time line

1 November 1968 ~ Friday ~ Day 754
~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association ~ Vietnam History Project ~
This Page Last Updated ~ 14 November 2008

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Bombing in North Vietnam Halted President Johnson once again halts all bombing of North Vietnam.

PF Interpreter Vo Van Duc accused of Armed Robbery CPL Thomas T. Watson, B Company, Squad Leader of Ambush Team #76 was instructed to transport his scout interpreter, Vo Van Duc to the Popular Forces (PF) Headquarters in Bien Hoa. Duc has been charged with armed robbery by his former platoon sergeant from Outpost #4 in Long Binh Tan Village, Battalion Tactical Area Of Responsibility. The complaint accuses Duc of robbing two local prostitutes at gun point. After arrival Duc was placed in the custody of the Quan Can’s (Vietnamese Army MPs) at Bien Hoa.

The Story Behind The Accusation Duc is one of the best PFs I have ever had assigned to my ambush team, and that probably had something to do with the charges. Yes, he is somewhat of a cowboy, however, he is foremost very dedicated in his pursuit of local draft dodgers and Viet Cong agents. Duc denied it was an armed robbery, he did admit to me that he just refused to pay for services. He was armed with a personal sidearm (.45 cal pistol) at the time but said he didn’t point it at the prostitutes. The PF platoon sergeant in Long Binh Tan is using Duc to get back at me for a July 17th incident at the outpost where I was the NCOIC when one of his men was arrested and he was chastised by his commander for a complaint I filed relative to the willful distruction of U.S. government property through my Platoon Sergeant SFC Richard DeHart. And, most recently Duc arrested and turned in two draft dodgers that were living in Long Dinh Village nearby by Outpost #4. The platoon sergeant was taking payoffs to protect the two draft dodgers from the authorities. The Platoon Sergeant is also the pimp for the two prostitutes that Duc is charged with robbing. I know the charges have been blown out of proportion. My Platoon Leader 2LT Robert Chavis knows, and the American Advisor to the PF Headquarters in Bien Hoa also knows. My former Platoon Sergeant SFC DeHart who had the connections has left for home and there is no one left who I can call on to right this matter.

On 3 November I lost the battle to have Duc returned to my squad. The PF sergeant from Outpost #4 put together a strong case against him. I sent a letter explaining the entire situation to the Battalion Commanding Officer in the hope that he might influence the outcome. The letter may have done some good. Instead of having to serve one year in prison, Duc has been assigned to the PF District Headquarters in Bien Hoa. It’s a waste of talent not to have him back in the field with us. Journal Of CPL Thomas T. Watson, B Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, March 1968-March 1969.

Convoy Escort C Company was tasked with moving the 1st Air Cavalry Division from the Newport Docks to three base camps. The company assigned four gun jeeps and twelve MP's who were used daily for the eleven days it took to complete the mission.

The escorts went from Newport Docks to Quan Loi and Phuoc Vinh base camps of the 1st Infantry Division where 1st MP Company elements picked up the escort from check point #81.

The other escort went to Tay Ninh Base Camp home of the 25th Infantry Division. The operation which moved a total of 1,600 men and 550 vehicles was successfully completed without a major incident on 11 November.