| Unit
History Bn HQ & HQ Company Company "A" Company "B" Company "C" Company "D" Staff Sections Bill Meck comments USFA Sentinel article |
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BN
OPERATIONS - International Patrol - Radio Patrol - Vice Squad - Bezirk Stations - Motorcycle Squad - Interior Guard & Static Posts - Detention Point Vienna - 'by day' and 'by night' |
| C
Company, 505th Military Police Battalion, was attached (to the
42nd Inf Div?) and provided traffic control (for the division) during
its drive from Germany to Austria. The unit arrived in Austria with
the 42nd Inf Div and then became the original MP's in Vienna (when
elements of the 42nd Inf Div moved to Vienna as occupation troops).
Cpl Virgil Becker formed the Radio Patrol for traffic control. In
1945 they originated the four power patrol. Early photos
show them using a Jeep. A & B Co, 505th MP Bn, provided stockades
and other police duties in Germany, A Co provided the MP for the Nuremburg
Trials. The 524th Military Police Battalion came by convoy from Straubing (after serving on occupation duty with XII Corps in Bavaria). The convoy commander was Lt William Sledge. They operated the PM Office (in Vienna) under then Col William Yarbrough, now a retired Lt General living in Southern Pines, SC. They provided the motorcycle patrol along with the 505th. The 796th Military Police Battalion (see unit history) was deactivated in France in 1945. The Bn colors were then taken to Vienna on 14 April 1946. The entire Bn consisted of 1st Lt Frederick Ovanich, a Corps of Engineer Officer, and T/4 Gerard J Casey, an Air Force enlisted man. The Bn reported to Vienna Area Command. On 24 April 1946 the Bn absorbed all of the remaining men from the 505th and 524th MP Bns. Together they formed the HQ Co, A Co, B Co, C Co and D Co. Those of the 505th not transferred to the 796th left for Salzburg as the 505th MP Bn, which later was redesignated as the 572 MP (Company). I am not sure that the 572 is correct it will need a bit of research. In December 1946 the Bn strength as reported was 22 Officers and 484 EM, as reported by Col Noel Menard, Bn C.O. I am sure you are aware that in 1953 the 796th MP Battalion was deactivated and the "lettered" companies were redesignated as follows: Hq Co became 7690 Hq. Co (Vienna Command) A Co became the 61st MP Company B Co became 64th MP Company and C Co became the 65th MP Company |
Two MP companies stationed here were inactivated today, USFA Hq announced. Personnel of the 61st and 65th MP Companies transferred to the 64th MP Company, where the men will be carried as overstrength. Also to be inactivated is the 18th MP Detachment. The 64th will carry the new members until normal attrition reduces the unit to its proper size. An honor unit from the Salzburg area will replace the two MP companies. The honor unit will be rotated periodically and replaced by another honor unit. Inactivation of the two units does not change the MP function in the International Patrol, officials pointed out. The 64th MP Company has provided the men for this patrol and will continue to do so.