Post by Anonymous Vet on Dec 21, 2002 14:06:40 GMT -5
"MP" to most soldiers rings the bell of road guard, traffic cop and DR giver-outer. This impression is far from the truth in the daily activities of combat military policemen of the Americal Division's 198th Infantry Brigade who patrol Viet Cong infested rivers and roadways north and south of here.
Whether patrolling the rivers in 16-foot Boston Whalers or cruising the highways in gun-jeeps, the 198th MP's are combat geared for action and have fought their way through numerous enemy engagements.
The major missions of the 40-man MP force are patrolling two major river complexes (An Tan and Tra Bong) and Highway One from Tam Ky to Binh Son. "We stop the flow of U.S. materials and black market goods going to the VC," said Spec.4 Jerry D. Lear. Lear, who has been patrolling the network of waterways north and south of Chu Lai for six months, said that combat MP's have a more challenging role. "Here there's a job to do. Back in the States we were a lot of spit and polish, but over here we're in combat," Lear said. A young MP, Lear has not issued a single DR since he's been in Vietnam. Instead he sports a steel helmet that has a large dent in it a dent that came from an enemy AK-47 round during a firefight on the Tra Bong River. To patrol the miles of wandering rivers north and south of here the
combat policemen use 16-foot Boston Whalers outfitted with 80 and 85 horsepower motors and M-60 machine guns. Dubbed the "River Rats," the 198th MPs man an outpost on each of the two rivers and patrol the water 24 hours a day. During the hours of darkness the "River Rates" set up floating ambushes to catch unwary Viet Cong sampans.
"We use two boats on a patrol," Lear said. "The first boat stops the sampans and junks while the second boat lags a short distance behind for security. Our boats are the fastest ones on the river."
A Vietnamese National Policeman from district-headquarters accompanies the roving water patrols and checks identification car and picks up Vietnamese draft dodgers. "Security is the most important thing during the river patrols," said Pfc. Kenneth C. Irvin. Irvin, who rides machine-gunner in the security boat during patrolling, said, "It's a lot of different situations -- the Vietnamese, the soldiers, and even the VC. You have to be aware and alert at all times.
The Army Reporter 12 October 1968
Whether patrolling the rivers in 16-foot Boston Whalers or cruising the highways in gun-jeeps, the 198th MP's are combat geared for action and have fought their way through numerous enemy engagements.
The major missions of the 40-man MP force are patrolling two major river complexes (An Tan and Tra Bong) and Highway One from Tam Ky to Binh Son. "We stop the flow of U.S. materials and black market goods going to the VC," said Spec.4 Jerry D. Lear. Lear, who has been patrolling the network of waterways north and south of Chu Lai for six months, said that combat MP's have a more challenging role. "Here there's a job to do. Back in the States we were a lot of spit and polish, but over here we're in combat," Lear said. A young MP, Lear has not issued a single DR since he's been in Vietnam. Instead he sports a steel helmet that has a large dent in it a dent that came from an enemy AK-47 round during a firefight on the Tra Bong River. To patrol the miles of wandering rivers north and south of here the
combat policemen use 16-foot Boston Whalers outfitted with 80 and 85 horsepower motors and M-60 machine guns. Dubbed the "River Rats," the 198th MPs man an outpost on each of the two rivers and patrol the water 24 hours a day. During the hours of darkness the "River Rates" set up floating ambushes to catch unwary Viet Cong sampans.
"We use two boats on a patrol," Lear said. "The first boat stops the sampans and junks while the second boat lags a short distance behind for security. Our boats are the fastest ones on the river."
A Vietnamese National Policeman from district-headquarters accompanies the roving water patrols and checks identification car and picks up Vietnamese draft dodgers. "Security is the most important thing during the river patrols," said Pfc. Kenneth C. Irvin. Irvin, who rides machine-gunner in the security boat during patrolling, said, "It's a lot of different situations -- the Vietnamese, the soldiers, and even the VC. You have to be aware and alert at all times.
The Army Reporter 12 October 1968