~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association Vietnam History Project ~
Operation EMPORIA Ambush
21 July 1967

        It’s been 34 years since my life was changed at the nightmare ambush of July 21, 1967 Operation Emporia, Long Khan Province near Xuan Loc.

US Killed In Action (KIA) 14, US Wounded In Action (WIA) 47, South Vietnamese interpreters KIA-2, VC/NVA KIA-196.

List of 615th MP Company men who were there on July 21, 1967, SGT Keith D. Allen, SP/4 David L. Kerkhoff, SP/4 Allan M. Portnoy, SP/4 Lynn Jorgensen, SP/4 Scott Wilson, SP/4 Darryl C. Raterink, SP/4 Randall R. Stults, SP/4 Edward E. Williams, PFC. Henry J. Hulst, and CPL Cliff Walker.
SP/4 Portnoy

Killed In Action from the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment [Black Horse] 3rd Squadron, L Troop were, CPT. William F. Abernethy age 28, PFC James F. Bean age 20, PFC John J. Campa age 21, PFC Roosevelt C. Curley Jr. age 19, SP/4 Lawrence M. Dawson age 21, PFC George Foster age 21, PVT William F. Ganion age 21, PFC Douglas W. Hill age 20, PFC Frank D. Leal age 20, PFC Alfred G. McLennan age 18, PFC Billy G. Rodgers age 20, SP/4 Richard J. Schutz age 21, 1LT Ponder R. Sims age 25, PFC James L. Whitfield age 19.

Colonel Thomas F. Guidera, the 18th MP Brigade Commander, flew up in his helicopter after the battle and took reports. I remember him getting off the helicopter carrying a duffel bag of M-16's for us. The 11th ACR had M-16's but we had the older M-14's that used different size ammo. I was down to 8 bullets and we stripped down the M-60 machine gun ammo belts for rounds compatible to use in M-14.

SP/4 Allan M. Portnoy B Company & 615th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, October 1966 to October 1967.
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