720th

The 720th MP Rogues Band
~~~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association ~ Vietnam History Project ~~~

18th Bde.

The Story of the "720 MP Rogues Band"
720 Military Police Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, Vietnam

        Roger Bowman, Bob Hadfield and myself began playing and singing in our tent. Once word got around, we were joined by "Bud" Bower and Irving Cashwell. Everything seemed to click and we were having fun entertaining our friends.

        In or about June of 1967 we were asked by Captain Bert Edmondson, our Company Commander, (C Company) if we would form a group and play at the Battalion change of command dinner/ceremony on 1 July. We, of course, said yes and began rehearsals. Several weeks after our successful appearance at the change of command event, we were informed by CPT Edmondson that word had been sent down from 18th Brigade and Battalion HQ that, in their opinion, it would be a good idea to have GI’s entertaining GI’s. They wanted to know if we would be interested in complying with the "request" to entertain our fellow troops.

        Well, of course, we said "yes!" We began rehearsals in earnest, and CPT Edmondson and 1SG Clifton McAlister (C Company) would often attend our sessions. It was CPT Edmonson that began arranging our bookings. Not every GI band had their commanding officer as their publicity manager. We were placed on light duty, e.g. police calls, traffic check points with the Aussies along Highway 1, latrine cleaning (shit burning detail), motor pool, and troop escort to Bien Hoa Airport (Operation Shotgun) for guys mustering out and returning home.

        We put together a repertoire of about 50 songs, and played everything from country, standards, rock, rhythm and blues. We were mainstays at the 24th and 93rd Evacuation Hospitals (Long Binh Post), and the 5th Special Forces Compound; we also played at artillery units, and other units who's names I cannot now recall.

        We played every week, and sometimes twice a week. On 8 October 1967 we made a recording at the 24th Evacuation Hospital, and we recorded again at the 5th Special Forces Compound. I still have the audio recordings of those two sessions, and movies of our performances at various locations.

The Rogues at the 93rd Evacuation Hospital

The 720 Rogues at the 93rd Evacuation Hospital, Long Binh Post late 1967

        We weren’t around very long, because we began performing approximately three months before we were all due to return home. I returned home on 30 October 1967 after thirteen months in country.

        I don’t know whether any of the visitors to this outstanding, highly needed and appreciated website heard of or remember the "720th Rouges," but if you did I would appreciate hearing from you. Please use the Email Link below.

        I hope you enjoyed our music and that we helped bring a little "home" into your lives. We had a wonderful time playing music, singing, entertaining and interacting with the all the soldiers – officers and enlisted personnel.

        To contact the 720th MP Rogues, please use this Email Link.