 720th |
Newport Docks & Bridge Terminal Complex, III Corps, Hwy #316, Saigon River ~~~~~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association ~ History Project ~~~~~ |
 18th Bde. |
This Page Last Updated 15 January 2008
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During the early allied buildup in South Vietnam the only primary deep water port to handle incoming cargo ships was the Saigon Port on the Saigon River. The port could barely handle the regular civilian commercial commerce and with the heavy volume of additional military support cargo to the city the U.S. and South Vietnamese government's started planning and construction of additional deepwater port facilities in Saigon, and the upgrade of several other port facilities in Nha Be, Cat Lai, Cam Ranh Bay, Vung Tau, Qui Nhon, Nha Trang, Phan Rang, and DaNang. |
Newport Terminal Complex 1967-1968 |
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Courtesy of SGT Allan Furtado, 154th Transportation Command, Camp Camelot, Long Binh Post, June 1967 to June 1968. For additional photographs of the Newport Facility visit Allans website. |
In early 1966 the operation of the ports, specifically Newport, was assigned to the 4th Transportation Command. The new facility in Saigon was named the Newport Terminal Complex (Docks), located at the south end of the Newport Bridge, Highway 316 (Newport Bridge in photo above). |
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It officially opened in August of 1966, with four berths for deep draft (ocean going) vessels, four barge sites, two LST slips and one LCU slip. To carry out its mission, the 71st Transportation Battalion, 4th Transportation Command, had five terminal service companies assigned; the 154th, 368th, 561st, 567th and 551st. Cargo was off loaded and held at the port for convoy distribution to logistical facilities located throughout III and IV Corps Tactical Zones. One of the first assignments for the 720th MP Battalion in October 1966 was convoy escort to and from Long Binh Post, to Cu Chi and Tay Ninh. In 1966 & 1967 physical security of the warehousdes and dock area was provided by the 188th MP Company, 92nd MP Battalion.
As the war buildup continued through the late 1960's new convoy stops and destinations were added to the list including Operation OVERTAKE, the transport of high end post exchange cargo from the docks to Long Binh Post. During Overtake the MP's escorted the civilian contracted vehicles to prevent organized criminal theft. |
Terminal Complex ~ 1966 ~ 1972
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Newport Bridge ~ 1966 ~ 1972
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Newport Bridge Was located at the southern end of Highway #316 and allowed access across the Saigon River to the Newport Docks and city of Saigon and the Saigon Port Facility. The Battalion also established a checkpoint at the north end of the bridge. |
| 1967 the checkpoint was staffed by two teams of U.S. Military Policemen, Vietnamese Military Police (Quan Canh) and Vietnamese National Police (Canh Sat). They checked U.S. military vehicles and Vietnamese civilian and military vehicles. Their primary function was to interdict weapons, undocumented civilians, unauthorized military personnel and black market contraband. |
5 February 1968, 0100 hours The 273d Viet Cong (VC) Regiment, already battered from an unsuccessful attack on Thu Duc the previous day (1968 Tet New Years Offensive), attempted to blow up the Newport Bridge. At the time of the attack elements of A Company, 720th MP Battalion, assigned to Operation OVERTAKE Night escorts were located on the south side of the bridge and became a deciding factor in the defense of the bridge. |
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4th
