720th
July 2007 Battalion Time Line
~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association History Project ~
89th Bde.
This Page Last Updated ~ 23 October 2008
 
   Regardless of MOS if you recognize or participated in any of the events listed on this Time Line page and would like to contribute any information, personal stories, documents, media articles, photographs, or, if you can provide information on any events not listed, please take a moment to contact the History Project Manager at the Email Link provided for you on each page. Your contributions are important to the recording of the Battalion history and always welcomed here.
 
6 July. Convoy Ambush SGT Troy Levandoski, squad leader and PFC John Schwindt, combat medic, of the the 64th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, acted to save the lives of their fellow Soldiers when their six-vehicle route clearing mission headed east on an alternate supply route to Forward Operating Base Delta was ambushed in the early morning hours. On 1 December, 2007 both would be awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Valor.

        The fourth truck in the security convoy was hit by an explosively formed projectile (EFP). Levandoski and Schwindt reacted to assist the damaged vehicle and their injured comrades. "It was our first time being hit, but every time I asked for something to be done, it was already in place," SGT Levandoski said, remembering how well his squad performed. SGT Levandoski arrived at the damaged vehicle with PFC Schwindt to assess the injuries. Through the smoke, Levandoski found the driver (yet to be identified) and team leader SPC Joel Morera, were uninjured. When he yelled for the gunner (yet to be identified) there, was no response. Without hesitation, SGT Levandoski jumped into the truck to check on the gunner and found he was injured and unconscious. PFC Levandoski then freed the gunner, who was trapped in the turret by cutting him out of webbing in which he was tangled. Once the gunner was placed in the medical evacuation vehicle, the unit started receiving small-arms fire from a building nearly 35 meters from their position. SGT Levandoski picked up the injured gunner’s machine gun and began to fire on the position of the enemy until the unit cleared the danger zone. While under fire, PFC Schwindt went to work to treat his two injured comrades. The injured gunner had upper torso injuries, and another Soldier received injuries after being struck by a vehicle when trying to take covers. "It was my first time working on a casualty,” Schwindt said. “I just took commands from my squad leader." PFC Schwindt went through several life-saving steps to save his fellow Soldiers with no regard to his own safety, SGT Levandoski said. "I looked all around and saw the backs of my buddies’ heads who were pulling security," Schwindt said. “They were all doing their jobs so I could do mine."

        Once out of the danger zone, Schwindt set up a casualty collection point from where the two injured Soldiers were evacuated. Levandoski credited his squad for the success of the mission. "He can roll out with me any time," Levandoski said, referring to his medic.
 
8-10 July, Iraq Police Recruiting The 23rd MP Company, attached subordinate to the 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Brigade, Iraq, provided security and processing for over 1,100 Iraqi citizens in the Mahmudiyah district. During the three day recruitment drive the MP’s conducted site security and applicant processing at the Iraqi Security Force compound.
 

        All police recruit prospects were processed by physical characteristics, including a retinal scan, fingerprinting and photographs.

       The Mahmudiyan district includes Lutifiyah, Yushfiyan and many outlying villages. The plan is to staff eight police stations and joint security stations in the next five years.

       The recruit applicants were were mostly Shia, many Sunnis also applied. The turn out was so good that the planned two day operation was extended for an additional third day.

 

       The operation was aided by the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), and the 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, both based in Mahmudiyah.
10th
 
16 July The 110th MP Company was detached (permanently) from the 720th and transferred to Fort Carson, Colorado subordinate to the 759th MP Battalion. The majority of the staff were reassigned within the battalion's organic units prior to the transfer.
110th
 

17 July, 1330 Hours   PFC Brandon K. Bobb, age 20 of  Port Arthur, Texas, and  PFC Ron J. Joshua Jr. age 19 of Austin, Texas, members of the 401st MP Company, were killed in action in Baghdad, Iraq when  an improvised explosive devise (IED) exploded near their vehicle.

        PFC Bobb was the gunner and PFC Joshua the driver of the M1114 Up-Armored Utility Truck Armament Carrier.
PFC Bobb
PFC Joshua

They were close firends in life and companions in death.

PFC Bobb (left) PFC Joshua (right), Iraq, 2007. Courtesy of The Gauntlet Forward, 720th MP Battalion Newsletter.
 
28 July 2007, Ambush A motorized patrol of the 64th MP Company, staffed by SPC Joel Morera and two others yet to be identified, was ambushed with an Explosively Formed Projectile (EFP) followed by small arms fire. Their vehicle was disabled and on fire, SPC Morera and another member of his team were wounded. During the explosion SPC Morera lost his left leg just below the knee. SPC Morera notified his team that he was injured and that they would need to assist him. The driver and gunner then dismounted and working together extracted him from the vehicle. Despite his wounds he reassured his team that they were alright and verbally checked to make sure they were not injured. SPC Morera maintained consciousness throughout the evacuation and continued to be an inspiration to his team.
Click on Book Icon to view the July, 401st MP Company, Gunfighter Gazette (PDF) Newsletter.