118th Military Police Company (Airborne)
The 118th Military Police Company was originally constituted on 11 June 1945 during the waning days of World War II. Less than a month later the 118th started the first of many overseas assignments when it was activated in China on 9 July 1945. As the war ended and the Army returned to a peacetime role, the 118th returned to Ft. Lawton, WA, where it was inactivated on 6 January 1946. The 118th MP Company remained inactive until 20 February 1963 when it was allotted to the regular Army and activated at Ft. Bragg, NC. With its new assignment came the distinction of being the only separate airborne Military Police Company in the world. This honor remained bestowed upon the 118th until May 1990 when it was assigned to the 503rd Military Police Battalion (Airborne).
During the rebellion in the Dominican Republic in 1966, the 118th secured the XVIII Airborne Corps Headquarters. During the invasion of Grenada in 1983, the 118th was given the responsibility of ensuring the safe and speedy evacuation of American citizens and students from St. Georges University. During the crisis situation in the republic of Panama in 1988, where the unit deployed as an augmentation security force to the Marines.
The unit also deployed during the coup attempt in Panama in 1989; during Operations Desert Shield and Desert storm in 1990/1991 where the unit provided security for the XVIII Airborne Tactical Operations Center and Main Command Post as well as EPW escort missions from Iraq; in 1992 to Homestead Florida was instrumental in restoring law and order to the community and humanitarian aid to those in need, after Hurricane Andrew devastated the city.
The 118th deployed in 1994 when the unit deployed to Port-au-Prince, Haiti in support of Operation Uphold Democracy; in 1995 when the unit deployed back to Port-au-Prince, in support of the United Nations Mission Haiti; and in 1999 when the unit deployed to Panama in support of Joint Task Force Bravo.
The unit was awarded the Army Superior Unit FORSCOM Eagle Awarded in 1984, and has twice earned the Jeremiah P. Holland Award, as the best Military Police Company in the Army.
