling PFC James R. Brunotte. Two villagers who were passengers in the jeep were also seriously injured.

     The second phase of bridge construction took place within the village of An Xuan. The bridge allowed passage over the stream that fed the cove as it entered the village from the Dong Nai River.

     The previous narrow wooden planked span had been destroyed and rendered useless from years of swift tidal flow, neglect and lack of finances.

     The old planks and post were removed and earthen approaches supported by piers made of brick, and cement to support a new concrete deck were built in their place. It was a successful community effort. The MPs provided the cement and a local village factory provided the bricks, with CORDS-RDT and the villagers doing the actual construction work. The bridge greatly enhanced the village economic stability.

     School kits and needed supplies for the classroom were obtained from the international relief agency CARE and other sources, including individual donations from the Battalion MPs, and distributed by local village officials to the children providing them with the necessary supplies of pens, ink, notebooks, rulers, and erasers for each student.

     There were also regular field trips to Saigon sponsored for the children, many of whom had never been outside the confines of their villages before. The tours allowed for visits to the Vietnam Naval Headquarters, Saigon docks, Cholon, National Palace, U.S. Embassy, Saigon Zoo and Tan Son Nhut and Bien Hoa Air Bases.

     English language classes were provided to local school children by MP’s after regular school hours. As many as 30 children ranging from five to sixteen years of age regularly attended the twice a week, two hour classes.

     The classes were held in the villages of An Hoa Hung, Long Hung, and Long Binh Tan. These classes were taught by MP’s like SP/4 Richard Peterson of the 720th Headquarters Detachment and aided by Battalion contracted civilian and volunteer Vietnamese Army interpreters in their spare time.

     Adult education and English language classes were also held for Vietnamese civilian employees that worked on the Long Binh Military Post. The added educational programs would enhance their ability to perform the jobs they held. Aided by American civilian assistant these classes were taught by MPs like SP/4's Roger W. Daley and Edwin E. Lucas of the 720th Headquarters Detachment who volunteered their services.

     Vietnamese national holiday celebrations and other village celebrations were supported and sometimes sponsored by the CAP and local MPs from the Battalions organic companies and village outposts. When not directly participating in the festivities the MP's joined with the local Popular Forces and National Police to provide combined security.

     The MPs also would provide joint security for village social and holiday functions, and in many instances they would also arrange for refreshments and often through their own funds would provide gifts to all the village children.

     Often the village officials would express their personal gratitude and in some instances have the children perform songs and skits for their MP guests.

     On Christmas Eve of 1967, at the request of the parish priest, volunteers from A Company provided physical security for the Catholic Church in Long Binh Tan.

     The Village, mostly Catholic, requested the assistance of MPs from A Company to allow them to celebrate a Midnight Mass. Something they had not done in years in years due to the threat of local Viet Cong harassment.

     The following day, Christmas, the MPs from A Company also held a celebration for the children from the church orphanage and provided ice cream, gifts, and a Santa.

     The Buddhits Monks and members of the An Hoa Hung Temple also expressed their delight in being able to once again conduct services and social functions openly and in the evening hours without the fear of the local VC disrupting their events.

     Even the Buddhist funeral processions and ceremonies for ARVN as well as Viet Cong families were conducted under the watchful eyes of the joint security teams.

     As early as 1967 the MPs of the Battalion were supporting Orphanages and a nearby Leper Colony with voluntary work, materials, clothing drives (items mailed in from home), and monitory contributions. These type of charitable programs continued throughout its tour.

     By 1970 the 720th MP Battalion and its subordinate commands were supporting the Khiet Tan Orphanage in Vung Tau, the Bethlehem Orphanage in Xuan Loc, and the Good Sheppard Orphanage in Vinh Long. The total number of orphans quartered at all three was approximately 600.

     The Battalion Civic Action Council and MP detachment members presented a Christmas party at each orphanage on 23, 24, and 25 December respectively. Food and gifts consisting of clothing, toys and candy were made available for each child. In return a Christmas pageant was performed by the younger children for the MPs.