River Patrol Unit 1970 Time Line
~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association ~ Vietnam History Project ~
This Page Last Updated    19 August 2008
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18th Bde.
720th
 A Terrible Tragedy On The River ~ Operation STABILIZE Comes  To An End
31 January A tragic mishap during which a large wake swamped one of the transport boats resulted in the death of three members of a B Company Ambush Squad. SP/4 David Allan Johnson, PFC's David Lee Hemke and Robert Lamar McArthur members of one of two B Company Ambush Teams being transported that night in three Boston Whaler "Skimmer’s" on the Rach Bien into the Dong Nai River.
March Members of the River Patrol transported Ambush Teams, guided by a Hoi Chanh (amnesty program) to a  Viet Cong base Camp in the back river of the TAOR. They provided security as the MPs in the Ambush Teams searched the area.

April, Exact Date Unknown,

Not So Friendly Fire  SGT Douglas D. Newman, HQ Detachment & B Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, 1969-September 1970.

17 April At 1815 hours, [6:15 PM], A UH1 Huey helicopter from the 25th Infantry Division crashed into the Dong Nai River after striking two steel cables. One passenger survived and was rescued by a Vietnamese fisherman, seven other passengers and four crew members died.

        PBR's from the 720th MP Battalion River Patrol Unit assisted in the search and recovery operation for the bodies. In July 2002 a 32 year old mystery would be solved by SP/5 Robert Bogison, B Company, a member of one of the PBR's involved in the recovery process.
18 May B Company River Patrol PBR’s were sent to assist a Navy Tug Boat that was ambushed on the Dong Nai River just south of the Battalion Tactical Area Of Responsibility. Members of the crew were wounded when the Viet Cong ambushed the tug striking it with two Rocket Propelled Grenades. The PBR’s provided security and assisted with the air evacuation of the wounded crewmen.
        Even with their busy schedule on the river the members of the unit managaed to find time to indulge themselves in some "unauthorized activities" while on patrol. Getting caught in the past was known to result in a severe repremand or a possible Article-15 and loss of rank.
25 July As a result of the Vietnamization Program, Operation STABILIZE came to an end when all B Company missions in the Tactical Area of Responsibility were turned over to the 25th Infantry Division and Army of The Republic of South Vietnam.
        The Barge (Houseboat) situated by the Petroleum Oil & Libricant (POL) off loading site, staff and elements of the 458th Army Transportation Company (PBR) were transferred to the command of the 95th MP Battalion.
95th
        The last remaining riverine commitment supervised by the 720th was the Harbor Patrol Unit situated with the Vung Tau Detachment. The PBR and Boston Whalers used for patrol of Vung Tau Harbor remained active.
 A Proud Record Of Accomplishments

        Throughout it’s four year history, the River Patrol Unit saw its share of hostile action, captured enemy soldiers, enemy supplies, civilian criminals, and successfully completed numerous hazardous combat and rescue missions. Many of the missions were often performed while operating in total darkness on the muddy brown waters of the Dong Nai River and its tributaries.

        The MPs that worked on the boats of the 720th MP Battalion River Patrol Unit conducting Operation STABILIZE, can look back with pride in their many accomplishments.