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Return To 1970 Index

Last Updated 21 February 2015

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At the start of the month Battalion HQ Detachment, its organic letter companies (minus Bravo Company) and the 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog) were headquartered subordinate to the 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, III Corps Tactical Zone, Bien Hoa Province, Long Binh Post, South Vietnam. Bravo Company was headquartered at Vinh Long, in Vinh Long Province, and the 22nd Provost Marshal Detachment at Can Tho in Phong Dinh Province, both in IV Corps Tactical Zone, Mekong Delta Region.

18th MP Brigade

89th MP Group

720th MP Battalion

Dec. 02 Letter

Nov. 30 Letter

212th MP Company  CPT James D. Folsom assumed command of the 212th MP Company from 1LT Michael P. Sudnik.

Wanted: Photographs of CPT Folsom, 1LT Sudnick and the change of command ceremony. Please us the Email Link at the top of this page.

CPT Folsom

1LT Sudnick

Cardinal Cooke

Rev. Hoffman

Reflection  "Like everyone else, I spent one Christmas in Vietnam. 1970 was a big year for me. I was sent to Vietnam on February 8, 1970 – ended up in HHD of the 720th MP Battalion. In September of 1970 my son was born. In early December of 1970 I had my "R&R" in Hawaii. By Christmas of 1970 I was beginning to see "the end of the tunnel". About that time the "early out program" was increasing the time frames involved and I extended my tour 64 days to get out of the Army five months early.

     My remembrance of Christmas of 1970 revolves around a good friend I worked with in the Battalion S4 shop (Supply). His name was Dennis E. Carlson and he was from Austin, Minnesota. Denny was due to go home right at Christmas time. As a matter of fact, I drove him to the staging area for all soldiers going home of December 23rd (he was due to go out on December 24th).

     On Christmas eve we were all sitting around feeling sorry for ourselves (like many soldiers did during holiday periods) when in walks Denny Carlson. His had changed his flight out from the evening of December 24th to the evening of December 25th. I have never forgot what he said: "If I can’t be home with my family on Christmas I’d rather be here with you guys than in the air over the Pacific somewhere…"

     I have never forgot those sentiments. Denny where in the heck are you???"  SP/4 Dennis R. Dudley HQ & HQ Detachment, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, February 1970-April 1971.

SP/4 Dudney

Reflection  "It is December 24, 1970. I am the commanding officer of the 720th Military Police Battalion. At that time we had four letter companies, and from those companies we staffed about l6 or l7 separate detachment locations from platoon size and lower. I had a personal helicopter pilot that ferried me around the Southern half of Vietnam for my tenure as commander. He, I, SGM Peter Pauli, and our Battalion Chaplain (a wonderful black Captain whose name now escapes me) took off from Long Binh about seven that morning and between then, and eight o'clock that night we visited every company headquarters and every detachment throughout the Southern half of the country.

     It was an extremely emotional day for all of us. The smallest unit we visited was about ten fine military police in size, and the largest a little larger than a platoon. We tried to spend half an hour or so with each unit and tried to talk to every man present, and share a cup of coffee or some other libation. As should be obvious, there was a lot of time spent in the air getting from one location to the other. We closed the visit at each location with a Prayer from the Chaplain which came after words from the CSM and myself.

     We arrived back at the Battalion Headquarters in Long Binh some time after the mess hall had closed, but my Executive Officer, Major Jerry Burns, and Adjutant, Captain Ray Cox, had gathered together some cheeses and cakes and cookies (along with a little bourbon and gin) to have a quiet Christmas celebration in the deck area outside my quarters.

     It is a Christmas I will never forget and frequently tell others about. I think it was meaningful for all who took part in the events that day.

     Christmas Day was a work day as usual until late in the afternoon when the officers gathered at the 18th Brigade Officer's Club for steaks (scrounged from someone somewhere) and a few cups of cheer.  LTC Robert P. Schmitz, (LTC Ret.) Commanding Officer, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, August 1970-January 1971.

LTC Schmitz

CSM Pauli

Reflection  "I had many mixed emotions, but knew my family at home was safe, and I was with my brothers in arms, doing what we had to do. The Christmas I will never forget."  SP/4 Gary C. Neiman, B Company 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, August 1970-October 1971.

SP/4 Neiman

Bob Hope

Gold Diggers

Gold Diggers

Lola Falana

Jennifer Hosten ~ Miss World

Miss World 1970

Reflection  "Every Christmas, the USO Show came to Long Binh and the 720th Battalion would be called upon to provide the reactionary force – a rapid response force in waiting in case there was an enemy attempt to disrupt the show. I spent Christmas in Long Binh in both 1969 and 1970 and the experiences were quite different.

     In 1969, Bob Hope and the USO tour entertained the troops and we in A Company, 720th MP Battalion were called upon to be in full gear with weapons and our V-100’s / Jeeps in a location where we could respond to any potential threat during the USO show. As I remember it, we sat in the hot sun with flak jackets and helmets on in our stationary vehicles until there was no further potential threat and then we were dismissed back to our Company areas. It was a very hot and uncomfortable day and we were prevented from going to the USO show because of the duty assignment that we pulled for the day. Not one of the most memorable Christmas days in recollection but we were glad that it was over without incident.

     In 1970, Bob Hope and the USO tour was again back at Long Binh and, as with the previous year, we had the same reaction force duty. I once again found myself in full battle gear in the sun on a parade field waiting for any potential threats. But this year was destined to be quite different from 1969. After sitting in my vehicle for about an hour, my platoon leader tapped me on the shoulder and told me to me to go back to my hooch and change into my best fatigues. I was randomly selected to join the Bob Hope and the USO entertainers at dinner at the Headquarters Officers’ Club.

     At the Officers’ Club, I was fortunate to be seated between Miss World (Jennifer Hosten) and Johnny Bench with two of the Gold Diggers rounding out the celebrities at the table. There were four GI's at each table and we had a great meal, conversation, dancing and entertainment. During dinner, Bob Hope stopped at the table and joined in the conversation. It was a great time and a once in a lifetime experience."   SP/4 George Wellock, A Company, 720th MP battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, December 1969-February 1971.

SP/4 Wellock