519th Military Police Battalion
VIPERS!!
Organized as the 15th Military Police Battalion in 1927, the 519th Military Police Battalion was called to active duty at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, in April 1944. The battalion was deployed to the Pacific Theater one year later. While occupying the island of Okinawa, the 519th Military Police Battalion assisted in processing over 400,000 enemy prisoners taken during the seven-month battle.
Entering combat again when the Korean Conflict erupted, the battalion landed with the advanced elements of the United Nations Force to bolster the threatened Pusan perimeter. When the conflict ended, the 519th was returned to Japan and deactivated in 1956.
During the Vietnam conflict, the 519th MP Battalion was recalled to active duty in 1966 at Fort Dix, New Jersey, with the mission of training for Military Police Contingency Missions.
On October 6, 1990, the 519th Military Police Battalion deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Desert Shield. On January 16, 1991, the 519th Military Police Battalion took part in Operation Desert Storm providing battlefield circulation control, security of enemy prisoners of war, and security of Main Supply Routes into Iraq. The 519th Military Police Battalion returned to Fort Meade, Maryland on March 28, 1991.
On November 27, 1991, elements of the 519th Military Police Battalion were deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to assist in the relocation of Haitian civilians. They redeployed on February 15, 1992. Due to restructuring of the Army, the 519th Military Police Battalion was relocated from Fort Meade to Fort Polk, Louisiana, in August of 1992.
On September 8, 1992, elements of the 519th Military Police Battalion were deployed to Florida to provide humanitarian assistance and support for hurricane relief efforts as part of Joint Task Force Andrew.
On June 28, 1994, the 258th Military Police Company deployed to Panama in support of Operation Promote Liberty and Safe Haven. the company established Cuban containment facilities, and provided forces to restore order during camp riots in December 1995.
On September 20, 1994, HHD, 519th Military Police Battalion and the 204th Military Police Company deployed to the Republic of Haiti in support of Operation Uphold Democracy. The Battalion conducted various missions in and around the Capital city of Port-au-Prince, assisting in the re-establishment of the democratically elected government within Haiti.
On October 14, 1995 the 204th Military Police Company deployed to the Republic of Haiti a second time in support of Operation Uphold Democracy.
On July 17, 1996, HHD, 519th Military Police Battalion, the 258th Military Police Company, the 293rd Military Police Company from Fort Stewart, Georgia and the 65th Military Police Company (Airborne) from Fort Bragg, North Carolina deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina in support of Operation Joint Endeavor and Operation Joint Guard. The Battalion assumed a sector in the Serb-controlled Posavina Corridor of Northern Bosnia and conducted the full spectrum of Peace Enforcement Missions. The Battalion provided comprehensive support to the first-ever democratic elections in Bosnia. The Battalion also provided support to operations in the contested areas of Brcko and Celic.
As of 15 January 1997 about 8,900 U.S. troops were in Bosnia, including two engineer battalions dismantling IFOR base camps. Operation Joint Endeavor gave way to Operation Joint Guard 20 December 1996. NATO's 60,000-member implementation force completed its mission, and a 31,000-strong stabilization force deployed for the next phase of the alliance peace effort. At the height of the IFOR mission, 19,000 U.S. troops served at 38 base camps in the northern sector. About 1,200 troops from the 720th Military Police Battalion from Fort Hood, Texas, and the 519th Military Police Battalion from Fort Polk, La., who deployed during the summer of 1996 remained as part of the stabilization force.
On July 27, 1999 the 204th Military Police Company deployed to Panama in support of the US relinquishing canal authority to the Panamanian government, ending the 1977 Carter-Torrijos Treaty. The company returned on 16 December 1999.
In addition, the 2nd Platoon from the 204th MP Company deployed to support JTF-Bravo operations in Honduras.
From its inception, the 519th Military Police Battalion has received credit for twelve combat campaigns. Unit citations include, the Meritorious Unit Commendation (1950-1951), Meritorious Unit Commendation (1952-1953), Republic of Korea Presidential Citation (19 September 1950- 21 July 1952), the Army Superior Unit Award (April-September 1988), Meritorious Unit Commendation (6 October 1990- 24 March 1991).
Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment "WARDOGS" was constituted 18 October 1927 in the Regular Army as the 15th Military Police Battalion (less Company A). Redesignated 1 June 1940 as the 519th Military Police Battalion (less Company A). (Company E, 524th Military Police Battalion [activated 21 July 1942], redesignated 14 April 1944 as Company A, 519th Military Police Battalion). Battalion (less Company A) activated 20 April 1944 at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. Inactivated 25 March 1956 in Japan. Activated 23 December 1966 at Fort Dix, New Jersey. (Companies A, B, and C inactivated 1 November 1970 at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland). CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDIT; World War II; Ryukyus; Korean War; UN Defensive; UN Offensive; CCF Intervention; First UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea, Summer-Fall 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea, Summer 1953; Armed Forces Expeditions; Panama; Southwest Asia; Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait. DECORATIONS: Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered KOREA 1950-1951; Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered KOREA 1952-1953; Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered SOUTHWEST ASIA; Army Superior Unit Award, Streamer embroidered 1988; Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA 1950-1952.
The 91st Military Police Company "Lead by Example" was constituted 7 July 1952 in the Regular Army as the 91st Military Police Criminal Investigation Detachment. Activated 1 August 1952 at Fort McPherson, Georgia. Reorganized and redesignated 21 April 1959 as the 91st Military Police Detachment. Inactivated 25 March 1965 at Fort McPherson, Georgia. Activated 23 June 1965 at Fort Bliss, Texas. CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDIT: Vietnam - Defense; Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase II; Counteroffensive, Phase III; Tet Counteroffensive. DECORATIONS; Meritorious Unit Commendation (army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1967. Inactivated 2 April 1968 in Vietnam. Activated 16 October 1997 at Fort Polk, Louisiana.
The 204th Military Police Company "Bladerunners" was constituted 16 December 1940 in the Regular Army as the 204th Military Police Company. Activated 10 February 1941 at Camp Blanding, Florida. World War II - EAME: Algeria-French Morocco (with arrowhead); Sicily; Rome-Arno; Southern France (with arrowhead); Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; and Central Europe. Inactivated 30 June 1946 in Germany. Redesignated 12 December 1952 as the 204th Military Police Company, Post, Camp, or Station. Activated 20 December 1952 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. Reorganized and redesignated 8 October 1954 as the 204th Military Police Company. Inactivated 15 October 1982 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. Activated 16 October 1987 in Germany.
The 209th Military Police Company "Warrior Spirit" was constituted 16 December 1940 in the Regular Army as the 209th Military Police Company. Activated 25 January 1941 at Fort Lewis, Washington. Inactivated 13 May 1955 in Japan. Activated 1 November 1970 at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. . Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered PANAMA. Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered PACIFIC THEATER. Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered SOUTHWEST ASIA. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945. Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Streamer embroidered JOINT TASK FORCE-160 MAY 1994 TO MAY 1995.
The 258th Military Police Company was constituted 28 April 1943 in the Army of the United States as the 258TH Military Police Company. Activated 25 June 1943 at Fort Custer, Michigan. Inactivated 31 March 1946 at New York Port of Embarkation, New York. Allotted 18 April 1967 to the Regular Army. Activated 5 September 1967 at Fort Hood, Texas. Southwest Asia Campaign Defense of Saudi Arabia - 2 August 1990- 16 January 1991. Southwest Asia Campaign Liberation and defense of Kuwait - 7 January -11 April 1991. Operation Joint Endeavor/ Joint Guard Stabilization of Bosnia-Herzegovina 13 July 1996 -11 April 1997. Meritorious Unit Commendation Period of Service: 2 August 1990 - 30 April 1991. Army Superior Unit Award Period of Service: 13 July 1996- 7 November 1996.
