It was first light of what appeared to be just another hot dry day and I was not looking forward to having to deal with the Popular Forces (PF) troops after the previous nights incident. I usually started my morning off with a few cups of hot instant coffee and a cigarette while walking around the compound. I have always hated being confined indoors and after a night sleeping in the musty tower, watching the sun rise helped to recharging my batteries.

   As I sat on the sandbag wall I could hear the sound of vehicles coming towards the outpost from the direction of Highway 317. Within minutes a convoy of three jeeps and a 3/4 ton truck arrived at the outpost. To both my surprise, and relief, I discovered it was SFC Richard L. DeHart "The Sarge," accompanied by an ARVN Second Lieutenant and several ARVN MPs (Quan Can).

   SFC DeHart smiled as he introduced the ARVN Lieutenant as the PF liaison officer from their headquarters in Bien Hoa. The thought came to mind that the cavalry had just come to the rescue!

   Vietnamese people are not renowned for their height so to see an ARVN Lieutenant that was 5' tall and at best weighing 98 pounds was not unusual. However this one impressed me with his bearing, riding crop, freshly pressed and starched uniform. He looked sharp. The Lieutenant's aide immediately called for a formation of the PF's. Even those PF's that were off duty in the village were summoned to the outpost. While waiting for the PF's to get their formation together I watched as the Lieutenant and SFC DeHart chatted. He appeared to be very friendly and had a continuous smile on his face, except every time he had to turn around and address the senior PF who evidently, was caught off guard by the visit.

   As soon as the PF Platoon assembled their formation, the Lieutenant called for, by name, the PF who took the slap flares. When the PF spoke up, the Lieutenant had him arrested by the two ARVN MPs. He was taken out of the outpost in handcuffs and put into the back of the 3/4 ton truck.

   The Lieutenant then confronted the PF Platoon Sergeant who looked as he always did, unkempt and disheveled, with one new expression, scared shitless. He was then informed that he would suffer the same fate with a transfer to an ARVN Infantry line unit if his uncooperative attitude continued. The Lieutenant wasn't a man of many words, and it didn't take many for the local PF's to get the picture when they saw their companion carted away in hand cuffs.

   As soon as the ass chewing was finished the Lieutenant briefly conferred with SFC DeHart who I could see from the smile on his face, was very satisfied with the outcome. What happened next was even more surprising than the quick response received from SFC DeHart to my distress call the day before. Before leaving the compound the ARVN Lieutenant personally apologized to me for the problem created by the PF's. I thanked him, shook his hand and saluted smartly.

   All this occurred in front of the formation and a crowd of local villagers who openly displayed their approval of the results by applauding.

   SFC DeHart stayed for several minutes after the ARVN vehicles departed and we talked. He said the Lieutenant was a very personal friend of his and this wasn't just an act being put on to make us happy. After this display, I had no doubt that whatever SFC DeHart said was as good as gold. The Journal of CPL Thomas T. Watson, B Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, March 1968 to March 1969.