720th
Battalion History ~ 1989
~~~~~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association History Project ~~~~~
89th Bde.
This Page Last Updated ~ 4 December 2007 ~ Click on all thumbnail photographs to enlarge for viewing.
 
Photographs
If you were a veteran of the 720th MP Battalion or any of its subordinate units, and recognize any of the events listed on this page, or you are a surviving family member of a Battalion veteran from this era and would like to contribute Information, personal stories, documents, media articles or photographs, please take a moment to contact the History Project Manager at the Email Link provided above for instructions or assistance. Your contributions are extremely important to the Battalion history and always welcomed.
At the start of 1989 all elements of the 720th Military Police Battalion were serving at Fort Hood, Texas.
Information, photographs and personal stories relating to the following events: Operation Hawkeye, Operation Just Cause, and casualty PFC Roth. Please contact the History Project Manager via the Email Link at the top of this page.

Fort Hood and duty with the 410th MP Company

I knew I was in deep trouble SGT Brian T. "Sergeant Mac" McGlawn, Squad Leader, 1st Squad, 1st Platoon, 410th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Brigade, May 1989-February1990
August

Date unknown, Operation Prayerbook The 401st MP Company, under the command of CPT Steven S. Rathburn, was deployed to the Republic of Panama as part of a four month security rotation to support Operation Prayerbook. The operation involved several sets of contingency plans under consideration to: provide security to US personnel and facilities in the Canal Zone, restore civil law enforcement authority to the people of Panama, replace military dictator Manuel Noriega with a return to democratic civilian leadership.

        The 401st performed law enforcement duties, manned static security posts, jungle patrol, VIP security and short notice Quick Reaction Force (QRF) operations. They also picked up armed mail escorts to Torrijos International Airport, and 24 hour patrols of primary routes between U.S. military installations. Before their deployment would end the 401st become an important part of Operation Just Cause.
September
Date unknown, Operation Hawkeye As a direct result of Hurricane Hugo, 13-22 September, one of the most destructive weather systems ever recorded struck the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and portions of North and South Carolina and caused massive destruction. The governor of the Island of Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands requested assistance. The 720th MP Battalion Headquarters Detachment, 411th MP Company with a Platoon from the 410th MP Company, and attached units of the 258th MP Company from Fort Polk, Louisiana, 463d MP Company of Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, were assigned to respond to Operation Hawkeye under Joint Task Force 140.
November

Date unknown, Operation Hawkeye ends The 411th and attached 410th Platoon returned to Fort Hood, Texas after deployment to the U.S. Virgin Islands during Operation Hawkeye.

        The 410th MP Company received national recognition for confiscating over 30 million dollars of cocaine during its mission assignment.
We had stumbled on something unforeseen! SGT Brian T. “Sergeant Mac” McGlawn, Squad Leader, 410th MP Company, temporarily assigned to, 1st Squad, 5th Platoon, 411th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Brigade.
Date unknown, Weapons & Vehicle Change After returning from Operation Hawkeye, the Battalion switched from the 45. caliber semiautomatic Colts to the new Berretta 9mm semiautomatic. The Chrysler K-cars used on post patrol were gone and replaced with the Chrysler Acclaim. The Acclaim's were silver, with no cage and old light bars.
December

December 18, Panama The 401st MP Company, awaiting orders for redeployment to Fort Hood from security duty in Panama, was told to 'Load down' for what were at that juncture, unknown reasons.

December 19, 1900 Hours, Panama The 401st MP Company staff were briefed by CPT Rathburn on their mission in support of Operation Just Cause and made ready for immediate deployment to their assignments.

December 20, Panama PFC Scott L. Roth, the 1st Platoon machine gunner, 401st MP Company, was killed in action during a fire fight at Check Point-12, Diablo Heights area with a Panamanian Defense Force (PDF) Patrol during Operation Just Cause.

     Two other MP’s of the 2nd Platoon, assigned to assault a PDF position code named Objective Shark were wounded in the fire fight,. One was PFC Eric Jones, the other remains unidentified.

Photographs of PFC Roth for his Honor Roll page, and phoptographs and information on the two wounded members of the 2nd Platoon. Please contact the History Project Manager via the Email Link at the top of this page.
At the end of 1989 all elements of the 720th Military Police Battalion, minus the 401st deployed to Panama, were serving at Fort Hood, Texas.