History of the 720th Military Police Battalion Book II: Volume I

Follow the new generation of Soldiers of the Gauntlet who came of age during the turbulent and divisive years of the 1960s and ’70s during their preparation, deployment, and service in South Vietnam.

Using official records and the personal accounts of battalion veterans of all ranks and ages, it takes you on a chronological tour from their first day in-country until their last.

Learn of the history of the Vietnamese people, its military, civil police, and the ever-elusive enemy, the Allies, subordinate units, geography, and areas of operation.

In South Vietnam, the tactical approach to war changed drastically with the new concept of the nonlinear battlefield. The Military Police took the initiative and through its speed and mobility, the tenacity and bravery of its troops, it quickly learned to adapt to the new style of counter- insurgency hit-and-run guerilla warfare by an always-elusive enemy.

Follow their combat support missions, convoy escorts, discipline-law-and-order duties, and POW security and transport missions that made the 720th the workhorse go-to Battalion of the 89th MP Group in III and IV Corps Tactical Zones.

A separate chapter is also dedicated to their dangerous and unique Operation OVERTAKE mission of day and night convoy escorts along Rocket Alley of Highway-1A between Long Binh and the Newport Docks.

You will finally see the big picture of how the blood, sweat, tears, and toils of the Soldiers of the Gauntlet and their subordinate units affected the overall war effort.

Learn how the military police of the Vietnam era were rewarded for their efforts when the Military Police Corps was finally designated by the Department of the Army as a combat support as well as service branch.

The lessons learned by the MPs in the cities and villages, jungles and rice paddies, and on the roadways and rivers of South Vietnam, were the building blocks used for the foundation of today’s Military Police Corps.

Regardless of unit, if you are a Military Police veteran of the Vietnam era, it will finally provide you and the Military Police Corps with a clear and concise documentation of a history of service to be proud of.