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1 February 1968 At 1700 hours [5:00 PM], The 720th MP Battalion received the first 6 of 12 expected Armored Personnel Carriers (APC's).

1900 hours [7:00pm] 18th MP Brigade Headquarters telephoned Battalion Operations (S3) and informed them that they had only one instructor for APC's and that they should set up classes as soon as possible because the instructor was due to leave.

        Since the MPs lacked experience on the operation and maintenance of the new tracked vehicles they had to use their initiative and in some cases improvise.

SP/4 Phillip B. Lutz of C Company, who had four months experience operating V100 Commando Cars picked up pointers from an NCO at the Battalion Motor Pool. He in turn taught SP/4 Milton Johnson, also of C Company.

SP/4 Leroy A. Hayes of A Company, used his civilian experience in operating a caterpillar tractor and instructed SP/4 George Gillespie, also of A Company.

SP/4 Wesley J. Busman of A Company, used his previous six months of experience with the 1st Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas.

        That solved the basic operational aspect, maintenance was another problem. At the time the first APC's were delivered to the Battalion they had no trained mechanics or parts on hand to repair the newly received tracked vehicles.