Military Police of the Vietnam War

A tribute to the Military Police who served in Vietnam

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TET!

Photos courtesy of LTC Frank Ribich (retired)

The front gate to the U.S. Embassy. Notice the damage to the Embasy plaque. MPs drove a jeep through this gate to engage the enemy inside. Two MPs take up a position behind a tree across from the compound. A dead VC lays inside the compound.

These VC paid with their lives. The VC never "took over the Embassy" as portrayed by the American press. Prior to the first two MPs losing their lives they killed the leaders coming through the wall. A Marine closed the large cherrywood door and not even a rocket could penetrate it. The VC were then trapped inside the walls by the MPs who responded lead by Lt. Frank Ribich. He waited until dawn to move in, not wanting to take the riskier chance of attacking inside in the darkness.

An MP carries a casualty to safety. George Moyer, 527th MPs, helps whisk away the only VC who lived. George was recognized by his son who visited this site. Sadly this brave soldier is now deceased.

In this compelling photograph MPs stand wearily against the outer wall of the Embassy after the fight, pausing to reflect.

A career soldier, Lt. Ribich was a Sergeant when he qualified for Officers Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. Above, as an Army Ranger, he poses with his family. Lt. Ribich received the Bronze Star for valor for his actions at the American Embassy. I had the honor of being his driver late in 1968 prior to my leaving the Army.

Two E.O.D. personnel police up unused RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades) from the bodies of dead VC. To the right MPs carry the dead away.

For a chronology of what happened in Saigon on this night, please click on the MP helmet.

The 716th MP Battalion and attached units, 527th MP Company, Company "C" 52nd Infantry, 90th MP Detachment and 18th MP Brigade Security Guard Company earned the Presidential Unit Citation for the defense of Saigon during TET of 1968. The MPs performance also helped the unit win recognition as a combat arm as well as a support force.

"Alert, alert! This is the real thing!"

These are the words that Lt. Frank Ribich, 527th MP CO, 716th MP Battalion heard that early morning of January 31st, 1968. Soon he and his troops would be in route to clear the American Embassy of enemy troops in one of the most significant events of any war.

The enemy launched a coordinated attack against 28 of the 44 provisional capitals.

15,000 first rate enemy soldiers were killed during the battle of TET.

During what was called the second TET offensive of May, 1968 the enemy shot rockets into Saigon for 11 successive days and 23 out of the 38 days that the offensive lasted.

The Phu Tho race track. Scene of heavy fighting during the offensive. A house in the alley leading to BOQ3 where many MPs lost their lives.

To the left, Jerome Jefferson, "C" CO, 716th MP BN is aided by Lt. Gerald Waltman during the TET offensive. Jefferson, sadly, lost an eye in this battle.

photo courtesy Steve Crump

Dead MPs are recovered from alley.

In Memory of

Troy Hirni II, "C" CO, 52nd INF, 716th MP BN, KIA, 1/31/68, Saigon

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It is with great sorrow to announce the passing of the "greatest" MP. Frank Ribich died of degenerative heart disease on August 3rd, 2007. The world has lost a great soldier.

Above: Steve Branch, middle, and his buddies after the fight in the alley at BOQ 3. These MPs were with C Company, 716th MP BN.