|
|
Thu Duc was located between Long Binh Post and The Newport Bridge on Highway QL1. The center of the Thu Duc intersection Highway QL1 and #359 was used as a checkpoint by members of the Operation Overtake escorts. The Vietnamese National Police Headquarters building nicknamed the "Alamo" by MPs that worked the Thu Duc Detachment, was also located at the intersection. Note: It is unknown when the nickname of The Alamo was first given to the detachment. If you can provide any informatio,. please use the Email Link above. |
1966 |
|
The 615th MP Company was responsible for assisting a small Vietnamese police outpost between Saigon and Bien Hoa. The daily contingent was made up of a sergeant and three to four enlisted MPs armed with the standard .45 cal pistol and shotguns. They traveled to and from the outpost in several MP patrol jeeps. The MPs were only assigned during the day time hours and returned to Saigon in the evening because the outpost was regularly mortared and fired on at night. At times even the local Vietnamese Military Police (Quan Canh) and National Police (Canh Sat) began to leave at dark due to the enemy activity. It is believed that this "outpost" eventually became the Thu Duc National Police Headquarters and Detachment. |
1967 |
 WANTED: Information, personal stories and photographs of MP activities at Thu Duc for 1967. Contact the History Project Manager via the Email Link at the top of this page. |
1968 |
Static Checkpoints staffed by elements of A Company (Operation OVERTAKE 1968) and the Vietnamese National Police (Canh Sats) were established at the Thu Duc intersection. |
|
The Thu Duc Detachment conducted highway day and night time recon patrols from the Newport Bridge to Long Binh Post. Because of the dusk to dawn curfew the patrols often escorted vehicles back and forth from Long Binh and Saigon. When not escorting vehicles, they were assigned to roving highway security until sunup. The patrols consisted of two gun jeeps armed with M60 Machine guns, M79 Grenade Launchers and small arms. All crew members wore flack vests and steel helmets. Each jeep consisted of two MP's and one Quan Canh or Canh Sat. The night patrols were often harassed by enemy small arms fire and ambush. |
Thu Duc daytime patrols consisted of two jeeps, each with a three man crew. Each jeep patrolled separately from the other. Each jeep contained two MP's, and either one Quan Canh or Canh Sat. Daytime patrols did not carry M60 Machine guns. Each jeep was assigned an M79 Grenade Launcher and each MP a 45cal side arm and M16 rifle. Helmets and flak vests were carried in the jeep. The primary day time highway patrol area was between Newport Bridge and Long Binh, however, they also patrolled villages along the highway, Thu Duc, Cogido and Tam Hiep. There were approximately eight MP’s assigned to the Thu Duc Detachment at a time. The ranking NCO was either an sergeant E-5 or E-6. On both day and night patrols, there was one MP assigned to man the radio at Thu Duc. The radio operator maintained constant contact with the patrols. The purpose was to have a liaison to call in reaction force, or helicopter light fire team from Bien Hoa Airbase when necessary. |
20 September, 1200 hours Shootout in Thu Duc Seven miles from Saigon near the city of Thu Duc, SGT George H. Ross and PFC Daniel M. Ferrara of the 615th MP Company, 95th MP Battalion, were on a combined patrol with their Vietnamese counterparts when they stopped a stolen Vietnamese taxi cab occupied by four U.S. soldiers who were AWOL, armed and wanted for robbery. |
|
|
|
|
|
1969 |
14 October PFC Novosad, his partner, both members of the 615th MP Company, 95th MP Battalion, and a Vietnamese National Policeman, were on highway patrol when they were flagged down by a civilian and directed to the University Village. They discovered a male child unconscious from a swimming incident and that their radio would not transmit. They did what most MPs would do... improvise! A small lifeless young boy Reflections of, SGT William H. “Bill” Novosad, 615th MP Company, 95th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, July 1969 to September 1970. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1970 |
|
1971 |
1972 |
|
|
2007 |
|
< Click on the thumb nail photograph for an enlargement of a 2007 satellite photograph of the former Thu Duc Intersection and police headquarters building, "The Alamo." |
Use Your Browser Button To Return |
1st FF
18th Bde
