23 February,  0200 hours, the 274th VC Main Force Regiment of the 5th North Vietnamese Army Division attacked the southern perimeter of Long Binh Post resulting in an eight hour head to head battle with elements of B Company, 720th MP Battalion ambush and reconnaissance squads within the Battalion Tactical Area Of Responsibility. As the Overtake Night gun-jeep escorts returned, many were tasked by the Post Provost Marshal with supporting the interior perimeter lines that were under the heaviest attack.

     According to SP/4 Allan J. Sherman of A Company, who as an Overtake Night escort participated in the deployment to plug the perimeter breach during the attack, and on 2 March LTC Philip M. Suess Jr. the Provost Marshal of Long Binh-Bien Hoa Area, Long Binh Sector issued the members of the Operation Overtake escorts a Letter of Appreciation that also strongly recommended each recipient be considered and mentioned for meritorious service at the conclusion of their tour in South Vietnam.    

March  The critically needed V100 Armored Commando Cars were finally added to the Overtake escorts on a full time basis. Their added firepower and crew protection was a welcomed addition.

     As many as nine round trip convoys per night were now being conducted with two serials on the roadway simultaneously, one coming north from the Newport Military Docks, and one returning south from Long Binh Post or Bien Hoa Air Force Base.

Personal Reflection

April   "I was working Day Overtake on Highway-1A. I had just pulled out of the gate at Long Binh heading south and the road was covered in oil. It looked like a tanker from Night Overtake had a bad leak. It was early and not entirely daylight. I saw military tire tracks that looked like a vehicle went off the road. I called it in and went down the embankment to investigate. I found a military 3/4-ton painted yellow (military vehicle sold to Vietnamese) with a body of a Vietnamese lying beside it. His skull had been crushed. I carried him up the embankment, laid him on the road and called it in. As I pulled back onto the road heading south, the after curfew free flow traffic was beginning and the road was very slick.

     Another former U.S. military truck, this one a 5-ton (also painted yellow) heading north either turned or lost control and ran over me, and my jeep. I tried to get out of the jeep but the truck radiator was on my back.

     The next thing I remember I was in an ambulance with the dead Vietnamese driver of the first truck. We were rocking around on the stretchers. I remember thinking I should put my foot on him to keep him from rolling off the stretcher but don't know if I actually did it. I think I was kind of paralyzed because the muscles in my back were damaged. I had no memory of arriving at the 24th Medevac Hospital but that is where they took us.

     The next memory I recall was of lying on a stretcher in a cool room. There were other bodies there and it was cool. Two medics lifted the up the head of the guy I found, and one said, "What did this one die of?" and the other medic said "massive head injuries". They stood over me and said what did he die of, and I said "Fuck You". Their eyes got real big and one said, "He's alive"!

     Next I remember being in a room with an exam light and then in a waiting room. The CO and I think it was PFC Tom Wantz who came in to identify me, and they pointed to me in a chair and the CO said "You're alive," and I said "You're the second person that has said that."

11 September Just after dark, a north-bound Overtake Night escort headed for Long Binh Post reported that the convoy received two rounds of RPG fire and approximately fifty rounds of automatic weapons fire from the east side of Highway-1A (Rocket Alley).

     The escort units returned approximately 100 rounds of fire with their organic weapons with unknown results. Three rounds of small arms fire struck one APC escort, but there were no injuries or damage and the convoy continued on. The ARVN unit having responsibility for the area was notified but it was unknown what actions-if any, were taken.

24 September BG Arthur Hurow, Commander U.S. Army Support Command Saigon, commended the 18th MP Brigade’s support for his commands units on the highways and waterways for their “splendid support and protection” of their personnel, particularly those in convoy operations, during the preceding year.

     Subsequently, COL Angus B. MacLean, Commander 18th MP Brigade, further commended by letter the specific military police battalion commands of the 92nd, 95th, 716th and 720th, involved in the Operation OVERTAKE mission.

1 October  Pope, Evans, and Robbins International Limited (PERIL) replaced the Philco Ford Corporation as the contractor for the transport of U.S. cargo within CTZ III and IV. During the period of May-October, Overtake Operations monitored a total of 67,048 vehicles, and escorted a total of 24,417 with only one vehicle loss.

     It was noted by 89th MP Group Headquarters that cargo losses increased immediately after the change in contractors. A security review of contractor procedures was conducted, and preliminary investigations indicated there were numerous organic deficiencies on the part of PERIL. The security related contractual issues were directed towards the Army Transportation Command HQ for resolution..

     On the Impact of the Huey the propellers snapped, and all but one kicked away from the wreckage. The remaining blade slammed against the side of the craft, and there was JP-4 all over the place. Maan and I pulled out the door gunner, and he had a stomach wound, it looked bad. The pilot had part of the green tinted windshield imbedded in his chest, and face, and was spiting up blood.”   SP/4 Xavier Murillo, A Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, February 1969 to December 1969.

14 November   COL Angus B. MacLean, Commander 18th MP Brigade, commended by letter the 95th and 720th MP Battalions for their professionalism and the outstanding traffic control assistance they rendered to U.S. Navy construction crews commanded by CPT (Colonel) Robert C. Ingrham during major repair operations on the Newport Bridge.