1966 Time Line ~ 615th MP Company
I FF,  716th, 92nd & 720th MP Battalion's, 18th MP Brigade
~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association ~ Vietnam History Project ~
This Page Last Updated  18 March 2016
1st Field
Forces
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18th MP
Brigade
   In early 1966 the 615th moved from Tent City to the International Hotel in Saigon. Other members of the company were also bilited in the Continental, Cravelle and Grand hotels. It was sometime after the move that they started to change from the MACV patch to the 1st Field Forces patch.
   The Company was primarily responsible for the physical security of U.S. facilities when it was in Saigon. The bachelor officers quarter's, unit headquarters, including General Westmoreland's compound. They also worked town patrol in Saigon with the 716th MP Battalion.
89th MP
Group
716th MP
Battalion
February

     Guard Mount would be held in the International Hotel after which the MPs would report for duty at the Saigon Central MP Station.

     They also conducted occasional convoy escorts out of the Port of Saigon, the majority going to Bien Hoa. There was also a small detachment that worked a (daylight only) Vietnamese Police outpost between Saigon and Bien Hoa.

     Based on available information it is believed that this Detachment location was at Thu Duc.

     During the last two weeks of February through the end of May, the 3rd Platoon was assigned from Saigon to security duties at the Long Binh Post construction site of the II Field Forces Headquarters.

June

     The platoon stayed in the Honor Smith compound in Bien Hoa City during the assignment. 2LT William E. Thomas, 3rd Platoon Leader, billeted with an aid of the Commanding General of II Field Forces at his villa in Bien Hoa.

     CPT Larry Wolmering was company commander of the 615th from June 1966 to February 1967.

4 June The following personnel were awarded the Good Conduct Medal under General Orders No. 15, HQ, 716th MP Battalion: SP/4 Kenneth W Olds, 24 June 1964-23 June 1966; SP/4 Rich Titus, Jr. 1 July 1964-30 June 1966; SP/4 George E. Looney, Jr. 9 July 1964-29 June 1966; PFC Robert M. Colwell, 10 July 1964-30 June 1966; SP/4 Gary S. Stempin, 24 June 1964-21 June 1966.

6 June The following personnel were awarded the Drivers Badge with Driver-W Bar under Special Orders No. 118, HQ 716th MP Battalion: SP/4 Ignacio Armenta, Jr.; SFC Thomas J. Evans; SP/4 Miles E. Gilbert; SP/4 Rich Titus, Jr. SP/4 William R. White.

17 June PFC Barry Ronald Walker, age 20 of Chicago, Illinois died as a result of non-hostile accidental drowning in the Saigon River.

     PFC Walker had taken my place on what we referred to as harbor patrol. Our duties were to cruse the harbor in a 18' inboard, two MPs with three VN police officers (Canh Sats). He was working on the night shift and it was my understanding that he slipped and went over the side. It was said he had slung his M-14 over his back and that possibly contributed to his drowning. The VN worked 12 hour shifts and it was common for the VN to drop us off at a U.S. merchant ship for their shift change and we would find the galley and get some coffee or a meal and the next VN shift would pick us up. Exiting the inboard could get pretty interesting as we had our flack vests, canteen, and weapon with extra ammo to carry with us. SP/4 David R. Lilley, 615th MP Company, 1965-1966.

PFC Walker
   WANTED If you can provide a photograph of PFC Walker or any information on the circumstances of his death, please contact the History Project Manager via the Email Link at the top of this page.
September

September With the arrival of the 18th Military Police Brigade, to which all military police units not directly assigned to U.S. tactical commands were now subordinate, the 615th changed patches once again.

        Due to the number of units falling under the Brigade umbrella there was a shortage on available 18th Brigade patches. The Company solved the dilemma by hiring a local Vietnamese merchant to make up for the shortage.

        The 615th had a detachment of MP's in Bien Hoa as early as the fall of 1966, commanded by 1LT Tom O'Malley. They provided protection for one of the corps headquarters.

        Before the 615th left for Long Binh, it was reinforced by a volunteer platoon of infantryman commanded by, 1LT John McNamara (fall of 1966) who were originally slated for airborne units, In addition to this volunteer platoon 1LT McNamara also commanded a regular platoon. When the 615th left for Long Binh Post, the "airborne" volunteer platoon was disbanded.

        The third platoon leader in the Company was 1LT Bill McGuinness, who was a regular army officer and was assigned to the 615th after serving six months as an infantry officer with the 25th Infantry Division.

October

Reflections  SP/4 Ronald A. Steinke, 615th MP Company, 1966-1967.

16 December The 615th MP Company, minus their 3rd Platoon, was reassigned from the 716th MP Battalion located in the Saigon Military District, to the 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, located in III Corps Tactical Zone, Bien Hoa Provence, on Long Binh Post 22 miles to the northeast.

     The 3rd Platoon remained at Pershing Field Compound, Tan Son Nhut, attached to the 92nd Military Police Battalion and would not join up again with the company until 16 April 1967.

December

24-25 December Reflections of how the MP's of the 615th spent their Christmas Eve and Day.

Wish I Was Home With My Family   SP/4 Salvador "Sal" Molina, 615th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, August 1966 to August 1967.
Photograph Index
G1210
 SFC Jensen, SP/4 Dean M. Resch and unidentified MP.
G2038
 SP/4 Louis Fantauzzi.
G3282
 SP/4 Sterling Gordon, SP/4 Robinson and unidentified Sergeant in Saigon.
G3425
 PFC Bill Lamb at the Generals Quarters.
G3426
 Guard Mount for the Saigon Dock Security detail.
B0051
 PFC’s William Hetrick and George E. Looney, Jr. at Tent City, Saigon.
B0050
 PFC Fahey, 615th with three Can Sat's at the II Field Force HQ construction site.
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