Operation EMPORIA
Convoy Ambush
21 July 1967
|
|
28 July Three enlisted members of the 615th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, were recently awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. SP/4 Allan M. Portnoy, SP/4 Edward E. Williams and PFC Henry J. Hulst were decorated by LTG Bruce C. Palmer, Jr., USARV (United States Army Republic of Vietnam), Deputy Commanding General, during ceremonies at the 18th MP Brigade in Long Binh Post. |
The incident for which the three men were cited occurred 21 July, when the MP’s were escorting a convoy of armored and engineer vehicles during Operation EMPORIA with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 44 miles northeast of Saigon.
At 0930 hours (9:30 AM), the lead and trail tanks in the first convoy element were knocked out, and an estimated Viet Cong Battalion, hidden along both sides of the roadway opened up with intense small arms, machine gun, rocket and recoilless rifle fire.
The three MP’s, in an armored jeep, directed deadly fire against the enemy. Wile SP/4 Portnoy and PFC Hulst continually exposed themselves in the killing zone to aid the wounded, gather ammunition and secure vital positions, machine gunner SP/4 Williams continued to lay down a steady base of fire despite the fact that all three men were wounded.
When SP/4 Portnoy and PFC Hulst moved forward to aid a wounded track crew member and killed six attacking enemy, SP/4 Williams moved his weapon to a position forward of his jeep to cover their actions.
|
Bronze Star for Valor were awarded to several, I'm not sure of all the names, CPL Clifton J. "Cliff" Walker, SP/4 Lynn Jorgensen, SP/4 David L. Kerkhoff, SP/4 Randy Stults. |
 |
Purple Hearts were awarded to nine MP's, their may have been several more, I'm not sure. The Purple Hearts that I have listed on General Orders Number 43 are, SGT. Allen, SP/4 Kerkhoff, SP/4 Portnoy, SP/4 Raterink, SP/4 Stults, SP/4 Williams, PFC Hulst. On other order numbers must have been SP/4 Jorgensen and probably SP/4 Wilson and one other.
SP/4 Allan M. Portnoy, B Company & 615th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, October 1966 to October 1967.