0015 hours, SDO Report Staff Duty Officer [SDO] 1LT Donald P. Kerchoffner [C Company, Mar 1968 to Mar 1969] reported to this office at 12:15 AM, that he inspected the POW wards at 24th Evacuation Hospital and 50th Medical Company and all were secure.

0432 hours, Bear Cat Convoy “Available 106” [radio call sign] reported to this office that at 4:32 AM, the Bear Cat Convoy departed Bear Cat Base for Newport Bridge with a total of twenty-two vehicles.

0435 hours, Operation OVERTAKE At 4:35 AM, this office transmitted the Overtake status report information to SGT Winkleman, of 89th MP Group.

0445 hours, Tay Ninh Convoy “Miss 3” [radio call sign] reported the Tay Ninh Convoy departed Long Binh Post at 4:45 AM, with a total of one-hundred fifty-nine vehicles.

0545 hours, Phu Loi Detachment At 5:45 AM, SP/4 Daniel C. Shuck, Charge of Quarters [CQ], C Company reported a negative situation report [Sit-Rep] for the Phu Loi Detachment of C Company.

0603 hours, Bear Cat Convoy “Available 20” [radio call sign] reported that Bear Cat Convoy arrived at Newport Bridge without incident at 6:03 AM.

0645 hours, Xuan Loc Detachment SP/4 Scott, B Company, notified this office at 6:45 AM, that Xuan Loc and Long Gaio were at Alert Condition White. The roadways have not been cleared yet.

0700 hours, Casualty Notification 1LT William A. Phillips, A Company, notified this office at 7:00 AM, that SP/4 King, PFC Edward J. Radigan and a Can Sat were still hospitalized in the 93rd Evacuation Hospital in reference to 24 May 68.

0830 hours, LTC Bullock Given Tour At 8:30 AM, LTC Baxter M. Bullock, received a briefing by the S-3 [Operations] officer and LTC Zane V. Kortum, Battalion Commander, and was given a tour of the TAOR.

0906 hours, Xuan Loc Convoy This office notified at 9:06 AM, that the Xuan Loc convoy departed the Long Binh Post staging area with a total of 35 vehicles.

1200 hours, Honor Guard Detail CPT Hobbs, 89th MP Group, notified this office at 12:00 Noon, that the Battalion would furnish four personnel for color bearers for General William C. Westmoreland's farewell ceremony. The Battalion personnel will carry the 18th Brigade, 89th Group, 95th MP Battalion, and 720th MP Battalion colors. There will be a practice ceremony at 1500 hours [3:00 PM] on 26 May 68. Notified, SFC Richard L. DeHart, B Company, SGT Robert G. Padley, C Company, SGT Varnik, A Company, to have personnel report to Battalion Operations at 1430 hours [2:30 PM].

To interview anyone from the 720th MP Battalion that was assigned to work this change of command detail. Please notify the History Project Manager via the Email Link at the top of this page.

1205 hours, SDNCO SFC Richard L. DeHart, B Company, assumed duties as SDNCO (Staff Duty Noncommissioned Officer) at 12:05 PM.

1435 hours, Status on APC’s Mr. Montefusco, Advisor, 716th MP Battalion, notified this office at 1435 hours [2:35 PM], that the two Armored Personnel Carriers with crews from C Company would remain in Saigon upon receipt of instructions to same from COL Francis E. “Frank” Payne, 89th MP Group Commander.

1440 hours, Status on APC’s SGT Hefflinger, 89th MP Group, notified this office at 2:40 PM, that COL Francis E. “Frank” Payne, had issued instructions that the APC’s would remain in Saigon until at least the first of next week due to the enemy situation presently in Saigon.

1600 hours, SDNCO Changed SFC Richard L. DeHart, B Company, relieved of duty as Staff Duty Noncommissioned Officer at 3:05 PM, due to illness, temporarily replaced by SFC Roger F. Ruggles, HHD, who is then replaced by SGT Bee.

1630 hours, Report of Enemy Activity SFC Janss, 89th MP Group, notified this office at 4:30 PM, that the SMPD [Saigon Military Police District] reported that they expect an attack on Saigon tonight or tomorrow morning with emphasis on the 1st and 6th Precincts. Notified SGT Robert R. Corbin, S-2 Overtake Operations, SP/4 Harvey K. Bradstreet [A Company, Jun 1967 to Jun 1968].

1700 hours, POW & Guard Count The POW and Guard count was taken to CPT Silvea, 89th MP Group, at 5:00 PM. Count: 24th Evacuation Hospital, two POW’s and four guards, 50th Medical Company, two-hundred nine POW’s and twenty-five guards.

1710 hours, Report of Enemy Activity SGT Errol J. Reddick [A Company], Overtake Operations notified this office that at 5:10 PM, his car #14 [patrol jeep] was informed by an officer (name unknown) from the 557th MP Company, that he had observed three or four Lambrettas believed to be carrying Viet Cong, all persons had weapons. They were in the area of Ho Nia. Also “Agitate” [radio call sign] in Bien Hoa has had the same report and are alerted to this. SGT Corbin [HHD, Mar 1968 to Mar 1969], S-2 [Intelligence & Security] SFC Roger F. Ruggles S-3 [Operations], notified.

1725 hours, VIP Visit CPT Solvea, 89th MP Group notified this office at 5:25 PM that on 26 May 1968, LTC Weiblt, the Provost Marshal, Provisional Corps, Vietnam, (I Corps area), will visit the 18th MP Brigade. The following is the Colonels itinerary with the 720th MP Battalion: 0845 to 0850 hours, en route to the 720th. 0850 to 0900 hours, Visit with the Battalion Commanding Officer. 0900 to 0930 hours, Briefing on 720th Battalion activities. 0930 to 1100 hours, Visit the TAOR [Tactical Area of Responsibility]. 1100 hours to 1200 hours, open time, the 89th MP Group will notify if the 18th Brigade assigns activity for the open time.

1757 hours, Tay Ninh Convoy This office was advised that all units of the Tay Ninh Convoy returned safely without incident to Long Binh Post at 5:57 PM.

1805 hours, 9th Division Convoy Escort Canceled MAJ Bergson, 9th Infantry Division, notified this office at 6:05 PM that the security commitment for the Bear Cat Convoy from Newport Bridge to Bear Cat had been canceled. SGT Pattit, C Company notified.

1837 hours, LBP on Gray Alert At 6:37 PM, MAJ Kennedy, Operations, Long Binh Post, notified this office that Long Binh Post was on a “Gray Alert” as of 1830 hours [6:30 PM], this date due to a possible attack on Saigon and a possible diversionary attack on Long Binh Post. Notified, CPT Steven Vass, Jr., SP/4 Davis, HHD, SGT Marsh, A Company, SGT Marvin E. Willard, B Company, SP/4 Daniel D. Shuck, C Company, SP/4 Aaright 212th MP Company.

1938 hours, Bear Cat Convoy “Available 20” reported they were in route from Long Binh Post to Bear Cat at 7:38 PM.

1940 hours, Interior Guard Posted At 7:40 PM, the Interior Guard Patrol was inspected, briefed, and posted.

Casualties 2006 hours, Bear Cat Convoy Ambushed “Available 20” [C Company] reported by radio that they were ambushed and in a fire fight at Grid Coordinates YS 123971, and they had two personnel wounded. Notified, 2LT Eugene S. Edey [C Company], CPT Steven Vass, Jr. [HHD] and 89th MP Group. Also notified, Long Binh Post TOC [Tactical Operations Command], Light Fire Team and Dustoff.

2008 hours “Available 20” reported the contact was broken and they were proceeding to Bear Cat Base.

2010 hours “Available 20” reported they were under fire again at the same location.

2020 hours “Available 20” reported one man had fallen from the Armored Personnel Carrier [APC] and that they were turning around to pick him up.

2028 hours “Available 20” reported that enemy contact broken, wounded personnel transported to Bear Cat without assistance of Dustoff, no further contact.

2150 hours SGT Thompson, Noncommissioned Officer In Charge, of the convoy escort, “Available 20,” reported the status of wounded personnel to this office.

2205 hours, Casualty Report PFC Daniel Joseph Flynn, age 20, C Company, would die from shrapnel wounds received in the ambush shortly after midnight. Three other men from C Company were wounded but survived.

2400 hours, Log Closed.