History of the 720th Military Police Battalion Book II: Volume 2

The story of the three—year history of a traditional Army—level Military Police battalion assigned the previously unheard of mission responsibility of light infantry counterinsurgency warfare in South Vietnam. This was the first time in the history of the United States Armed Forces that a military police battalion was tasked with such a mission and placed in direct operation control of a Tactical Area Of Responsibility (TAOR) and authority for the direct control of infantry, air, armor, and artillery elements when called upon for support. At the time there was no precedent for it.

Long Binh Post was the new home for the USARV Headquarters complex, and a dedicated proactive U.S. unit was needed to deny the enemy access to its traditional southern approach routes to Bien Hoa and eliminate their close-­in strike capability of Long Binh Post and USARV.

USARV tasked the mission to the 18th Military Police Brigade, and they assigned it to the 89th Military Police Group’s go—to battalion, the 720th.

Follow the exploits of the Battalion’s Village Outpost’s Liaison staff, River Patrol, Ambush & Reconnaissance, and Civic Action patrols as they first clear, pacify, and defend the four villages within the 22 square mile area within the III Corps Tactical Zone of Bien Hoa Province, South Vietnam.

You will see the big picture of how the blood, sweat, tears, and toils of the Soldiers Of The Gauntlet affected the overall war effort and contributed to the Military Police Corps finally being recognized by the Department of the Army as a Combat Support-­Service branch of the U.S. Army.

Their ability to quickly adapt and improvise to their new and unique infantry mission in the villages, jungles, and rice paddies, and on the roadways and back rivers of the TAOR showed that they not only fulfilled their primary security mission along the southern border of Long Binh Post, but also returned the area to the control of the local government and people.

If you are a battalion 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.