~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association Vietnam History Project ~
II Field
Force
Operation MANHATTAN
III Corps Tactical Zone
22 April - 11 May 1967
This Page Last Updated   9 January 2012
 
   Operation MANHATTAN was a follow up of Operation JUNCTION CITY a search and destroy and fire base and road clearing operation in Dau Tieng, Michelin Rubber Plantation area conducted by elements of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment with support from elements of the U.S. 1st, 4th, and 25th Infantry Divisions and South Vietnamese forces.
 
   It was conducted from 22 April through 11 May 1967, the city of Dau Tieng was nestled along the shores of the Saigon River, known as the Saigon Corridor, located in III Corps Tactical Zone, a major Viet Cong (VC) and North Vietnamese Army (NVA) infiltration route from Cambodia.
 
   The primary US base of operation in the area was Camp Rainier, situated approximately 40 miles northwest of Saigon and east of Tay Ninh next to the extensive Michelin Rubber Plantation where a large enemy command center was located. The isolated camp equipped with a small air strip, was staffed by elements of the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.
 
   The object of the operation was to surround the extensive Michelin Rubber Plantation area trapping the enemy forces while conduction search and destroy and cordon and search operations within the interior.
 
   One officer and 23 enlisted men from B Company were committed in direct support of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (11th ACR), and 1 officer and 37 enlisted men of A Company in direct support of the 1st Infantry Division (1st ID). The 720th MPs were utilized in traffic control, village cordon and search, Prisoner Of War (POW), security, convoy escort, and general discipline, law, and order duties. Approximately 20 of the A Company detachment MPs were stationed at Lai Khe. It has yet to be verified if they were operating in direct support of Operation MANHATTAN or supplementing the loss of 1st MP Company personnel assigned to the operation.
 
24 April The B Company detachment arrived at Camp Rainier near Dau Tieng on their way to their new base camp in the Michelin Rubber Plantation. The detachment stayed in the camp that night as guest of the 4th MP Company, 4th Infantry Division, and had chow at their mess hall. They were surprised to recognize several of the 4th MPs as former members of C Company, 720th MP Battalion before the battalion deployed to Vietnam from Fort Hood, Texas.
11th AC
Regiment
1st Infantry
Division
4th Infantry
Division
25th Infantry
Division
18th MP
Brigade
89th MP
Group
720th MP
Battalion

25 April, The first day of B Company activities in support of the operation began with the cutting down rubber trees and building the bunker's that would provide the much need protection from the mortar and rocket attacks that would soon follow.

    The MPs also built a temporary Prisoner Of War (POW) detention stockade, or "cage" as it was referred to. Maintaining a sense of humor the MPs put a sign in front of the cage "VC Inn, no ID needed, serving the greater Manhattan area."

   To provide for their personal hygiene the MPs lashed a branch between two rubber trees and hung canvas bags with shower heads. To keep their feet out of the mud and critters that crawled along the plantation ground they stacked several rows of sandbags for a floor.

   With no Post Exchange in the field the MPs obtained their cigarettes, candy, shaving gear, etc. from a "Bennie Wagon" that made regular visits to the camp.

28 April, B Company MPs joined elements of the 11th ACR and 1st ID in a heliborne combat assault of a hostile village. The MPs would assist in the cordon and search operation. This marks the first helicopter airborne combat assault involving MPs of B Company, 720th MP Battalion.

   The MPs assisted infantry and Military Intelligence elements with searching for, detaining, security and the transporting of Viet Cong prisoners and suspected collaborators back to their base camp.
30 April B Company MPs were assigned to cordon and search operation in several other villages within the Area of Operations. As on the 28th they were again involved in searching for, detaining, security and transporting of Viet Cong prisoners and collaborators back to their base camp.

   During these operations the MPs convoyed to their assigned villages, ever alert for enemy ambush on the narrow jungle covered roads. They also had to be diligent in looking for land mines and trip wires during the run.

   A primary bridge on one rout was destroyed by the Viet Cong forcing the MPs to find a river crossing and travel off road through the surrounding jungle. When approaching the villages a close watch was kept on the workers in the fields and rice paddies until other elements could gather them together for processing.
   On the approach to one village the MPs came under enemy small arms fire from a tree line. The enemy fire was eventually suppressed by allied air strikes.

   Once the perimeter security was in place the infantry and MPs went from hooch to hooch and gathered the villagers into a designated processing area where their identity papers were checked and medical examinations and treatment under MED-CAP were provided.

   A former Viet Cong (VC) soldier addressed the crowd via loudspeaker asking them to cooperate with the US and allied forces and requesting that any other VC hidden among them surrender.

The young boy and the stick of gum SP/4 Alan M. Portnoy, B Company & 615th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, October 1966 to October 1967.
   With all the villagers removed they searched for hidden tunnels, bunkers, arms, ammunition, medical and food stashes.
   Along with the Viet Cong prisoners and suspects, the MP's also rounded up numerous South Vietnamese draft evaders, many of whom were also suspected to be Viet Cong soldiers or sympathizers.

   All known or suspected Viet Cong and their sympathizers were placed into the custody of the MP detachment for transport back to the base camp for further interrogation and processing.

   During this operation approximately 25 draft evaders were taken into custody to face civil charges, and marched in a group from the village to the local Vietnamese Army Popular Forces outpost that contained a National Police (Canh Sat) station.

   Even more caution was needed when departing the villages and Area of Operation at the end of the day since the local Viet Cong had plenty of time to set up ambushes on the roadways the MPs would have to use to return to their base camp.

3 May, Not all the time in the operation was spent in search and destroy activities. The MP's always found time to spend with the local village children.

6 May, 0230 Hours At 2:30AM the night silence at the base camp was disrupted by a barrage of enemy mortar, rocket and small arms fire. Viet Cong elements were caught probing the camp perimeter before withdrawing under heavy counter fire. Several troopers of the 11th ACR were wounded by shrapnel and evacuated by Dust Off. At daylight the Viet Cong bodies were recovered from the perimeter wire and buried.
10 May, With the major part of the Operation Manhattan activities in their Area of Operation winding down, the B Company detachment received orders to break camp and prepare to stand down. All bunkers, trash and other temporary structures were ordered burned leaving nothing behind for the  enemy.
11 May, 1400 Hours At 2:00PM the B Company detachment received their departure orders and pulled out of the Michelin Rubber Plantation proceeding back toward Camp Rainier, Dau Tieng, Go Dau Ha on Highway QL-1 and their return to Long Binh Post.
     The History Project would like to extend its appreciation to SP/4 Alan M. Portnoy, B Company & 615th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, 1966 to 1967, for his contributions of the time line information and photographs for this page.
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