D Company 87th Infantry (Rifle Security)
18th Military Police Brigade
~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association ~ Vietnam History Project ~
This Page Last Updated 10 February 2008
       D Company, 87th Infantry was assigned to the 18th MP Brigade and the 95th MP Battalion at Long Binh Post when it arrived in Vietnam on 1 December 1966,. It served as a Rifle Security Company, with a Mortar Platoon that supported operations in the 720th MP Battalion Tactical Area Of Responsibility. In 1968 is was attached to C Company, 720th MP Battalion, and in 1969 when it was undergoing deactivation, the Mortar Platoon was reassigned to B Company where it continued in its support role.  For this reason the members of the 720th MP Battalion are proud to host this website for the company.
95th
720th
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1st Tour ~ 1 December 1966 through 8 November 1969
 
~ 1966 ~
 
~ 1968 ~
 
        720th MP Battalion records show D Company, 87th Infantry (Rifle Security) was listed as attached to C Company, 720th MP Battalion on a flow chart attached as page 3 of the Operations Report / Lessons Learned, 720th MP Battalion, February to March 1968. The reasons for the (temporary ?) assignment are unknown.
 
        720th MP Battalion Daily Logs (S3) from 1968, and personal interviews show that members of D Company performed physical security duties at the Cogido Docks and Barge Site Northeast of the Dong Nai River Bridge, and the Petroleum Oil & Lubricant (POL) barge offloading site Southeast of the Dong Nai River Bridge in the Tactical Area of Responsibility.
1 February (Tet Offensive) The 720th MP Battalion Reaction Force was called to assist elements of D Company, 87th Infantry (Rifle Security), 95th MP Battalion, which were pinned down by enemy firing at the Cogido ammunition and fuel barge site west of Long Binh Post. The 720th escorted reinforcements from the 95th MP Battalion to the site. Upon arrival at the barge site they became the targets of heavy small arms fire and called for armored assistance. An armored personnel carrier arrived from Battalion HQ arrived and assisted in the evacuation of one man wounded in the exchange of gunfire.
 
11 September Personnel from D Company, 87th Infantry at the Petroleum, Oil and Lubricant (POL) Off Loading Site, Grid Coordinates [map location] YT023 052 notified this office that at approximately 2135 hours [9:35PM] they had received four rounds of small arms fire from approximately 100-150 meters Northwest of their position. The 720th MP Battalion B Company TOC was notified and a B Company Ambush Team made a sweep of the area with negative results.
 

13 September D Company, 87th Infantry personnel at the Petroleum, Oil and Lubricant (POL) Off Loading Site, notified 720th MP Battalion TOC that members of a 1st Infantry Division element on a dredge, located approximately 50 to 75 meters southwest of CP #9 on the Dong Nai River, fired two M-79 grenade rounds at a drifting empty sampan located at Grid Coordinates YT019039.

        B Company River Patrol units checked with personnel aboard the dredge and informed them to use caution when reconning by fire in the vicinity of the POL site. The sampan was not damaged. The Staff Duty Officer, LT Emanuel notified, River Patrol H/G #69 notified, B Company Tactical Operations Center notified, CPL Lyttle, 89th MP Group notified.

2033 hours At 8:33 PM, Personnel at the Petroleum, Oil and Lubricant (POL) Off Loading Site, notified 720th MP Battalion TOC that they received 10 rounds of small arms fire from what they believe to be a sampan traveling north on the Dong Nai River from Checkpoint #9. The B Company, 720th MP Battalion PBR River Patrol was notified and checked the sampan finding it empty. They destroyed it at Grid Coordinates YT014045 with 6 rounds from their M-79 Grenade Launcher.

2110 hours At 9:10 PM, Personnel at the Petroleum, Oil and Lubricant (POL) Off Loading Site, notified 720th MP Battalion TOC that they spotted movement outside their perimeter at Grid Coordinates YT019047. They reconned by fire at the movement with negative results with four M-79 rounds and twenty rounds M-16.
 

14 September, 1030 Hours At 10:30 AM, Ayres, Danny K. SGT, RA14918985, D Company 87th Infantry (Rifle Security), 89th MP Group, was struck and killed by a 5 ton Kaiser truck driven by Freitas, Frank F. SP/5, US56667591, 321st Transportation Company. Vehicle bumper marker [registration], of the vehicle and trailer are: truck- 48th GP 7T 321T33 USA # 5F7738; trailer- 48GP 7T 800 USA # 7G4733.

SP/5 Freitas was proceeding north exiting from the Codigo Barge Site. SGT Ayers was standing facing northeast approximately 5 feet west of the security guard gate. At this time the right front portion of the trailer struck Ayers from the back causing him to fall to the ground. As the vehicle proceeded past the gate the right rear wheels of the trailer ran over Ayres. Ayers was transported to the 24th Evacuation Hospital, Long Binh Post, where he was pronounced dead at 1155 hours [11:55AM] from a crushed head, by Dr. (CPT) Downer, John G. 05344903. The vehicle did not receive any damage and was released to its unit. SP/5 Freitas was taken to Long Binh Post Provost Marshals Office and later released to his unit. No charges have been made pertaining to the accident.
 
1 October, 1050 Hours B Company reported at 10:50 AM, that SGT Billy Joe Dansel RA1575434736, D Company, 87th Infantry, 95th MP Battalion, received serious neck strain, and a possible cerebral concussion when a bunker he was working in collapsed on him at the 720th MP Battalion B Company Outpost #2, just outside the Village of Long Hung. SGT Dansel was medivaced to the 24th Evacuation Hospital and treated by Dr. Barrett.
 
        Battalion Operations Reports Lessons Learned, August through October 1968, show that members of D Company were also utilized in operations within the Battalion Tactical Area of Responsibility (TAOR) to supplement manpower needs for the four B Company village outpost's and the ambush and recon squads.
 
November The company compound was located next to the 95th MP Battalion compound across the street from the Long Binh Post Stockade (LBJ). According to the signs on this barracks photograph D Company also staffed a detachment for duty at the USARV Stockade.
 
~ 1969 ~
 
        In 1969 as D Company was preparing for standown and transfer to DaNang, members of the company Mortar  Team were transferred to the control of B Company, 720th MP Battalion. The duty station (two mortar pits) and billets for the mortar team remained near Tanker Hill on Long Binh Post, and they continued their fire support mission for the 720th.
 
Photographs 1966 ~ 1969
 
 
 
2nd Tour ~ 1 June 1971 through 30 April 1972
 
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