"Ambush At Gasoline Alley #1"
12 May 1967

     In the early morning hours of Friday, 12 May 1967, six members of the 615th MP Company night highway security patrol were sitting in front of the Long Binh PMO (Provost Marshals Office) watching the guns ships firing on the Viet Cong (VC) forces that had just attacked the Bien Hoa Air Base. Unknown to them at that time, it was an ominous prelude as to what they would face hours later.

     The night highway security patrol consistied of two MP gun jeeps, one armored and one open. The armored jeep was equipted with a pole mounted M60 machine gun, the open jeep also had an M60 but instead of being mounted it was lap carried by the rear gunner. When on the highway the armored jeep would run point and the open jeep followed a short distance behind to render support. Their mission was simple but dangerous, they were to patrol the highway in the darkness to draw enemy fire and call in air gunship support to suppress the ambush sights. Unknown to them on this night, the air support that was so critical to their mission was already committed to the defense of the Bien Hoa Air Base that had been under enemy assault.

     The two MP gun jeeps left the secure surroundings of Long Binh Post and headed out into the darkness of Highway 1A. The lead armored gun jeep was manned by PFC William M. Halt (driver), PFC William L. “Billy” Sanders (gunner) and PFC Harold A. Newcomb, Jr. (front passenger). The second jeep, which was not armor protected was manned by CPL William D. Pratt (front passenger), Jr., SP/4 L.D. Humbarger (driver), and SP/4 Heinrick (gunner).

Photograph Needed			If you can identify any other members of the 615th that assisted in this incident or have photographs of the MP's, jeeps or Gasoline Alley #1 and #2, please notify the History Project Manager via the Email Link on the 12 May 1967 Time Line Page.
PFC Halt	PFC Sanders	PFC Newcomb

	Photograph Needed	Photograph Needed
CPL Pratt	SP/4 Humbarger	SP/4 Heinrick	CPL Walker

PFC Jones

As the patrol reached an area nicknamed "Gasoline Alley #2" they saw tracers drift across the road in front of them, they slowed to draw fire but the hidden enemy held off and the patrols proceed on to their destination, the Quan Canh, (QC) Vietnamese Military Police station in the town of Tu Duc. They were to pick up the QC that was assigned to ride with them that night. When they arrived at Tu Duc they were told the QC was on leave and there was no assigned replacement.      The two jeeps headed for To Do Bridge, swung around and headed back north up Highway 1A on patrol. Nearing an area known as "Gasoline Alley #1" they pulled up and stopped out in front instead of going into the jungle like they usually did, it was a good decision on the part patrol supervisor, CPL Pratt.

The patrol wasn’t there long when at approximately 0330 hours (3:30AM), all hell broke loose. The two jeeps were side by side about 5 meters apart.

Gasoline Alley #1            CLICK ON TO ENLARGE

     The hidden VC opened their ambush with the first of three hand grenades that burst in the air above the jeeps showering the crews with fragments, immediately followed by a wall of machine gun and small arms fire. The patrols immediately returned fire with their M60 machine guns and rifles.

     Three members of the patrol, Newcomb and Halt in the armored jeep and Humbarger in the rear jeep were immediately wounded. The armored jeep lost a tire and the radio was disabled. PfC Sanders quickly assessed the situation and noted that while he was protected by the armor plating of his vehicle, the other men were exposed to the withering machinegun fire. He quickly shouted to his comrades to take cover and then stood up beyond the protective armor plating of the vehicle. Sanders then turned his weapon and began firing at the enemy in the tree line at the side of the road. Sanders continued firing until he was mortally wounded. That action allowed the other five men to move the jeeps out of the ambush kill zone to a place of safety out on the highway.

     Pratt was trying to reach the armored jeep on the radio but received no response because its radio had been rendered useless by the grenade bursts so he stopped and ran back to it. Newcomb watched in amazement as the VC machine gun fire followed in Pratt's tracks. While Pratt was back at the armored jeep assessing the crews condition Heinrick pulled Humbarger, who had been shot in the wrist and leg, from the drivers seat of the open jeep and put him in the back.

     Another 615th patrol jeep driven by CPL Cliff Walker and his patrol partner PFC Steven C. Jones arrived. Walker and Jones were on patrol in Bien Hoa when they heard of the ambush and need for assistance. He headed his rag top jeep south at top speed and didn't slow until he located the patrols on the highway. CPL Walker took Halt, who had taken shrapnel in the hand, in his jeep and left his patrol partner to drive the armored jeep containing the body of Sanders and the wounded Newcomb, to the 93rd Evacuation Hospital.

     PFC Sanders was pronounced dead upon arrival. Halt and Newcomb were admitted and would return to work days later. Humbarger was transported to a hospital in Japan and would return to duty three weeks later.

     The members of the patrol credited the quick action by PFC Sanders for saving their lives and allowing them to exit the ambush kill zone.

     For his gallantry and bravery in action, PFC William Leroy Sanders, age 19, of Denver, Colorado, received the Silver Star and Purple Heart Medals, posthumously. Purple Heart Medals were also awarded to SP/4 Humbarger, and PFC’s Newcomb and Halt.

Reflections of PFC Steven C. "Apple-Knocker" Jones, 615th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, February 1967 to March 1968.