“Xuan Loc convoy duties I participated in toward the end of my tour (after Operation EMPORIA) and rotated among other duties, recon, gate guards, and perimeter posts around Long Binh.

      Remember many, many vehicles and on several occasions was the senior MP in charge but at this moment cannot remember the count. Longs lines formed along highway North of Long Binh. Many tankers (I hated to get stationed between the tankers)-tried to separate them if we could but often they would be in line together (though spaced properly). Many times I drove point with v-100 and one or two machine gun mounted jeeps.

      Do not remember the miles During our time, the convoy’s lined up at dusk and was run during the night. Return with empties was in morning light and believe returned to post mid-AM. Sleep and then back on the road again.

      I remember running point for awhile as mentioned above and then getting close to end of tour I asked the first sergeant to move me in the convoy, toward the middle, because I thought it was so risky being in front. First night out my machine gun mounted jeep was positioned among fuel tankers. Great! The night was wet-with heavy rains. I remember when I used to drive in the heavy rain; it would push the eyelids down and at times force you to sleep whilst driving (we all were so tired). In fact, on a side story I remember waking up driving under an extended roof of a building almost 30 yards off the road - everyone was sleeping under their poncho's during the heavy rain. Being so startled I swerved hard and drove back onto the roadway and by God's grace didn't hit anything. No body ever knew about the 'almost' accident except for me.

      Later in same circumstances with two very new guys as driver and shotgun, I manned the machine gun and radio (new guys didn't know procedure or check points) I was under my poncho staying warm and dry and on occasion peaking out to make sure driver had right space and was driving in the middle of the road (to avoid mines). Sure enough, the middle of the convoy received continuous automatic weapons fire right at the tanker behind me. From experienced reflex I had poncho off, machine gun pouring fire back upon those that fired at us and had the position check point called in + a flare up over the attack position.

The 11th Cavalry responded in force to the attack plus there was almost immediate air support with Huey's maybe some others. Funny: I heard the new guys talking when we were at rest at Xuan Loc awaiting the emptied vehicles to get organized and return. "Damn these old guys (I was only 20) are so good! Will we ever be like that?” Later while back home, during Tet, I was hoping they were all like that. And from what I heard (some were stationed with me later in Ft. Richie, Maryland) many guys were even better than that-I am grateful.

      Lots of other stories but mostly remember being tired. When we arrived back in company I remember being so tired I could take apart our weapons, clean them and put them together with my eyes closed and half way napping during the process.” SP/4 Dave Kerkhoff, 615th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, January-December 1967.