~ 720th Military Police Battalion Vietnam History Project ~

Tay Ninh Detachment
212th MP Company (Sentry Dog)
   Regardless of MOS if you recognize or participated in any of the events listed on this detachment page and would like to contribute any official orders, media documents, information, personal stories, photographs, or information on any events not listed, please take a moment to contact Tom Watson the History Project and Website Manager at the Email Link provided on this page. Your contributions are important to the recording of the Vietnam Era history of the 88th MP Company (K9) and 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog) and always welcomed here.
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   If you have photographs you would like to post, contact the History Project Manager via the Email Link below. Please CLICK HERE to find out how you can help.
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This Page Last Updated   3 December 2017
Email Link
18th MP
Brigade
89th MP
Group
720th MP
Battalion

Tay Ninh City  was the capital of Tay Ninh Province located at the intersection of Highways QL-22 and LTL-13 in northwestern Corps Tactical Zone / Military Region III near the Cambodian border.

     Due to its closeness to the Cambodian border it was a favorite target of Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army units that were resupplied via the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and trained in the many sanctuary bases.  Almost daily small arms harassment, mortar and rocket attacks occurred.
 
     By air, Tay Ninh City was approximately fifty five miles northwest of Saigon. The primary roadway servicing the city was QL-22, and by road the drive covered approximately 186 miles (round trip) over some of the best and worst roadway conditions in South Vietnam from Long Binh Post, south west through Saigon, then northwest to Cu Chi and finally Tay Ninh City. The dominant land feature in the area was the Nui Ba Den (Black Virgin) Mountain northeast of the city.
 
   Throughout the war years several major U.S. combat commands headquartered or operated in the Tay Ninh and War Zone C & D areas to confront the constant enemy infiltration.
5th
Special Forces
196th Infantry
Brigade
4th Infantry
Division
173rd Airborne
Brigade
25th Infantry
Division
1st Infantry
Division
11th Armored
Cavalry
 
 
 
1966
 

     The elements of the U.S. 25th Infantry Division (Tropic Lightning) were located at the Tay Ninh and Cu Chi Base Camps, and several remote fire support bases in the area. Bordering the Cambodian sanctuary and training areas of the enemy, their mission was to prevent enemy forces cross border incursions as part of the III Corps Tactical Zone Saigon Defensive Ring.
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     The 2nd Platoon of the 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog) maintained a detachment at Tay Ninh (West) that billeted at the airfield and patrolled the flight line. The mission was first assigned when the company was attached OPCON to the 18th MP Brigade, and it continued through their reassignment OPCON to the 89th MP Group's 95th and later 720th MP Battalions. It's unknown when they were first assigned the flight line mission.

    Sometime during the following years of 1967 through 1970 the detachment also provided handler teams for security at the base 277th Supply & Service Battalion Ordnance Supply Point and Post Exchange Storage Yard.

 Personal Reflections "The Tay Ninh Detachment was located on the airfield and patrolled the fence line. This was the type of place where you had to wear flak vest and helmet from the moment you arrived until leaving. They received regular incoming mortars and many attacks by sappers. It was a tough place." 1LT John R. Milligan, 2nd & 3rd Platoons, 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog), 95th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, Pershing Field, Saigon, Vietnam, December 1966-September 1967.
212th Veterans of the Tay Ninh Detachment, we need your personal stories and photographs here!
1967 Miscellaneous Photographs
A "?" following the photo number denotes further identifications are needed, and an Email Link is provided.
Personnel & Facilities
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1967
 
212th Veterans of the Tay Ninh Detachment, we need your personal stories and photographs here!
 
1968
 
212th Veterans of the Tay Ninh Detachment, we need your personal stories and photographs here!
 
1969
 
212th Veterans of the Tay Ninh Detachment, we need your personal stories and photographs here!
 
1970
 

September  Under the Intensified Vietnamization Program preparations were made for the U.S. 25th Infantry Division Base Camps at Cu Chi and Tay Ninh (West) to be turned over to the ARVN 25th infantry Division by 13 December.

October  Redeployments resulted in the termination of 212th MP Company sentry dog employments at the Tay Ninh 277th Supply & Service Battalion Ordnance Supply Point and Post Exchange Storage Yard. The assets, handlers and K9’ were redistributed.
ARVN 25th
Infantry
Division
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If anyone can provide any better information on when the detachment was terminated and or stories or photographs relative to the stand-down, please notify the History Project Manager via the Email Link at the top of this page.
 
212th Veterans of the Tay Ninh Detachment, we need your personal stories and photographs here!
1970 Miscellaneous Photographs
A "?" following the photo number denotes further identifications are needed, and an Email Link is provided.
Personnel & Facilities
.
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