Chapter 2: Unit Assignment

New Guys Arrive "In-Country"

Landing in Bien Hoa marked the beginning of a year-long journey into a world vastly different from the one I had known in the United States. The sensory onslaught was immediate, an unmistakable message to us, the new arrivals, aptly nicknamed FNGs (F***ing New Guys), that we were no longer in familiar territory.

The tropical heat clung to our skin, contrasting sharply with the temperate comforts of home. The air was thick with distinct smells, a mélange of exotic aromas that permeated our senses. The noise was incessant, a cacophony of horns, engines, and the bustle of a densely populated world where trucks, motorbikes, and multi-passenger Lambrettas weaved through chaotic traffic. It was a land where traffic rules seemed nonexistent, and the Vietnamese navigated the maze with a nonchalant grace that baffled us newcomers.

Amidst this sensory whirlwind, we, a group of FNGs, were transported by Army bus from Bien Hoa to Long Binh. It was a glimpse into the challenges that lay ahead. Our duty assignment would involve managing convoys through this treacherous path, a task that required nerves of steel and adaptability.

One striking realization was the difficulty in distinguishing friend from foe in this unfamiliar landscape. Vigilance was paramount; any position could potentially harbor threats. The short, 5-kilometer journey from Bien Hoa to Long Binh felt interminable, a harrowing ride through the unknown.

Upon reaching the main gates of Long Binh, we were directed to battalion headquarters to learn our company assignments. At that time, the 720th MP Battalion consisted of three functional MP companies, along with a Headquarters Company. Our fate lay in the hands of this assignment.

Company A, known for Operation Overtake the Darkness, was tasked with conducting nightly convoy and road security operations between 5:00 PM and 7:00 AM along the main highway connecting Long Binh and Saigon. This duty overlapped with the period when civilian transportation was limited due to security concerns during the night. Two convoys, one in each direction, ran every hour, ensuring essential logistics support and transport activities continued through the night.

The convoys comprised trucks laden with supplies from the port of Saigon (also known as Newport), headed north to Long Binh, while empty trucks made their southbound journey for reloading at Newport, the busy Saigon port. Each convoy included four vehicles, with two gun jeeps interspersed within the convoy for security, and one stationed at the lead to control the convoy's speed. At the rear of the convoy, an imposing V-100, a heavily armored troop carrier, provided additional protection.

Company A's mission was clear: starting at 5:00 PM, we ran 30 convoys every night, split evenly between northbound and southbound routes. Little did we know at the time, but many of the trucks in those convoys transported barrels of Agent Orange to Bien Hoa, destined for use by Operation Ranch Hand in the defoliation of the infamous Iron Triangle.

Company B, on the other hand, had an entirely different role. Structured as an infantry unit, they were responsible for maintaining ground security around the vast Long Binh post and along the Dong Nai River. They operated as ground troops, seeking out and neutralizing potential enemy threats near the post. Long Binh, the largest military post in Vietnam, served as the nerve center of the U.S. Army Republic of Vietnam (USARV) command.

Company C's duty was to handle longer convoy runs, transporting supplies to firebases and camps throughout the III Corps region. Their missions were similar to Company A but entailed full-day journeys to locations like Cu Chi, Tay Ninh, Song Be, and even close to the Cambodian border, where NVA (North Vietnamese Army) activity was more pronounced along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. These areas, too, were subjected to heavy Agent Orange spraying to keep the roads clear.

Upon arrival in Long Binh, I found myself assigned to Company A. It marked the beginning of my journey into the world of nightly convoys and road security, an assignment that would expose me to Agent Orange in ways I could never have anticipated.

As we continue my story, the next section will delve deeper into my experiences working the overnight convoys and reveal the daily challenges and health risks associated with exposure to Agent Orange.