720th
Running The Phuoc Vinh Convoy ~ 1970
~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association ~ Vietnam History Project ~
This Page Last Updated  8 October 2010
18th Bde.
        In 1970 most of the C Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, M133 Armored Personnel Carriers ("Tracks"), had two 50cal Machine guns mounted as their primary weapons. We usually mounted the second 50 cal. on the right side, it was thought that if you took fire you angled the track so both 50's could engage the enemy. An M60, 7.62mm Machine gun was mounted on the left side. The track carried at least 5,000 rounds or more of 50 caliber ammunition in cans on the floor of the the track, along with approximately 5,000 rounds of 7.62mm for the M60 and, 5.56mm for our M16 Rifles. We also carried several M72, 66mm LAW's (Light Anti-armor Weapon), and an M79, 40mm Grenade Launcher ("Thumper").
        We would  meet the 48th Transportation Group transport units at the staging area on "TC Hill" early in the morning with at least 4 Tracks, more if it was it was going to be a very large convoy. I would meet with the Transportation Unit OIC (Officer In Charge) and let him know what my plans were for the convoy.
        My Track, "Lay Lady Lay," would take the lead position and the other Tracks would be positioned though out the convoy depending on how many trucks there were. One Track would be designated as the "Trail" (last vehicle in line), and the "trail-trail," who was assigned to stay with any vehicles that broke down to provide security until they could be repaired or towed. The transportation company usually had a couple of gun jeeps and I would place at least one, with the "trail-trail" Track to help with the security.

         The transportation unit OIC would follow my lead Track, they ate a lot of our dust.  I wish I could recall the call-signs but other than the trail and trail-trail I can't recall them now. Once I was challenged by a Major or Captain of the transportation unit as to where the MP escort vehicles were to be placed. I politely informed him it was my way, or the highway by himself. The Operational Orders (Op-Ord) from our company commander (CO) was... If it doesn't go your way then just return to base. I never had to pull out, they always seemed to see it our way especially when they thought they would be delaying the start time and going by themselves without our added escort security vehicles. Thankfully so, I never  did have  to find out just how the  CO would back me up.
 
         About half way to Phuoc Vinh we would pick up the added security of an M48 Patton Tank from an armored unit along the way. The tank would take the lead, it was where the pavement ended and dirt roadway began. I usually let the tank get about 500 meters ahead of us and instruct my driver to follow in his tracks as best he could. I went though several drivers, most were short-timers and I didn't have the luxury of them staying long before their tours ended. During the first few runs with a new driver I carried a long bamboo stick with a spent 50cal shell casing taped  on the end. When the new driver started to swerve to the sides of the road to miss some of the holes and bumps, I would beat on the top of his helmet with the stick and inform him that the Viet Cong (VC) liked to plant the mines in the soft dirt on the roadway shoulders by the pot holes. After a few taps on the helmet they got the message and stayed in the center regardless of the road conditions.  During the course of my convoy runs none of the vehicles under our escort assignment were ever damaged by land mines. However, we did pass other vehicles, including the remains of Vietnamese civilian buses on the sides of the road.
 
         The Phuoc Vinh escort was a one day run during good weather and road conditions. I think it was about 110 miles or so from Long Binh. The ride on a track for that many hours straight shook you up quite a bit, hence the name of my second Track "Good Vibrations." By the time we returned we were often so worn out we were barely able to dismount the Track weapons, clean them, and get shower before we crashed for the night.

        At about 20 miles out from Long Binh on the return trip, a relatively safe area, I would inform my gunner it was time for him to switch to his bartender duties. The gunner's added responsibility in the morning before departure to the staging area was to go to the mess hall and fill up a cooler with ice and beer. That way we could all have several cold ones just short of the end of the trip. Man that beer tasted good, even if you had to settle for that Black Label (Carlings) brand that they made us buy with every 2 cases of Budweiser or other good beer. Unfortunately for them, sometimes the crew of the trail-trail vehicle got in real late due to a number of cargo vehicle break downs.  SGT Ralph C. Saunders, C Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, 1969-1970.
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