720th Military Police Battalion Vietnam History Project
Timeline ~ 148th MP Platoon
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Last Updated 22 November 2018
MACV
23rd Infantry
Division
18th MP
Brigade

     As with many of the military police platoons that served in Vietnam, their official origins and lineage are at times clouded. When the MP headquarters commands found themselves short of personnel and restricted by their subordinate unit TO&E’s, they often formed separate MP platoons to expand and supplement the shortage of personnel to meet specific missions assignments until other constituted Regular Army MP units arrived in country. In that way the MP commands could then draw on newly arriving troops to bring the companies back up to their allotted TO&E’s.

     Once their mission needs were met the MP platoons were often deactivated and the personnel assimilated back into the established MP companies they were formed from. There is also evidence they were reassigned to another battalion command for use elsewhere. If the need for additional manpower arose once again, the platoon would again be reconstituted with a nucleus of experienced supervisory staff from organic MP companies to again supplement the immediate mission requirements.

     The procedure of activation and deactivation between separate commands inadvertently hid the Platoons official line of military lineage from routine historical research. In addition, the policy of carrying the platoon staff in the roster of the MP company they were attached subordinate to without denoting their separate unit designation also hindered historical research in identifying the platoons dedicated personnel.

Thomas T. Watson, History Project Manager.

89th MP
Group
92nd MP
Battalion
95th MP
Battalion
1965
The tour begins in 1965, the parent unit is believed to be the
560th MP Company (Provisional), MACV

     The first official verification of the 148th MP Platoon in Vietnam that this History Project could locate was Department of the Army, General Orders No. 83 issued 27 December 1968, in which the148th MP Platoon was listed in Section III, page 62, Vietnam Defense Campaign I, 8 March 1965-24 December 1965, as recognized and authorized the display of the respective Campaign Streamer. DOA GO 83, 122768.

     The Platoon is again found in General Orders No. 3 Section II, page 2 award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation to its 4th Squad, (subordinate to the U.S. Army, 765th Transportation Battalion - Aircraft Maintenance and Support) issued 18 January 1967, which amended Paragraph 2 of Section IV of General Orders No. 40, dated 31 October 1966, which was the original award, by listing the subordinate units. The award was issued for service during the period of October 1964 through December 1965. DOA GO 3, 103166.

   If you can identify the parent MP unit the 148th MP Platoon was attached subordinate to, please use the Email Link above to notify the History Project Manager.

April  The 148th MP Platoon was attached to the 560th MP Company, and posted to the HQ element at Saigon. The 148th would provide the nucleus of a Ship Security detail guarding U. S. freighter ships coming up the Saigon River from Vung Tau to the Port of Saigon. The Platoon also provided highway patrols and security for Tan Son Nhut Airbase and selected facilities within that compound.

Miscellaneous Photographs
a
1966

 

April  According to SP/4 Javier L. Zambrano of the 148th MP Platoon who arrived at the unit on 1 April 1966 and DEROS'ed in April 1967, the platoon was billeted on Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base in Saigon and provided highway patrols and security for the airbase and selected facilities within that compound.

     In photograph G3521 (below), submitted by SP/4 Zambrano, a platoon gun jeep is on an escort detail on 25 December 1966 bearing bumper markings 89GP 95P 148P X-6.

     According to SP/4 Stephen K. West, when he arrived in 1966 (exact date unknown) he was assigned TDY to the 63rd Transportation Company at Cam Rhan Bay. Was assigned to the 148th MP Platoon when at the airport and later moved to the 188th MP Company.

SP/4 West

    According to the book Combat Police, U.S. Army Military Police in Vietnam (Senbraak’s Writings) by Rick Young, page 146, on 11 April 1966 the 148th Military Police Platoon was constituted and activated in Vietnam as a dismounted police platoon, with an authorized strength of forty-four personnel assigned to Cai Lay, in IV Corps Tactical Zone, Mekong Delta.

     This discrepancy between the Book and official General Orders identified above can not be explained at this time. The only assumption that can be made is that the Platoon "may have" been deactivated and assimilated into another MP command later in 1966 before once again being reactivated on 11 April 1968. The assimilation, deactivation and redesignation process was common with platoon and detachment sized units. Thomas T. Watson, History Project Manager.
Miscellaneous Photographs Ton San Nhut Airbase, Saigon
aG3521a
 PFC's Holtz and Zambrano on patrol.
aG3521b
 148th MP Platoon and Air Force Security Police at guard mount.
aG3521c
 148th MP Platoon gun jeeps escort members of an Air Force film and photographic unit outside the airbase.

3 May  PFC’s Michael E. Studer, Michael A. Vignola, Stephen K. West, James E. Price and Regino F. Thomas were promoted to the rank of Specialist 4th Class.

19 May  SP/4’s Peter M. Kelly and Stephen K. West departed the platoon for return stateside and discharge.

1967
9 February SP/4 Herman C. Hopwood, 148th MP Platoon, 95th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade responded to a fire at the Vietnamese living quarters on Tan Son Nhut Air Base. For his valorous lifesaving actions he is awarded the Soldiers Medal, USARV General Orders No. 1512 on 5 April.
SP/4 Hopwood
Redesignated at Chu Lai

13 April Half of the 148th MP Platoon and half of the 544th MP Platoon of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade came to Chu Lai with Task Force Oregon (Provisional), later to be designated in country as the 23rd Infantry - Americal Division.

     Under the operational control of the Provost Marshal's Office, the platoons became one, 148th MP Platoon and assigned subordinate to the 23rd MP Company, 23rd Infantry (Americal) Division.

Reestablished in Can Tho in the Mekong Delta
June The 557th MP Company (Guard), Long Binh USARV Stockade and other units subordinate to the 95th MP Battalion on Long Binh Post were called upon to provide personnel to reestablish the ranks of the 148th MP Platoon. In addition, personnel from the 560th MP Company were reassigned as the nucleus of the administrative staff of the platoon. At the time it was identified as part of the 3rd Platoon, 560th MP Company and served in IV Corps Tactical Zone, Mekong Delta.
Personal Reflections

     "I arrived in country in March of 1967 (I had requested a transfer from the 385th MP's in Stuttgart Germany) and was assigned to B Company, 720th MP Battalion at Long Binh.

      In June of 1967, a request for volunteers to form a new MP unit for convoy recon in the Mekong Delta was posted.  I thought it might be a little better duty than the day to day I had experienced in Long Binh. I was first sent to the MP unit in Can Tho for orientation to the area. When I Volunteered for the 148th, I started getting my mail as 3rd Squad, 3rd Platoon, 560th MP Company.

     That's where I met SP/4 Specht, and I believe SP/4 Webb and SP/4 Wood. While there we experienced a mortar attack from the VC that took the lives of civilians. No Military targets, just civilian. mostly the hospital and the mess hall, (back to eating on the local economy, and rat doesn't taste like chicken).

      We were a group of about ten that were headed for Vinh Long to establish a new pro active MP unit to look for enemy activity on Highway-4 from Can Tho to Saigon. When we first arrived our highest ranking person was a staff sergeant I wish I could remember his name. We were billeted in a Villa just up the road from MACV Advisory team #54. I think that was their number."   SP/4 Eldon Banegas, 148th MP Platoon, 557th MP Company, 95th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, June 1967-March 1968.

SP/4 Banegas
     The new 148th MP Platoon then moved to Can Tho, at the IV Corps Provost Marshal Headquarters in the Mekong Delta region. Operationally they were assigned to the IV Corps Provost Marshal Office, and the 557th MP Company, 95th MP Battalion for administrative and logistical support.

     A Detachment of nine MPs were sent to My Tho in IV Corps Tactical Zone to for orientation and provide discipline, law and order patrols in the town and surrounding areas. They worked combined patrols with the local Canh Sats (Vietnamese National Police).

     Once their orientation was completed they were sent to the Vinh Long  Detachment.

29 August SP/4 Herman C. Hopwood was awarded the Army Commendation Medal by HQ and HQ Company, Task Force Oregon (Provisional), General Orders No. 423, for meritorious duty from 31 July to 13 August 1967.

Miscellaneous Photographs ~ Tan San Nhut Air Base
 Tan San Nhut- SP/4 Hopwood.
Miscellaneous Photographs ~ Chu Chi
 Cu Chi- SGT Hopwood in the NCO barracks.
Miscellaneous Photographs ~ Can Tho Detachment
 Two unidentified 148th patrol team members in detachment parking lot.
Miscellaneous Photographs ~ Vinh Long Detachment
 Unidentified MP on the My Tuan Ferry.
 SP/4 Banegas at the Vinh Long MP Desk.
 View from the 148th Villa in Vinh Long after Tet.
 View from the 148th Villa of the rear parking lot and storage yard.
 View from the second floor balcony of the 148th Villa after Tet.
  SP/4 Webb on the second floor balcony of the 148th Villa after Tet.
 148th Joint Police Patrol jeep.
 City homes just outside the perimeter of the 148th Villa.
 Sniper round in windshield of 148th Joint Police Patrol jeep.
SP/4 James E. Wood and unidentified member of the 148th in their Villa.
 Unidentified member of the 148th in the Villa.
 SP/4 Wood of the 148th in the Villa.
 Unidentified member of the 148th in the Villa.
 SP/4 Specht of the 148th in the Villa.
 Three unidentified members and SP/4 Specht of the 148th playing payday poker in the Villa.
  SP/4 Bangeas on the second floor balcony of the 148th Villa after Tet.
1968
Tet New Years Offensive ~ Long Binh Post

     I went to the 557th MP Company (Guard) 10 December 1967. Then SFC Flowers asked for volunteers for the 148th MP Platoon and I volunteered. My squad along with one other squad stayed at Long Binh Post and guarded USARV headquarters. During the Tet Offensive we went to the attack in the ammo dump Chaotic all night battle. Then to a village to clear it, and that was chaotic too.

     Later I was selected to drive a Brigade battalion colonel. Then in August 1968 I went to Company A, 716th MP Battalion in Saigon and did town patrol and embassy duty. SP/4 Richard Cairns, December 1967 to December 1968.

Tet New Years Offensive ~ My Tho Detachment

31 January SP/4 Leon J. Shrum, age 21 from Bowling Green, KY was killed in action during the Tet Offensive in My Tho. SP/4 Shrum and SGT Joe Picucci were on a reconnaissance patrol in My Tho’s streets during the fighting.

     SP/4 Leon J. Shrum and SGT Joseph G. Picucci, the My Tho Detachment NCOIC, went out on a reconnaissance patrol in My Tho’s streets to assess the extent of the Viet Cong strength within the area of their billet. The small MP detachment was concerned about being caught within their building by the growing number of enemy forces and wanted to make a move to the MACV Armor House Compound to consolidate their firepower.

     As their patrol crossed one of the main streets it was hit by heavy enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire and forced to find cover. Ahead of them a jeep containing four members of the Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV) Team #75 advisors were also pinned down by the heavy enemy fire.

      SP/4 Shrum left the safety of the cover of his jeep with the M-60 machine gun and headed towards the MACV team to support them. While running towards their position he was struck by small arms fire in the chest knocking him to the ground. Disregarding his wounds he got back up and continued on through enemy fire with the machine gun.

SP/4 Shrum

     He made it to the MACV team before succumbing to the wounds. The machine gun allowed the MACV team to suppress the enemy fire. When SGT Picucci called for assistance on the radio the other detachment members formed a reaction force to go out and assist the patrol but were to late, SP/4 Shrum died at the scene. They returned to the compound with his body.

     The detachment eventually made the move to the nearby Tactical Operations Center. For his bravery while under fire SP/4 Shrum was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal for heroism, Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service and the Purple Heart Medal. 720th MP Battalion, Vietnam History Project, Casualty Investigation File.

Map of My Tho Area
Tet New Years Offensive ~ Vinh Long Detachment

2 February the compound came under heavy enemy attack. SP/4 James F. X. Gilmartin, a machine gunner, with complete disregard for his personal safety exposed himself to enemy fire and ground attack.  He maintained his position and provided cover fire while the rest of his detachment evacuated the compound.  Because of his actions, his comrades were able to escape without losing a single man. On 7 March SP/4 Gilmartin was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for Valor.

     The Platoons Detachment at Vinh Long was operating out of a Villa on the Mekong River when the Tet Offensive started.

SP/4 Gilmartin
Personal Reflections

     "We were assigned normal MP duty for the City of Vinh Long, and Highway-4. Our M151 Jeeps had 1/2 inch armor plate to protect us, but one of the things we learned was that was too much weight for the M151. They were too unstable, so we striped them of the armor plate, put sand bags in the floor and ran our patrols. The jeeps had an M60 mounted on a post, but we had to stand up to fire it, so we asked the armorer at the Helicopter base to help us with "Butterfly Triggers". That made things a lot better, we could lay down and still put out a suppressive field of fire.

     On the day of the attack me, Specht, SP/4 Freddie L. Webb and a few of the other guys were on the roof of the MACV Team Villa. keep in mind that back then, we would go anywhere in civvies, unarmed. I guess I was the only one that night that was paranoid and I never went anywhere without my 45. When we realized that the area was under attack, we made a run for our Villa, about 400 yards away.

     I was the only one with a weapon, so I would stop and fire at nothing, but it must have worked because we all made it back OK. The other guys were already on the balcony returning fire. One thing about an MP convoy unit, we had a lot of M-60's. We held our own till morning, then Sarge determined that it would be best to head for the airfield to make a stand.

     We loaded up with as much ammo as we could carry and did the Airborne trot to the Airfield. The Gun Jeeps couldn't carry everybody, so they covered us along the way. We told "Gleeful Schaefer", call sign for the Naval river patrol boats, that we were leaving and that any activity after that was enemy. I know today that what we were up against was an NVA Battalion in the neighborhood. We did our country proud, Specht took a round in the leg, but wouldn't leave his M-60. When we got to the airfield, I had so much ammo on me that when I sat down I couldn't get up. One of the airfield guys said that if i'd have taken a round, I'd have gone up like a roman candle.

     After two days of fighting we finally made our way back into our villa, thanks to the support of the guys in the Brown water Navy the enemy was driven out. One of the Navy machine gunners still owes me a Akai reel to reel for that 50 cal. slug that went through my tape deck."   SP/4 Eldon Banegas, 148th MP Platoon, 557th MP Company, 95th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, June 1967-March 1968.

     Shortly after the Tet Offensive (Jan-Feb) the operational, administrative and logistics support for the 148th MP Platoon changed from the 557th MP Company, 95th MP Battalion (Long Binh Post) to the 300th MP Company (Physical Security Saigon Military Port), 92nd MP Battalion, located at Pershing Field, Saigon, giving them a command closer to their immediate area of operations.
Map of Vinh Long & Can Tho Area
Vinh Long Battle Damage After Tet Fighting
 
 

1 April 188th MP Company operations, under the 92nd Military Police Battalion, began moving into the Mekong Delta area to Phu Lam, Tan An, My Tho, Cai Lai, Vinh Long, Can Tho and Soc Trang. With the 95th MP Battalion at Long Binh Post, the 92nd would take over parent responsibilities for military police activity in the IV Corps Tactical Zone.

  Although unverified at this time by official records it is believed that the 148th was reassigned from the 557th MP Company, 95th MP Battalion to to the 188th MP Company, 92nd MP Battalion who assumed operational control of  IV Corps Tactical Zone (Mekong Delta Region) sometime after this move. If anyone can provide any verification please contact the History Project Manager via the Email Link at the top of this page.

 
     A Detachment of nine MPs were sent to My Tho to provide discipline, law and order patrols in the town and surrounding areas. They worked combined patrols with the local Canh Sats (Vietnamese National Police).
Miscellaneous Photographs ~ My Tho Detachment
.
 

 

1 May PFC Joseph F. Lodise, Jr.  was the turret gunner on a V100 Armored Commando Car that responded to the aid of some elements of a 9th Infantry Division engineer unit engaged in a fire-fight on the highway with the Viet Cong. PFC Lodise died from electrocution due to a gun malfunction during the fire-fight.

Personal Reflection   "As best I can recall a captain was sent down to the 148th in Vinh Long from Saigon to conduct an evaluation of the mission that we were tasked with in the Delta. It seemed as if it was a kind of "what are we accomplishing in the Delta, how are we doing it, and how successful are we" kind of inspection. It was not an I. G. type of inspection. It was somewhat informal in nature.

    There were two V100’s sent out on that mission. If I recall correctly there were two crew each plus the Captain from Saigon. 1LT Nicholson, our platoon leader, may also have gone on it but I just don't remember. The only other person I remember going out on that missions was an F. Glenn Schaeffer. I remember him quite well because I got in touch with him back in 1989 when I went searching for Joe's parents. I wanted to talk to them about that day, and Joe.

PFC Lodise

     I felt somewhat responsible for Joe's death. I had been tagged for that mission but pitched a bitch to the Lieutenant since I had not had a day off in quite a while, and that day was to be my first one off. Joe overheard me talking to the Lieutenant and came up to me and said that he wanted to go instead. He had never been out on a mission up to that point, was recently new to the unit and was anxious to get involved. I went with him to talk to the lieutenant who agreed to the switch. I went down to the V100 with Joe and explained what his job was as the gunner. He said he felt comfortable enough to go on the mission and the rest is history.

     In any event I had remembered that Glenn was from the Philadelphia area. I called directory assistance and obtained Glenn Schaffers parents phone number and in turn his. Glenn and I talked for a while and I obtained Joe's parents phone number. I called them and told them the story about what happened that day. They had never heard that side of of the story. We had a good talk and I got directions from them to the cemetery where Joe was buried. I was working in Washington D.C. at the time so I took a day off and drove up to Philadelphia and visited his grave and finally made my peace with him." PFC Ronald P. Regulski, 148th MP Platoon, 92nd MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, August 1967 to August 1968.

Redesignated as the 2nd Platoon of the 188th MP Company

August The 148th MP Platoon stationed at Vinh Long was redesignated as 2nd Platoon, 188th MP Company, 92nd MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade.

Miscellaneous Photographs ~ Vinh Long
 SP/4 Fred Webb at the My Tuan Ferry.
 SP/4 Fred Webb at the My Tuan Ferry.
 SP/4 Charles Anderson (?) on the My Tuan Ferry, Co Chien River landing.
 My Tuan Ferry landing after Tet attack.
 Front view of the U.S. Navy Seabee Team quarters at the MACV-2 building.
 Rear view of the U.S. Navy Seabee Team quarters at the MACV-2 building.
 Main Gate from the 2nd floor balcony of the MACV-2 building compound.
 Main Gate from the 2nd floor balcony of the MACV-2 building compound.
 SFC Wilbanks, SP/4 Bridges, and SSG Posey in the Day Room on the roof of the MACV-2 building.
 Side view of the MACV-2 building.
 SP/4 Bridges and SGT Skweres.
 SP/4 Preusz  in the Day Room.
 SSG Harney.
 SP/4 Colwell and SP/4 Workman.
 PFC Ryan, PFC Cornelius, and SP/4 Morris with Canh Sats.
 V100's at Highway QL-4 intersection.
 SP/4 Silva, PFC Manning, SFC Wilbanks and SP/4 Preusz at the Motor Pool.
 SP/4 Kocher, 1LT Nicholson, and SP/4 Specht.
 SP/4 O’Brien on board the My Tuan Ferry.
 SP/4 Morris.
 SP/4 Knight.
 SP/4 Anderson and Quan Canh's.
 SP/4 Mullinax.
 PFC Corneilus, SP/4 Morris, and PFC Ryan with Quan Canh's.
1969

31 January On the one year anniversary of the death of SP/4 Leon J. Shrum, the 1st Platoon, 188th MP Company, 92nd MP Battalion, Commanded by CPT Gary M. Freedman, dedicated a monument to SP/4 Shrum in My Tho.

     The monument consisting of a plaque on a cement pedestal was erected where he died in the Tet Offensive ambush.

   If you have a photograph of the monument, please notify the History Project Manager via the Email Link above.

Miscellaneous Photographs
a
1970
30 September The 148th Military Police Platoon was inactivated in Vietnam and still remains inactive. It had the distinction of being the only MP Platoon during the war that was not expanded into a company.
Miscellaneous Photographs
a
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