709th MP Bn Guardians Main Page

709th MP BN Guardians Association Board Of Directors

Brad Mitton, Founder and President Emeritus, D Co. 1955-1957

Curtis Cree

Co "B" Butzbach 1966-1969

curtcree@hotmail.com

Anthony Giannone

Co "D" Bad Nauheim,

Friedberg 1955-1956

Tony71534@webtv.net

Rev. Robert "Bob" Powers,

Official Chaplain

Bad Nauheim, Friedberg

1954-1956

Dale Rice

Co "A" Frankfurt 1958-1959

excop136@earthlink.net

Rick Miller

Official Photographer

Co "A", Frankfurt,

1973-1977

Tommy Strickland

Co "C" / HHC 128th

Hanau & Frankfurt 1977-1980 helen47@embarqmail.com

Louise Stack

Co "C", 127th,

Hanau, 1974-1978

kilostack@att.net

Cynthia Raymond

Co "C" Hanau

1974-1976

mailto:csraymond@aol.com

Mrs. Caron Cree, Treasurer

caroncree@hotmail.com

The 709th MP BN Guardians is dedicated to the Men and Women of the 709th Military Police Battalion (active, retired and former) of all eras where persons who represent some form of law enforcement can visit, perhaps pick up some information, maybe leave some or locate that long lost buddy.

2009 REUNION ST. LOUIS MO OCT 1-4, 2009 See Curts Corner for details

Please visit Curt's Corner to see what's new!

Military Police Corps Cross Pistol insignia History

The insignia of crossed pistols for the Military Police Corps was approved in 1923. The insignia is not crossed dueling pistols as many people believe. The device is a scale model of the Harpers Ferry Army officers' sidearm and holster pistol of a century and a half ago.

The original pistols, for the design were in the collection of Major Jerome Clark, U.S. Army. The device and its development were the idea of Captain George M. Chandler, War Department General Staff, U.S. Army. The drawings for the insignia were made in 1922 by the Heraldic Section, Quartermaster General.

In 1920, when a reorganization of the Army occurred, the original staff study assigned 5000 infantrymen to the military police mission. Chief of Infantry, Major General Farnsworth, protested this arrangement because it charged him with troops that he would never have under his control. He won his point with the general staff, and the War Department created another temporary arm of the service--The Corps of Military Police. A new corps insignia was needed, and a new collar mark had to be devised.

The infantryman carried a musket, the cavalryman wore a saber, and the military policeman carried a billy-club. The draftsman was instructed to draw crossed billy-clubs. The result was a failure. At saluting distance the MP could not be distinguished from the field artilleryman. The club insignia looked like crossed cannon.

Next the medieval military club, the mace, was tried. Beautiful drawings were made but looked like crossed potato mashers. The MP was armed with a .45 caliber automatic pistol. This was tried as an insignia but looked like carpenter's squares. The .45 caliber pistol, like the others, made inartistic devices.

The heraldic section was reminded of the Harpers Ferry Army Arsenal flintlock pistol. Everyone interested in the new insignia agreed, and the Chief of Staff, General Pershing, signed the drawings and later approved the metal collar mark which is now worn by the Army Military Police.

Military Police Corps Branch History

The Military Police Corps is one of the youngest branches of the United States Army. It was officially established on 26 September 1941. It's traditions of duty and service are unsurpassed in our armed services. Soldiers have been performing police duties from the time of the Revolutionary War, when these duties were assigned mainly to a mounted police force called the "troops of the Marechaussee". Soldiers as the Veteran's Reserve Corps and Provost Corps performed military police duties during the Civil War. MPs served with distinction in the Spanish American War, WWI, WWII, the Korean Conflict, and in Vietnam. As a result of their distinguished service in Vietnam, the Military Police Corps was designated a combat support and service of the Army on 14 October 1968.

Since Vietnam, the versatility of the Military Police Corps has made it a "Force of Choice" for use in Low Intensity Conflicts and Operations Other Than War in which our nation has been involved, such as Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada and Just Cause in Panama. During Operations Desert Shield and Storm, the Military Police provided Area Security, conducted Battlefield Circulation Control, and exercised custody over thousands of Iraqi prisoners. Since 1991, the Military Police has assisted in restoring hope to Somalia and upholding democracy in Haiti. Military Police are maintaining order in war-torn Bosnia, as well as conducting patrols, operating checkpoints, and conducting investigations in an effort to keep the peace in Kosovo. At home, they have been busy providing disaster relief, quelling prison unrest, and combating urban riots while still fulfilling their fundamental function of maintaining discipline and security within the Army. The Military Police Corps has been a very busy organization during the fifty-seven years of its existence, and as one of the most deployed branches of the service, it appears that it will remain so for the foreseeable future. The Military Police Corps is indeed a "21st Century Force on the Move".

If you would like to visit the Official Home of the Military Police Corps at Fort Leonard Wood - MO, just click on the link.

709th Military Police Battalion History

Click on image to enlarge.
The 709th Military Police Battalion has served with honor and distinction in the European Theater since it landed at Normandy in 1944. Stationed in Hanau Germany as part of the "Ever Vigilant" 18th Military Police Brigade the battalion provides community law enforcement and force protection within ten communities while training for future operations and contingencies in support of V Corps. The Warriors of the 709th Military Police Battalion stand combat ready, taking pride in the mission embodied in their motto "Securitas Copiarum" GUARDIANS OF THE TROOPS!

Another 709th MP Battalion WEB sites is the V Corps 709th MP Bn.

709th Military Police Battalion Crest

Click on image to enlarge.
The colors green and gold are for the Military Police Corps. The fleur-de-lis and galley, taken from the arms of the city of Paris, have a two-fold meaning as charges. Together they indicate service in the area around Paris; singly the fleur-de-lis represents service in Northern France, and the galley symbolizes the early assignment of the organization escorting prisoners from North Africa. The two wavy bars represent two trips in that capacity.

Motto: Securitas Copiarum (Guardians of the Troops).

709th Military Police Battalion Association History

The 709th MP Bn. Guardians Association started with a group of six who were all stationed together in Kassel with Company "D" of the 709th in 1955-57. They had mainly stayed in touch via Christmas cards and occasional get-togethers. At some point, Brad Mitton decided to try and enlarge to include all eras, all companies and at the present time, we have over 375 members. We have people who were with the battalion when it was first formed in 1942 right up to the present. Yes, the 709th is still active and headquartered in Hanau.

We wish to thank all those who have submitted information to our web site. Your continued input will make this WEB site successful.