720th
Battalion History ~ 1961
~~~~~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association History Project ~~~~~
4th Army
This Page Last Updated ~ 4 December 2007 ~ Click on all thumbnail photographs to enlarge for viewing.
Photographs
If you were a veteran of the 720th MP Battalion or any of its subordinate units, and recognize any of the events listed on this page, or you are a surviving family member of a Battalion veteran from this era and would like to contribute Information, personal stories, documents, media articles or photographs, please take a moment to contact the History Project Manager at the Email Link provided above for instructions or assistance. Your contributions are extremely important to the Battalion history and always welcomed.
In 1961 the 720th MP Battalion was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas subordinate to the 4th Army.
January
24 January, Change of Command LTC Robert Hotaling was assigned command of the Battalion.
August

Date unknown, Exercise SEA WALL B Company deployed to Fort Lewis, Washington, to support exercise SEA WALL. The company convoyed their equipment and some vehicles to the port of Beaumont, Texas, where it was placed on a ship for transport to the Pacific coast of Washington State. They returned to Fort Hood and prepared their remaining vehicles for the convoy to Forth Lewis. From Fort Lewis they proceeded to Puget Sound and were transported by water to a place called Rabbit Island.

        The exercise was a major multi unit amphibious training exercise involving infantry, armor, and naval forces. The B Company MPs were involved in: traffic control points; exercise convoy escorts; highway security; town patrols; and the beach landings.

        The troops, including the MPs, boarded WWII era troop ships that proceeded out into Puget Sound. In full combat gear they had to climb down the rope ladders from the ships into the waiting landing craft below. Their landing craft departed the ships side proceeding out into the sound where they circled in very rough seas for what seemed hours until receiving orders to proceed to the beach for the landing. When the ramps of the landing crafts dropped, they charged across the black ash colored sand to their designated positions. Other waves of larger landing craft transported the armored vehicles to the beach.

        The exercise lasted approximately three weeks. There were many casualties and a few fatalities during the exercise. Some occurring during the landings, but most from vehicle accidents during the night maneuvers.
Information, photographs or personal stories relating to Exercise SEA WALL, please contact the History Project Manager via the Email Link at the top of the page.
At the end of 1961 all elements of the 720th Military Police Battalion were serving at Fort Hood, Texas.