~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association Vietnam History Project ~
Operation CONDOR-II
20 July-15 August

   C Company, 720th MP Battalion was assigned the responsibility of organizing, supervising and providing security for the movement of half of the Royal Thai Army, Black Panther Division, from the Newport Army Terminal Docks, Saigon, to the new home they would share with the U.S. 9th Infantry Division at the Bearcat base.

   The operation called for complex control and timing on a large scale. And, as if that wasn’t already a great enough challenge for C Company, the entire operation was conducted under the microscope of the top brass at USARV Headquarters, as well as the national and world press because it involved the arrival and movement of a large military force from another Southeastern Asian country into the theater of operations for the first time. Any mistakes or enemy incidents would have resulted in serious international political repercussions.
   The operation also required close coordination of the movement and security of troops and materials from U.S. Navy troop ships docked at a point south of Cat Lai on the Dong Nai River, to the Newport Docks on the Saigon River before they could convoy to Bearcat. This part of the security was conducted by the PBR's of the 458th US Army Transportation Company (PBR), 18th MP Brigade, MPs who guarded the ships and provided security on the rivers.

   The 9th Infantry Division provided combat clearing operations along the 40 mile long land route from the docks to their Bearcat base camp.

   C Company provided the roadrunner highway clearing as well as all the needed traffic and convoy security escorts. The operation lasted for 27 days and involved 21 separate movements of 6,000 men, and 947 transport vehicles without a single accident or incident.

   In the words of 1LT Joseph G. Smith of C Company, "It was a faultless, clockwork operation. These convoys were almost perfect, because of the experience and equipment these men have."
   WANTED: Information, personal stories and photographs of this convoy escort regardless of unit and MOS. Please contact the History Project Manager via the Email Link at the top of this page.
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