796th Military Police Battalion
Stiftskaserne, Vienna
APO 777
 
INTERNATIONAL PATROL
(Source: "796th Military Police Bn, 1947-1948 Yearbook", courtesy Mike Keefe)
International Patrol Members
Front Row, l - r T/5 Rifus w. Hayes - Cpl Jesse J. Moore - T/5 Ralph C. Bowmaster - T/4 Charles D. Hillard - 1st Lt Keith M. Ownby, International Patrol Officer
2nd Row, l - r T/5 Wallace C. Schuler - T/5 Lewis L. Price - Cpl Arthur S. Veazie - Cpl Chester Jankowski - T/5 Roger F. Adelmeyer
Back Row, l - r Cpl Edwin L. Luck - Cpl Tracy W. O'Neil - T/5 Rubin Townsend - T/Sgt Jesse B. Sherrod
Not Shown T/4 John E. Hannan - Cpl Robert C. Perryman
  The International Patrol, consisting of a Russian, a French, a British, and an American Military Policeman from the 796th, is perhaps one of the most outstanding examples of practical cooperation among nations. The International Patrol, although theoretically an instrument of the Four Powers and subject to orders from the combined forces, is in reality an American operated and supplied organization. All vehicles, gas and oil for the vehicles, radios, radio parts, maintenance of the vehicles and radios, operation of the Radio Network System, and smooth operation of the patrols are the responsibility of the 796th Military Police Battalion. The American member of the patrol drives the vehicle, operates the radio, and performs the first echelon maintenance required on the equipment.

At the meeting between the Russian, British, and American Provost Marshals on 4 August 1945, it was agreed that a series of patrols would commence on 5 August 1945 at 1000 hours. The French did not become active on the patrols until 27 September 1945. The first patrols operated from 1000 hours to 2400 hours on Sundays and from 1800 to 2400 hours on weekdays. The value of the patrols in handling minor misunderstandings between the four powers was soon recognized, and on 1 November 1946 the patrols were operating "around-the-clock."
 


Cpl Robert C. Perryman (on far right), of Co "C", and the Russian, French, and British members of his International Patrol
Initially, jeeps were used as International Patrol vehicles. However, through experience gained in operation, it was soon learned that a jeep equipped with a short wave transmitter-receiver was too small to accomodate a patrol of four men, not to mention the necessity of taking into custody additional persons. During October 1946 a remedy was found by replacing the jeeps with a ¾-ton Command and Reconnaissance vehicle.

The uniform of the International Policeman is the same as the uniform of his nation, with the exception of the International Patrol arm band worn by all members of the patrol, which consists of the Russian, French, British, and American flags on a black background, below which is printed "International Patrol" in English, French, and Russian. The American, French, and Russian member of the patrol wear the insignia on the left sleeve. The British member wears his insignia on the right sleeve.

The inspections of the patrols by an Officer of one nationality is not completely without incident due to the language barriers and differences in drill of the various armies involved. As an example, during the inspection in front of the Auersberg Palais on 19 March 1947, at the command "Take your posts," part of the group saluted, some executed "right face," and others did both. Also during the inspection, one of the patrol members showed the Inspecting Officer a fully-loaded pistol, pointed the barrel at the member standing next to him, and when instructed to unload his pistol, pointed it in the face of the Inspecting Officer. The Inspecting Officer's face became pale. The difficulties of language and procedure have long since been ironed-out, and the International Patrol inspections are performed with snap and precision at 1245 hours daily.

Between 1300 and 1900 hours daily there are five International Patrols operating, one each in the American, French, British, and Russian sectors, and also a "Standby" at the Hq. of the International Patrol. Between 1900 and 0100 hours, the number of patrols is the same as between 1300 and 1900 hours. Between 0100 and 0700 hours there are only three patrols operating; one for the American and French sectors, one for the British and Russian sectors, and a "Standby." The patrols are constantly on the alert for traffic violations involving allied vehicles, and incidents involving personnel of any two different powers. Patrol members on the 1300 - 1900 shift eat evening meal in the mess of the 796th MP Bn.

The following is an account of one of their experiences while on duty with the International Patrol by two International Patrolmen. Cpl Robert C. Perryman, of Clinton, Iowa, and an International Patrolman since January 1947, relates the following incident:

"I was patroling a street in the 10th Bezirk (Russian Zone), when suddenly the Russian member of the patrol noticed a vehicle ahead of us and told me to force the truck to the curb. Twice I tried to force the vehicle to stop, but both times the driver ignored the warnings and proceeded. Finally, the Russian member sitting next to me drew his pistol and fired at the truck, which continued on its course. After using his supply of ammunition, the Russian member borrowed the French member's pistol. Only after the Frenchman's ammunition had been exhausted did the truck halt. The driver was taken into custody and the vehicle was driven to the Russian Kommandatura. The remarkable fact about this incident was that although both pistols were fired, neither the driver, nor the vehicle were seriously harmed."

Cpl Edwin L. Luck, of Amsterdam, New York, and an International Patrolman since July 1947, relates the following incident:

"I received a message to proceed to the Astoria Hotel, a British hotel in the 1st Bezirk. When the other members of the patrol and I arrived, we learned that somebody had been dropping empty wine bottles from a window of the hotel onto the sidewalk on Kärntnerstrasse, endangering the pedestrians. It was around midnight and extremely dark. At intervals, bottles continued to fall from an upper-story window, but it was difficult to determine which window they were coming from. The British member of the patrol asked the assistance of the members, and a search of all the rooms was begun. After approximately an hour, two intoxicated men were found in a room on the top floor. When they were questioned, it was learned that they had been drinking, and after finishing a bottle disposed of it by the easiest means: tossing it out of the window. The remarkable fact about this incident is not the amount of wine drunk by the men, but how none of the people passing below the window had been injured."

1st Lieutenant Keith M. Ownby, of Company "C", is the International Patrol Officer, in charge of all Amercian members of the International Patrol.
RADIO PATROL
(Source: "796th Military Police Bn, 1947-1948 Yearbook", courtesy Mike Keefe)
 


T/5 William E. Shurling, Radio Desk Sgt, of
Company "C", is shown answering the
telephone in the Radio Room of the Vienna
Provost Marshal's Office


Cpl Manuel S. Coronado, an NCS Operator, of
Company "C" , is shown as he calls one of the
patrols by radio


T/Sgt Roland G. Inman, on Radio Patrol duty, is shown reporting to the NCS Operator by radio
VICE SQUAD
(Source: "796th Military Police Bn, 1947-1948 Yearbook", courtesy Mike Keefe)
  There are one officer and ten enlisted men assigned to the Vice Squad for duty. 2nd Lt Henry Korotsky is Vice Officer. T/Sgt Bill A. Canga is the Vice NCO, and directly in charge of the enlisted men working in the section. There are three Desk Sergeants: Sgt Abbott, T/4 Fisher, and Pfc Stubbs. Assisting them are three Desk Corporals: Pfc Paturzo, Pfc Briggs, and Cpl Oliver. There are also three Drivers: T/5 Massie, Pfc Hannah, and Cpl Goodman. In addition to the above military personnel, there are four Austrian interpreters, two Austrian Criminal policemen from the Austrian Anti-Vice Squad, and one policeman from the regular Austrian police force.

The Vice Squad was established in November 1946 for the purpose of combating the spread of Venereal Disease in Vienna. Since its origin, the Vice Squad has apprehended 1077 women, who were found to be infected, and were prohibited from entering American installations. There are 366 registered prostitutes in the city of Vienna, and individual dossiers of approximately 4500 women are on file at the Vice Squad headquarters.
 


Vice Squad Headquarters
Female vagrants, or delinquents, upon being apprehended, are brought to Vice Squad headquarters, where all pertinent personal data on the individual is filed. They are then taken to the Austrian Criminal Police office, where more information is obtained, and afterward examined by Austrian Public Health officials. A copy of the medical report is later sent to the Vice Squad.

Only Austrian women found in disreputable places with American personnel, or women found loitering near American installations without proper identification, are arrested by the Criminal Police. Vice Squad personnel never enter into the incident. They serve only as drivers for the civilian police, and protect American military and civilian personnel from the danger of uncontrolled prostitution in Vienna.
BEZIRK STATIONS
(Source: "796th Military Police Bn, 1947-1948 Yearbook", courtesy Mike Keefe)
"A Night at a Bezirk Station."

My impressions of work in a Bezirk Station were somewhat vague the first night I I reported for work as Assistant Desk Sergeant. I had been assigned on the Duty Roster to the 9th Bezirk, and I had a vision of twelve hours of monotonous work. Therefore, I had prepared for the situation by fortifying myself with a number of magazines and a writing tablet. "At least," I thought, "I'll get some letters written before the night's over."

The Desk Sergeant was Sgt Samuel D. Coleman, quiet, smartly-uniformed, and a soldier who presented the perfect impression of what an efficient Military Policeman should look like. The Driver, Pfc Ernest S. Melling, was a clean-shaven youth of nineteen, who I later learned had been driving the Station's jeep for some months already, and knew his job well. The Interpreter was an Austrian civilian named John Whitman, who had lived in the United States years ago.


1st Bezirk Station
"You like this job?" I asked Coleman.

"I should," he answered, "I've been working at it for the past two years."

"How is it that you've worked here?" I demanded. "This isn't the only Bezirk Station in Vienna."

"Well, in the first place," he answered, "there are more people jammed together in this Bezirk than in any of the others, and there's usually more action around here."

Coleman tilted the back of his chair against the wall, bracing his right foot against the desk. "How many people've got in this Bezirk?" he asked the interpreter.

"Oh, approximately a hundred and forty thousand," Whitman answered.


7th & 8th Bezirk Station
"Yeah," Coleman continued, turning to me, "that's about right. And out of that bunch, there's always some guy beating his wife, a drunk assaulting someone, or a G.I. being robbed. You wait a couple of hours until it gets dark. We'll get our share of trouble, don't worry."

"And especially on a Saturday night after pay-day," Melling put in.

For a while everything was going smoothly. Whitman was staring out through the plateglass window at the people passing in the street. Coleman was busy with the crossword puzzle in the Stars and Stripes, and Melling was napping in a chair in a corner of the room. I was immersed in my third comic magazine, when suddenly the door opened and an Austrian civilian stumbled through the entrance. We could see from his stance and the blood on his jacket, that he had been hurt. Whitman and Melling grabbed the man as he was about to fall and put him gently onto a chair. Coleman ran into the other room and returned quickly with water, with which he began wiping the blood away from the Austrian's face.

"Ask him who clubbed him, Whitman," Coleman told the interpreter, who began to extract information from the man.

After a couple of minutes, Whitman turned to us. "This man tells me he was walking down Nussdorferstrasse, when a man suddenly hit him with something and ran away."

"Can he identify his assailant?" I asked the interpreter.


9th Bezirk Station
Whitman questioned the man further, then turned to us shaking his head. "He says it was too dark to see who it was."

"Well," Coleman said scratching his head, "it's too late now to look for the guy. We can't get a description, and by now, whoever it was, has gotten away. Melling, you and Whitman take the man to the civilian hospital. It doesn't look serious, just a nasty blow."

Melling and Whitman helped the Austrian into the jeep and drove off. "I'll show you how to keep the desk plotter up to date," he said to me sitting down in front of the typewriter.

Fifteen minutes later, Melling and the interpreter returned.

When they entered the Station, I asked them, "How is the old man?"

"He's O.K.," Melling answered, "nothing serious."


17th & 18th Bezirk Station
The Bezirk Station settled down but this time it wasn't for long. It was almost eleven o'clock, when the door opened again and a G.I. came rushing into the Station.

"You in charge here?" he asked addressing me.

"No," I answered, pointing to Coleman, "he is. Why? Something the matter?"

"You guessed it, all right!" he said breathlessly. "I'm in the 63rd Signal outfit up there past the Gurtel. . . I was going to the movie. On a dark street two Austrians jumped me. . . before I could do anything, they had me down. . . one of them had a knife and threatened to kill me, if I didn't give him my watch. . . They took the watch and took off down the street."

"Hold on a minute," Coleman interrupted. "You say they attacked you and stole your watch?"

"That's right," the G.I. answered.

"Could you identify them, if you saw them?"

"Well, it was dark, but I know one of them had a long scar on his right cheek."

"How could you see the scar if it was dark?" Coleman put in.

"There was a street light which shone partly on his face. . . Listen, I'd know that bastard anywhere."

"Anything else that can help to identify them? How about the way they talked?"

"Come to think of it, they didn't talk German at all. . . sounded to me like Polish, or Russian."

"Might be one of those DP's," Melling said.


19th Bezirk Station
Coleman turned to me and Melling. "Lets go," he said putting his helmet liner on, "I think I know who they are. You better come along too to identify them." The G.I., Melling, Coleman, and I went outside and jumped into the jeep.

"Think you know who they are?" I asked Coleman.

"Well," he began speaking over his shoulder, "what do you think? They don't speak German, so they're not Austrian probably. They're not American, we know that. What else could they be?"

"Maybe, they're DP's," I stated, quoting Melling.

"That's just what I think they are, and we're going to find them."

The jeep careened around the corner and pulled up near the PX. Coleman got out followed by the G.I. and me.

"Melling, you stay with the jeep." Coleman told the driver. "If we need you, I'll blow my whistle."

We crossed the Gurtel near the PX. "What are all those people doing over there?" I asked.

"There's where a lot of Black Market transactions take place, and two to one, those two DP's who stole this guy's watch came over here to get rid of it quickly."

"What if they've already sold it? I asked.

"Well, I don't think they've had time to make it here, yet, and if they have, I don't think they've sold it."

We walked through the crowd looking at all the faces, and we knew we looked conspicuous. However, we didn't care about that under the circumstances.

"See if you can identify any of these characters," Coleman told the G.I., and if so, don't say anything. I'll take care of things."

We continued walking through the crowd. We were almost finished, when the G.I. stopped. "There they are, both of them, talking to that man with the moustache."

"Stay here," Coleman told the G.I. "Come on," he told me, "and watch yourself."

We approached the two youths, who as yet hadn't seen us.

"Kommen sie mit mit," Coleman said to them, as I went around behind the other youth. We marched them both back to the jeep, and when they saw the G.I., they both seemed to pale.

"I'm sure glad you got them," the G.I. said. "They got my watch on them?"

"We'll wait until we return them to the Bezirk Station."

Upon returning, we searched them and luckily they still had the watch. Coleman called the Radio Desk Sergeant and reported the incident. Finally, an SIS agent arrived and took the G.I. and the DP's to the Provost Marshal's Office for questioning. Coleman sat down at the typewriter and filled in the Desk Blotter. I continued the comic magazine and Kent Clark was just about to change into Superman, when I heard Coleman's voice.

"Melling and I are going to check the 'Off Limits' cafes. You stay here with Whitman. We'll be back in a half hour."

Coleman and Melling left in the jeep, and I settled down to finish the magazine. When they returned, there were only a few people on the street and it had begun to rain.

When we had been relieved and had returned to the billets, I knew what Coleman meant, when he told me he liked his job. For some reason, I think I liked it also.
MOTORCYCLE SQUAD
(Source: "796th Military Police Bn, 1947-1948 Yearbook", courtesy Mike Keefe)
  The Motorcycle Squad, under the supervision of Sgt Conrad C. Bower, consists of 20 men from Company "B" who patrol the streets of the American zones on the alert for traffic, or uniform violations. They use Harley-Davidson air-cooled motorcycles on their patrols, which take place from 1000 hours to 1700 hours daily. Motorcycle Squad personnel also serve as escorts for visiting dignitaries, and also perform the necessary repairs on their individual vehicles.  


Pfc Raymond J. Francavilla, Co "B"
INTERIOR GUARD & STATIC POSTS
(Source: "796th Military Police Bn, 1947-1948 Yearbook", courtesy Mike Keefe)
  Interior Guard and Static Posts are two separate terms for similar duties; guarding certain areas within the garrison, and guarding important American installations. On Interior Guard duty, the men stand guard for 2 hours on, and 4 hours off throughout a 24 hour-period. However, during their free time, the men must remain in the Guard Room, or in the Battalion area. On a Static Post, the men are on duty for a six-hour period. A man usually pulls duty at a Static Post only once every 24 hours.

Men of the 796th MP Bn are responsible for the security of the Franz-Joseph Bahnhof, the Hernalser Motor Pool, the WAC Detachment, the Astoria Garage, the Manner Food Dump, the Arsenal Warehouse, the Class II and IV Warehouse, the American Legation during the night, the Linz Road Block, Headquarters Command, USFA, the Provost Marshal's Office, and the 110th Station Hospital Prisoners' Ward. The men of the 796th who successfully stand guard night after night deserve much credit for patience and endurance. It stands without a doubt that on a cold, wet night, two hours can seem like two years. 		 


Entrance to Stiftskaserne on Mariahilferstrasse
 
DETENTION POINT
(Source: "796th Military Police Bn, 1947-1948 Yearbook", courtesy Mike Keefe)
 
  Four enlisted men and one officer comprise the total personnel who supervise the administration of the 796th Military Police's Prisoner Detention Point. The Police and Prison Officer is Captain Edwin F. Gracie, also the Bn. Motor Officer. The Provost Sergeant is 1st Sgt Andrew Hill, and his assistant is T/Sgt Franklin E. Sullivan. There are only two clerks: T/5 Bert M. Louisell, Administrative Clerk; and Pfc Richard Hamel, Supply Clerk.

Inmates of the Detention Point are classified in four categories: prisoners awaiting trial by courts-martial; prisoners awaiting investigation of charges preferred against them; prisoners detained for violations; and garrison prisoners serving their sentences. All General prisoners are sent to Salzburg for confinement.

When a prisoner enters the Detention Point, all articles of outer clothing, personal belongings, and valuables are securely stored until such time as he is released, or his sentenced is completed. Personnel of the 796th MP Bn serve as guards and jailers 24 hours a day. Personnel working in the Detention Point are responsible for the confinement of the prisoners, and must be constantly on the alert for a possible escape attempt by any of the inmates. "Prisoner Chasers," as the guards are called, undergo a monotonous and tiresome routine, and must display the best qualities to be found in a Military Policeman. 		 


796th MP Bn's Prisoner Detention Point