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HISTORY
OF
31st Security Police Squadron
1 JULY 1968 - 30 SEPTEMBER 1968
ASSIGNED TO:
31st TACTICAL FIGHTER WING, 7th AIR FORCE, PACAF, USAF
STATIONED AT:
TUY HOA AIR BASE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
---/Signed/--- ---/Signed/---
WENDELL R. WARDELL, 1st Lt, USAF JOHN B. WELCH JR, Lt. Colonel, USAF
Historian Commander
MISSIONS
The primary mission of the 31st Security Police Squadron is to provide perimeter and internal security protection against clandestine or over attack, sabotage, or the disclosure of military information. The 31st Security Police Squadron also enforces law and order, maintains Air Force standards of conduct and discipline, and supports all units by providing logistical, photographic, and identification media services.
PERSONNEL
STATUS
| OFFICERS
| AIRMEN
| CIVILIANS
| TOTAL
|
ASSIGNED
| 6
| 363
| 14
| 383
|
AUTHORIZED
| 7
| 395
| 14
| 416
|
ATTACHED
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
|
EQUIPMENT
| WEAPONS:
| | | |
| M16
| *608
| .50 Cal
| 7
|
| M16a
| 52
| .38 Cal
| 165
|
| M60
| 61
| **
| 51
|
| M-12
| 11
| M-72
| 29
|
| M-79
| 6
| 90MM
| |
| | | | |
| RADIOS:
| | | |
| Main Stations:
| 2
| MT 200:
| 142
|
| Remote Stations:
| 3
| PT 300:
| 300
|
| Mobile:
| 30
| | |
| | | | |
| VEHICLES:
| | | |
| M-151:
| 22
| | |
| 2-1/2 Ton:
| 5
| | |
| Weapons Carriers:
| 4
| | |
| | | | |
LIGHT INTENSIFICATION
| DEVICES:
| | |
| Starlite
| 11
| | |
| Night Observation Device
| 2
| | |
| Crew-Serviced
| 2
| | |
| | | | |
| SPECIAL EQUIPMENT:
| | | |
| Sentry Dogs
| 46
| | |
| Astro Lux Lamp
| 1
| | |
* = Nearly Illegible
** = Illegible
OPERATIONS
JULY
During this month the squadron was treated to the presence and inquiries after their health by 2 American girls; Red Cross girls. Miss Lola Musis and Miss Kathy Matthias came to visit on the 9th of July from Đồng Bathin and spent the evenings visiting the guard mounts and the posts of Tiger Flight. The men appreciated it and it has now become a weekly occurrence.
On 29 July the base came under attack by two hostile sapper units. It appears they penetrated before Tiger Flight guard mount and lay between the runways for 2 to 4 hours. The first knowledge of their presence was when an aircraft exploded on the flight line at 0137. Calling a Red Alert the squadron raced to the area and quickly engaged the withdrawing hostile forces. A 4 hour gun fight ensued as the hostiles attempted to extract themselves from the base. When the fight was over 9 enemy lay dead and their weapons captured. The squadron suffered no casualties.
AUGUST
This month was marked by an increased vigilance and upgrading of security by completion and initiation of emplacements improvements. The squadron went to a 7 day work week with no time off for any assigned personnel. In addition, 5 dog handlers from Bình Thủy AB were sent TDY to us to assist in our manning problem.
The squadron provided main line resistance training for the Junior Officer Council at their request. This training was supervised by 1Lt Huffman and the first class was well received with more planned in the future.
SEPTEMBER
The month resulted in continued surveillance and a 7 day work week. This is the second month of no time off for the squadron. The K?9 section has started to come back up to strength which has allowed us to utilize our dogs in a more efficient manner.
On 9 September we received approval from 7th AF and COMUS MACV in instituting a sanitized zone for 100 meters around our entire perimeter between 2100 and 0400. The squadron passed out hand bills to all villages around us warning them of this and large signs were placed approximately 100 meters around the perimeter with the same warning. Between these hours (2100-0400) any person in the zone will receive warning shots and if he does not vacate the area will be the subject of gunfire aimed to kill. This has improved our Base Defense immeasurably.
BASE DEFENSE IMPROVEMENTS
Many projects have been undertaken to improve Base Defense capabilities. A perimeter lighting project is approximately 70% complete providing all of the western perimeter fence, 1/2 of the northern perimeter and 1/3 of the southern perimeter with continuous lighting making penetration most difficult.
New bunkers have been constructed in the vicinity of Oscar 8, Oscar 6 and southwest of Post 1. These are all multiple man bunkers and offer increased fire power in critical areas. Oscar 8 has been moved and raised to provide increased visibility.
The entire perimeter fence is being reinforced by adding another 4 strand fence inside and then doing the MACV weave in it. This is progressing rapidly and is approximately 25% complete.
Two below surface mortar positions have been constructed replete with trenches to bunkers which may be used by the mortar men for cover if the position is shelled. By virtue of their strategic locations 90% of the base can be covered. The protection of the out?of?reach spots is afforded by a mortar tube mounted in the rear of a weapons carrier. All tubes are 81MM and ammunition is illumination and high explosive.
PROBLEM AREAS
One problem continues to plague the squadron; that of being undermanned. We are currently authorized 395 enlisted personnel and 7 officers. Our present on board strength is 367 enlisted and 6 officers. Additionally, all of our Key Noncommissioned Officers will rotate at approximately the same time which will cause a break in our combat experienced troops. This will take a short period of time to cover after arrival of our new Key Personnel. We are currently the only Security Police Squadron not authorized a Major as Operations officer. We have asked for relief from Personnel in our manning problems and authorizations.
APPENDIX I
ROSTER OF KEY PERSONNEL
| Welch, John B., Jr.
| Lt Col
| Squadron Commander
|
| Robertson, Gilbert D.
| Capt
| Operations Officer
|
| Hermann, John
| Co Capt
| Chief Law Enforcement
|
| Bajo, Manuel
| Capt
| Chief Weapons System Security
|
| Bronsol, Robert C.
| Capt
| Intelligence Officer
|
| Wardell, Wendell R.
| Capt
| Squadron Section Commander
|
| Miller, William
| 1Lt
| TDY Intelligence Officer
|
| | | 821st Combat Security Police Sq.
|
| Evans, Norman
| MSgt
| Police Superintendent
|
| Owens, Leslie
| MSgt
| NCOIC Law Enforcement
|
| Williams, Carlton H.
| MSgt
| NCOIC Weapons System Security
|
| Dunbar, Robert E.
| MSgt
| First Sergeant
|
| Mascols, Louis A.
| MSgt
| Flight Commander, "A" Security
|
| Crymes, Paul J.
| MSgt
| Flight Commander, "B" Security
|
| Sutton, Joe L.
| MSgt
| Flight Commander, Tiger Security
|
DEPARTURES
| Spryn, Michael
| Major
| to
| Loring AFB, Maine
|
| Kingston, Thomas
| Major
| to
| Phu Cat Air Base
|
| Huffman, Kenneth E.
| Capt
| to
| Tan Son Nhut Air Base
|
| | | | |
| | ARRIVALS
| | |
| Branzel, Robert C.
| Capt
| | |
| Hendrix, Virgil K
| SMSgt
| | |
APPENDIX II
| Security Clearances granted (U.S.):
| 32
|
| Military Service Security Clearances (RVN):
| 150
|
| Vietnamese Base Badges issued:
| 212
|
| POV's registered:
| 35
|
APPENDIX III
| Minor Accidents
| On Base: 26
| Off Base: 1
|
| Major Accidents
| On Base: 01
| Off Base: 1
|
APPENDIX IV
CMJ ARTICLES VIOLATED
| MONTH
| ART. 86
| ART. 92
| ART. 113
| ART. 128
| ART. 131
| ART. 134
|
| July
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 1
| 0
|
| August
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 1
|
| September
| 0
| 1
| 2
| 0
| 0
| 0
|
PROPERTY LOST OR STOLEN
| | NUMBER OF CASES
| VALUE
| RECOVERED
|
| Government Property
| 31
| $4,893.93
| $1,716.73
|
| Private Property
| 25
| $2,382.50
| $479.00
|
| Non Appropriated Fund Property
| 1
| $268.00
| $0
|
| | | | |
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