At the start of the month Battalion HQ Detachment, its organic letter companies and the 615th MP Company were headquartered subordinate to the 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade in Long Binh Post in Bien Hoa Provence of III Corps Tactical Zone, South Vietnam.

Xuan Loc Convoy  Battalion S3 changed the Xuan Loc Convoy mission from a night back to a day operation because of increased enemy activity in the area. The change provided much more safety for the convoy vehicles and MP escorts.

USARV  0002 hours, MAJ Fred J. Villella of 89th MP Group, reported that 15 rounds of mortar fire hit around the USARV (United States Army Republic of Vietnam) HQ and are believed to have originated from the 720th Tactical Area of Responsibility. Long Binh Post Provost Marshals Office to investigate.

0115 hours, Long Binh Post Provost Marshals Office investigation revealed that the USARV HQ had been hit by canisters from 155mm illumination rounds, not enemy mortar rounds.

Cogido Barge Site  0130 hours, LTC Francis E. "Frank" Payne, Commanding Officer, 89th MP Group, notified this HQ’s that a fire fight was in progress 1,000 meters north of the Cogido Barge & Dock Site. The Battalion Reaction Force was called to assist elements of Company D, 87th Infantry (Rifle Security) of the 95th MP Battalion who were pinned down by enemy firing at the Cogido ammunition and fuel dock and barge site west of Long Binh Post.

0207 hours, Hospital Guards notified this office that an unidentified POW, #2054, admitted to Ward #1 at 1145 hours, 31 January, died from a gun shot wound to the head. The POW was pronounced dead at 0135 hours by CPT Fuller, 50th Medical Company.

0507 hours, the Long Binh Post Provost Marshals Office advised that 2nd Field Forces and the 90th Replacement Battalion are on “Red Alert” due to a mortar attack.

0515 hours, “Mississippi 26” reported that Honor Smith Compound and the 3rd Corps RVN area were also under enemy fire.

0530 hours, “Mississippi 26” reported that hostile fire on Bien Hoa had ceased.

0552 hours, “Wicked 77” found a lost .45 caliber pistol near the starting point.

615th MP Company 0630 hours, SGT Braswell, NCOIC (Noncommissioned Officer In Charge) of the Tan An Detachment, 615th MP Company, reported that at 1045 hours, 31 January, PFC Paul Chasten was admitted to the 9th Medical Hospital for illness and was expected to stay for 2-3 days.

0632 hours, SGT Michael J. Maratea, [A Company] Hospital Guards, reported that a VC, POW, name unknown #2079 was admitted to Ward #1, 50th medical Company at 0310 hours this date. He was captured in Bien Hoa with leg injuries.

0730 hours, SGT Michael J. Maratea, Hospital Guards, notified this office that POW, Na Mang Van #2049 expired at 0658 hours this date from multiple gun shot wounds. He was pronounced by CPT Schwarto, 50th Medical Company. POW count changed to 110.

0930 hours, CPL Jerry W. Denton [A Company], Hospital Guards, notified this office that 1 unidentified POW, #2080 was admitted to the 50th Medical Hospital at 0925 hours this date. POW count changed to 111.

1050 hours, CPT O’Brennan, Operations Officer, 90th Replacement Battalion, called this office and requested an Operation SHOTGUN escort from the 90th to Bien Hoa and return. The escort must be at the 90th at 1200 hours. Advised same this unit would furnish three armored gun jeeps with three man crews each, and full combat gear. 1SG Arthur J. Reese, C Company, notified.

615th MP Company 1110 hours, MAJ Anthony, Long Binh Post, contacted this office and requested escort vehicles at 1630 hours, from Gate #3 to Bien Hoa Air Base and return. Escorts will be for the 172nd Engineer Detachment which is on Priority Orders to depart Bien Hoa this date. The convoy will consist of 74 personnel and four 2&1/2 ton trucks. 1SG Richard A. Shields, 615th MP Company, notified and advised he can fill the mission.

1130 hours, At 11:30 AM, SGT Hefflinger, 89th MP Group, contacted this office and requested an escort for a resupply mission from Long Binh Post to Saigon at 1230 hours. The convoy will consist of one 2&1/2 ton truck to Saigon and two 2&1/2 ton trucks on the return. MAJ Davis, 89th MP Group, S-4 [Logistics], will accompany the convoy. CPT Paul R. Guimond, B Company, advised he would fill the commitment.

1225 hours, LTC Robert Reinke, Battalion Commander, requested one V100 with crew with four times the basic load of ammunition to report to the 89th MP Group at 1230 hours. 1SG Thomas M. Amii, A Company notified.

1245 hours, At 12:45 PM this office was notified by Long Binh Post Provost Marshals Office that Highway-15 is in “Condition Red.” There is a fire fight at the Train Compound (MACV Team 95, Bien Hoa). Operation SHOTGUN and SP/4 Denkers, 89th MP Group notified.

1250 hours, C Company's V100 placed on alert for move out, instructed to carry four times basic load of .30 caliber ammunition. 1LT Price, C Company notified.

1310 hours, CPL Denton, A Company, Hospital Guards, notified this office that POW’s, Phan Van Nghia #2081, and Nguyen Van Anh #2082, both captured by 4tn Battalion, 12th Infantry, 199th Light Infantry Brigade, were admitted to the 50th Medical Company at 1245 hours this date.

1500 hours, SGT Hefflinger, 89th MP Group, notified this office that 2nd Field Forces notified the 18th MP Brigade that enemy groups in the area are changing into civilian clothes to avoid capture, and to be sure we check all identification of all suspicious civilians.

1505 hours, CPL Jerry W. Denton, A Company, Hospital Guards, notified this office that 1 unidentified POW, #2804 was admitted to Ward #3, 50th Medical Company at 1430 hours. POW count changed to 113.

615th MP Company  1515 hours, SMG Buehler, 277 S&S, notified this office that his mission to meet up with convoy at Gate #3 is canceled because his flight at Bien Hoa Air Base will be tomorrow, and he will contact us then. 1SG Richard A. Shields, 615th MP Company notified.

1540 hours, CPL Jerry W. Denton, Hospital Guard, notified this office that two unidentified POW’s were admitted to the 50th Medical Company at 1530 hours, and are expected to expire. Their registration number are #2085 and #2086. POW count changed to 116.

Xuan Loc Detachment  Local villagers began fleeing their rural homes to the city warning of an imminent Viet Cong attack. 1550 hours, Viet Cong units attacked Xuan Loc, U.S. units arrived to reinforce the ARVN's and the VC assaults were repulsed.

615th MP Company  1645 hours, SGT Hefflinger, 89th MP Group, notified this office of a convoy from Class 1 Point [Ammunition], Long Binh Post, 506 Ammunitions Depot, to Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Camp Alpha [Billets for In/Out and R&R]. It consist of 4, S&T [Shipping and Transport] vehicles. One vehicle will be dropped at Camp Alpha, the other three at an unknown destination. Assigned to 615th MP Company on their way back to pickup at 1730 hours.

1700 hours, CPL Jerry W. Denton, Hospital Guards, notified this office that 2 PO’s, Nguyen Van Duong #2087 and one unidentified #2088, were admitted to 50th Medical at 1645 hours. POW count changed to 118.

   The 720th MP Battalion became the first MP unit in Vietnam under the 18th MP Brigade to be assigned its own Armored Personnel Carriers. The first 6 of 12 expected Armored Personnel Carriers [APC’s] were delivered to the 720th MP Battalion and were ready to be put into service by 2200 hours. Editors Note: See log entree, 1900 hours, Information, this date.

1940 hours, CPL Jerry W. Denton, Hospital Guards, notified this office that at 1850 hours POW’s, Thai Van Hong #2089, Huyett Van Tu #2090, unidentified #2091, and Dong Tu #2092, were admitted to the 50th Medical Company.

2000 hours, SGT Hefflinger, 89th MP Group, notified this office that we will have to commit to a convoy escort from the 7th Battalion T. C. Hill [Transportation Company Hill], home of the 48th Transport Group [Long Binh Post] to Gate #1 at the Newport Bridge. Vehicles 15-M-52, 5 ton wood SP [fifteen, M-52 Supply and Transport Trucks - wooden bodies or trailers that weigh 5 tons]. Six A Company jeeps, nine men from C Company, and nine men from B Company

2015 hours, CPL Jerry W. Denton, Hospital Guards, notified this office that POW, Le Toan #2093, was admitted at 50th Medical Company.

2120 hours, CPL Jerry W. Denton, Hospital Guards, notified this office that the new Ward #6 is now open. There are 20 POW’s in the ward, a new count of all wards will be submitted later.

2127 hours, SGT Orvis, 48th Transportation Group Operations, notified this office that there will be no Tay Ninh Convoy on 2 February 1968. CPT Steven Vass, Jr., Battalion Operations, and B Company notified.

2215 hours, SFC Janss, 89th MP Group Operations, notified this office that two platoons of Viet Cong were reported to be in the area of Grid Coordinates [map location] YT 0207.

2231 Hours, SFC Janss, 89th MP Group Operations, notified this office that we are now on “Yellow” alert status. CPT Perry, A ,B ,C, HQ Detachment, BOQ [Bachelor Officers Quarters], and 615th MP Company notified.

2310 hours, all Battalion units reported all men were present and accounted for.

2345 hours, SFC Janss, 89th MP Group Operations, notified this office that we are now on “Gray” alert status.

POW Status 24th Evacuation Hospital, 29 POW’s. 50th Medical Company, POW’s by Wards, #1-10, #2-8, #3-11, #4-19, #5-6, #7-20, #8-20.

2400 hours, Log Closed.

Xuan Loc Detachment 0130 hours, The Viet Cong reinitiated four new attacks on Xuan Loc City and ARVN bases.

0505 hours, SGT Jones, 89th MP Group requested two gun jeeps to escort COL Durue to Newport Bridge at 0600 hours. B Company notified.

0625 hours, received a report from Long Binh Post Provost Marshals Office that the road conditions were “Red” [Enemy Activity], on Highway 1A, 15, and 317. No vehicles will be allowed to leave Long Binh Post. All units were notified.

0640 hours, notified by Hospital Guard Detail, 50th Medical Company, that POW Mai Van Quang #2094, an NVA Private, 1st. Battalion, 4th Regiment, 5th NVA Division, was captured at Bien Hoa Air Base by A Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry, and was admitted to Ward #3 at 0615 hours for gunshot wound in ankle, condition good.

0700 hours, the Tay Ninh Convoy, B Company, departed Long Binh Post.

0905 hours, CPT Wilder, 2nd Field Forces, Provost Marshals Office, notified this office to have POW, Le Van Thiet moved from Bear Cat Base, 9th Infantry Division, to II Corps POW Cage.

0915 hours, CPL Jerry W. Denton, Hospital Guards, notified this office that 2 POW’s, #2095 and #2096, were admitted to the 50th Medical Company at 0840 hours this date.

1100 hours, CPL Jerry W. Denton, Hospital Guards, notified this office that two POW’s captured by the 4/12th, 199th Light Infantry Brigade were admitted to the 50th Medical Company, their registration numbers are, #2099 and #2100. CPL Denton also stated that he has two female detainees there that are not wounded and the hospital personnel want them moved out. They were brought in by the 101st Airborne Division MP’s. POW count changed to 128, SFC Roger F. Ruggles, Battalion Operations NCO will notify 101st MP’s to pick up the female detainees.

1230 hours, CPL Jerry W. Denton, Hospital Guard, informed this office that one POW, #2101, was admitted to the 50th Medical Company at 1140 hours. POW count changed to 129.

1355 hours, CPL Jerry W. Denton, Hospital Guards, notified this office that a female POW, Nguyen Thi Houng #9303, who is NVA, was admitted to Ward #12, 24th Evacuation Hospital at 1335 hours. POW count changed to 130.

615th MP Company  1530 hours, SFC Roger F. Ruggles Battalion Operations, contacted Gate #3, 9th Infantry Division for a report on the Xuan Loc Convoy. Gate #3 informed him there would be no convoy tonight. 615th MP Company notified.

1605 hours, CPL Jerry W. Denton, Hospital Guards, notified this office that 2 POW’s, #2104 and #2105, were admitted to the 50th Medical Company at 1545 hours.

1630 hours, SFC Richard DeHart, B Company, reported for duty as Staff Duty Noncommissioned Officer.

1700 hours, CPL Jerry W. Denton reported 2 additional POW’s, were admitted to the 50th Medical Company, Nguyen Van Vien #2109, and Phan Van Than #2108. They were captured by B Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry, and A Company, 2nd Battalion 506th Infantry, respectively.

1730 hours, the POW count was sent to SP/4 Denkers, 89th MP Group Operations, total of 132.

1915 hours, Hospital Guards, notified this office that 2 POW’s, both VC, unidentified #2113, and Ngo Van Pjung #2114, captured by B Company, 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, were admitted to the 50th Medical Company.

1930 hours, The 95th MP Battalion requested an escort for one 2&1/2 ton truck of RFPF (Regional Forces Popular Forces), from Cogido to Duc Tu. C Company notified.

2025 hours, B Company was requested to provide a three gun-jeep escort for the Popular Forces from Duc To to Cogido. Departure time at 2130 hours.

615th MP Company  2030 hours, the 615th MP Company was assigned to provide a three gun-jeep escort for trucks from the 3rd Ordinance Ammunition Depot to Bien Hoa Air Base. Escort to depart Long Binh Post at 2130 hours.

2040 hours, the 1930 hours request for C Company escorts for PF’s from Cogido to Duc Tu was canceled by CPT Steven Vass, Jr., Battalion Operations.

615th MP Company  2045 hours, the 615th was requested to assign four gun-jeeps and eight men for Long Binh Post gate security.

615th MP Company, Tan An Detachment  2125 hours, the 615th MP Company, Charge of Quarters, reported a negative Sit-Rep [situation report] for the Tan An Detachment.

2130 hours, Three armored gun-jeeps and one Armored Personnel Carrier were assigned from C Company to the Operation SHOTGUN escort scheduled to depart Long Binh Post at 2145 hours.

2210 hours, CPT Childs contacted this office and canceled the Operation SHOTGUN escort. C Company notified.

     Informed by the Desk Sergeant of the Long Binh Post, Provost Marshals Office that an A Company jeep, A-23, ran into a barrier in the 208th area, denting a fender and breaking a head light. No injuries were reported, no Serious Incident Report needed.

     The following personnel of the 615th MP Company were lightly wounded during the day and required no hospitalization: SGT’s Donald R. Deliecese and Thomas E. Fink, Jr., and PFC’s Alan J. Harrell and Ronnie I. McMeekin.

Editors Note: There was no information listed in available records as to the time, place or circumstances of the actions in which the members of the 615th were involved. If you can provide any information, please contact the History Project Manager via he Email Link at the top of this page.

2400 hours, Log Closed.

     Their returning convoy crossed the bridge over the Saigon River to the south side and turned left [east] into the convoy holding area of the U.S. Army Newport Terminal and Docks Complex just outside the main gate. As they waited for the previous serial of trucks that were being loaded for the last escort run of the night back to Long Binh Post, the VC mortars started falling immediately followed by the ground attack of small arms and automatic weapons fire on the RF/PF compound directly across the roadway from their location.

     SSG Maratea immediately notified their OVERTAKE headquarters of the attack, and ordered the gun-jeeps to scatter and take up positions along the roadway to defend against a possible ground assault on the convoy holding yard and main gate of the terminal.

     A relief force of the 1st Battalion, 5th ARVN Cavalry Squadron arrived and counterattacked the Viet Cong positions recapturing the bridge deck and ending the attack. After the battle eleven Viet Cong bodies were found on the bridge deck, and additional enemy bodies were also recovered from the approaches.

     The Overtake escort gun-jeeps were ordered to remain at the terminal holding yard until proper damage assessment of the bridge deck could be conducted in daylight. The bridge main structure was still intact and only one section of deck on the north bound lane was collapsed.

     The remaining escort run was canceled for the day and the Overtake Night escort unit was released to return back to Long Binh Post.

212th MP Company (Sentry Dog) At approximately 0300 hours an attempted penetration of the 3rd Ordnance Ammunition Supply Depot was perpetuated by a Viet Cong sapper team. The attack was preceded by sniper fire received in several places around the depot plus a rocket and mortar attack. The enemy was hiding around an unused power line pylon and blew the first of three strands of triple concertina wire with bangalore torpedoes. Elements of D Company, 87th Infantry (Rifle Security) manning Tower #15, which was the object of the attack on the Southeast corner of the depot, called for helicopter gunship's and reaction forces.

     A withering field of fire was put out by the personnel in tower #15 temporarily delayed the enemy's breach attempt. As reaction forces and an Armored Personnel Carrier mounting a .50 caliber machine gun were deployed, the enemy partially blew the center strand of wire but was forced back before they could take advantage of it. By this time helicopter gunship's were in the area and proceeded to engage the enemy with rockets and machine guns. The enemy then broke contact and withdrew.

     At dawn three enemy bodies were discovered and one prisoner was captured who was severely wounded. The enemy left two individual and three crew served weapons plus numerous other articles, medical supplies, rice, clothing, and ammunition. A sweep conducted later that morning showed that the enemy had withdrawn to the east and many blood trails were observed leading away through the jungle.

     The 122mm Katyusha rocket attack that preceded the attempted penetration caused considerable damage. Pad I-8 containing demolition materials received a direct hit and exploded with a tremendous concussion. Many fires were started and several other pads started burning. Pad G-7 exploded approximately an hour and a half following the initial attack and caused considerable damage to two fire fighting vehicles, a fork lift, and the enlisted club. A total of seven pads were destroyed. Pad G-4 $236,324.97, Pad I-8   $163,124.22, Pad F-5  $326,030.99, Pad G-5  $869,156.88, Pad F-4  $400,535.10, Pad G-6  $412,517.04, Pad G-7  $366,692.54.

     As action subsided from the second wave of attacks ordered by COSVN for the 17th & 18th, it was clear that the enemy lacked the strength to mount serious new attacks against the key areas in III CTZ. The essential defensive battle of TET around Long Binh Post was over.

     CPT Maurice T. Fitzgerald former platoon leader of the 615th MP Company, assumed duties as the new Battalion Intelligence and Security Officer (S2).

     From 29 Jan through 19 February: U.S. forces lost 453 killed and 3,625 wounded. ARVN (III Corps) lost 471 killed and 1290 wounded. Australian, New Zealand and Thailand forces lost 20 killed and 83 wounded. No US/FWF/ARVN maneuver units from company size were destroyed or rendered combat ineffective during the offensive. VC/NVA forces lost 12,614 killed, 864 personnel and 3,089 weapons captured in the offensive.

     Captured documents as well as interrogations of POWs and ralliers, clearly indicate that the enemy undertook the Tet Offensive for the purpose of capturing and holding key installations in Saigon as well as provincial capitals’ and for the subsidiary purpose of overrunning key RVN and U.S. military headquarters and airbases, i.e., Ill Corps HQ, II Field Forces HQ, Bien Hoa and Tan Son Nhut Airfield. Had the offensive succeeded, the VC intended to establish a revolutionary government or at least be in a position of strength from which to call for peace negotiations on their terms.

Operation OVERTAKE  0154 hours, the VC ambushed a small Operation OVERTAKE Night convoy of U.S. civilian contractor vehicles with multiple RPG fire damaging four of them. Three of the trucks belonged to Equipment Incorporated and one to Philco Ford. The convoy sustained four casualties, three civilian contractor employees were wounded and one U.S. soldier was killed.

Personal Reflections

     “The one U.S. solider that was killed was John Wade Kinney SP/4 of the 1st Logistics Command (Long Binh Post). I never new him personally because they pulled troops from where-ever to fill the truck diving that the Vietnamese civilians refused to do because of too many ambushes.

     My trucks brakes failed at the checkpoint, and we were second in line. Rather than hold up the convoy, the rest of the trucks went around and ahead of us. If it was not for brake failure, who knows, I might not be alive today.

     The sky on the ride ahead up Highway-1A lit up, and the sound of the explosions was heard. I prayed, as the MPs and I rode down the valley of shadow of death with our lights off, and only a half moon to see with. I thought that we were all dead men when we got to the ambush site. Several trucks were off the road to the right, and had steam pouring out of their radiator. As I pulled one man out of a truck, my hand entered his stomach and the feeling from the warm blood made me vomit. I never new a lifeless body could be so difficult to move. The Dust-Off came in, and now you know the rest of the story.”   SP/4 Michael A. Pesuit, 1st Logistical Command, Long Binh Post, 1967-1968. 

Personal Reflections

     “Today about 1 o'clock we got called out because someone spotted some VC in our area [Battalion TAOR]. We went down there but couldn’t find anything, so they called us back in. On the way back we were riding in an APC (armored personnel carrier) it looks like a tank, and we ran over a mine that the VC had had planted in the road. It blew up and did considerable damage to the APC. There were 8 of us inside of it at the time. However, no one was hurt very seriously.

     The worst was a concussion that one fellow got. All the rest of us got some bumps and bruises. After the mine went off we moved out of the vehicle in a hurry because everyone was afraid it might catch on fire. After that we started a sweep of the area but didn’t find anyone in the vicinity. After that they sent out another vehicle to pick us up and brought us in.”   Edited from a letter home of SP/4 James H. Ahlfeld, A Company, 1967-1968.

TAOR The first boats obtained to start the River Patrol Unit were replaced with six sleeker Boston Whalers, called "Skimmers,” and the older 25 and 55 hp outboards were upgraded to newer 85 hp. Johnson’s.

Stateside  Walter Cronkite’s report on the CBS Evening News program, Who, What, When, Why on 27 February 1968, is believed to be a major reason the majority of the American public changed their opinion from support of the Vietnam War, to it’s opposition. He interpreted the Tet Offensive as a Viet Cong victory instead of the crushing loss it was. Link includes wav. audio > We Are Mired In Stalemate

     At the time, Cronkite was considered by the American public as the “most respected and influential newsman in America.”

     Battalion strength for the month was 603 personnel (organic units), and 218 for the 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog).