HISTORY OF THE
793RD MILITARY POLICE BATTALIAN
“ACHIEVEMENT WITH HONOR”
The 793rd Military Police Battalion was activated at Camp Maxey, Texas on 26 December 1942, and
has been continuous active duty since that day.
In February 1944, the Battalion departed the United States for a period of retraining in Scotland and
was then transferred to France in August 1944. From August through December 1944, the
Battalion performed traffic security duty on the Red Ball Highway.
From December 1944 to June 1945, the Battalion was charged with the protection of the Port of
Antwerp, Belgium. It was during that period that the Battalion was awarded the Meritorious Unit
Citation and was cited in the Order of the Belgian Army.
In June 1945, the Battalion moved to France to prepare for deployment to the South Pacific, but the
end of the war resulted in its being assigned port security in Marseille. In January 1946, the
Battalion entered Germany for duty with the Third United States Army at Bad Toelz until April 1946,
when it moved to the Nürnberg-Fürth area. Attached to the 26th Infantry Regiment, First Infantry
Devision, the Battalion was assigned security duties at the Nürnberg War Crimes Trials.
In February 1947, the 793rd Military Police Battalion moved to William O. Darby Kaserne, its
present location. They again moved to Monteith Barracks, then to Pinder Kaserne. Finally, in
September 1948, they returned to William O. Darby Kaserne, where the Headquarters Detachment,
793rd MP Battalion and a platoon from the 30th MP Co and the 218th MP Co are presently located.
In 1953, the 793rd Military Police Battalion began to spread out and cover a vast area of Bavaria.
The MP Station was moved from the Palace of Justice to William O. Darby Kaserne on 24 June
1953.
In 1968, the 793rd Military Police Battalion and the Feldjäger Battalion 760 were designated as
partnership units which created a closer working relationship. This relationship has flourished
throughout the years and was recognized by the Commander-in-Chief, United States Army Europe
in 1970 and in 1991 with the USAREUR Project Partnership Award.
During the months of September and October 1972, elements of the 793rd Military Police Battalion
were placed on additional security for the Olympic Games in Munich and possible terrorist attacks
from Middle East countries.
In September 1979, the 793rd MP Battalion was awarded the Department of the Army Community
Award for excellence in support of the Community Relations program. It was in recognition of the
unit’s assistance to the residents of Katzwang, Germany during the flood disaster on 26 March 1979.
On 16 November 1980. the three line companies were reorganized. This reorganization increased
the combat power of the Battalion. Most significant was the authorization of one M60 machine gun
and one M203 grenade launcher per vehicle.
In 1985 the Battalion was assigned to the 14th Military Police Brigade and received the 595th and
981st MP Companies which ere Lance Missile Security companies. With the phasing out of the
Lance Missile from the Army inventory, these two units were scheduled for deactivation in 1990.
In November 1990, the 793rd Military Police Battalion was alerted for deployment with the 14th MP
Brigade to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD. Elements from the battalion
were among the first units from VII Corps to arrive in the Middle East and were the first to move out
of the port into the desert. Reminiscent of its support to General Patton’s Third Army along the Red
Ball Express in World War II, the battalion provided battlefield circulation control for the thousands
of vehicles moving from the ports into their staging areas. When Operation DESERT STORM
commenced, the battalion provided battlefield circulation control, area security and enemy prisoner
of war support to the 1st Armored Division and the 3rd Armored Division in their historic sweep
across Saudi Arabia, north across Hussain’s barrier and deep into Iraq. During this time the
battalion captured or processes 7000 enemy prisoners without sustaining any loss of life or serious
injury. At the conclusion of the war, the battalion moved into Rafa to protect the refugee operations
and remained there for over a month until it redeployed in May 1991.
The was brought with it a monumental mission for those units which remained in Germany; the
protection of soldiers, families, and facilities from terrorist attack. Here also, the battalion
responded magnificently and with considerable assistance from out partners in Feldjäger Battalion
760, successfully deterred any attacks.
With the drawdown of forces in Europe, the 793rd was reassigned to the 18th Military Police
Brigade, V Corps on 16 March 1992. During the reorganization the battalion picked up three MP
companies, lost three MP companies, and reflagged 21 platoons to arrive at its end state
configuration. The reorganization permitted the battalion to realign its platoons to provide better
training opportunities and enhance its deployability.
The 793rd Military Police Battalion continues to participate in an active partnership program. The
participation in training, athletic and social activities has developed a close personal and
professional relationship between the 793rd Military Police Battalion and the German Feldjäger
Battalion 760. The partnership program is culminated annually, with a march composed of teams
from both battalions from Fürth to Munich.
The Battalion currently has four line companies spread throughout Bavaria: the 212 the MP
Company (Kitzingen and Giebelstadt); the 218th MP Company (Augsburg, Fürth, and Bamberg);
the 615th MP Co (Ansbach, Schwaebeisch Hall, Crailsheim, and Illesheim) and the 630th MP Co
(Bamberg, Erlangen, Fürth, and Schweingurt).
The Battalion deployed to Saudi Arabia in December 1990 in support of VII Corps during Operation
Desert Shield/Storm. The Battalion advanced into Iraq and Kuwait in February 1991 at the start of
the ground offensive in support of the 1st Armored Division, where it conducted extensive Enemy
Prisoner of War operations. In April 1991, the Battalion supervised the evacuation of thousands of
refugees from Iraq to Saudi Arabia.
The Battalion was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation – DESERT SHIELD/STORM and
campaign streamers – DEFENSE OF SAUDI ARABIA 1990-1991, LIBERATION AND DEFENSE OF
KUWAIT 1991, and SOUTHWEST ASIA CEASE FIRE, for military operations in Southwest Asia.
The Battalion redeployed from Saudi Arabia to Germany in May 1991, and was subsequently
reassigned to the 18th MP Brigade, V Corps.
The Battalion deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina in December 1995 in support of Task Force Eagle
(1st Armored Division) and Operation Joint Endeavor. For almost eleven months, soldiers of the
Battalion performed a wide variety of missions including circulation control, area and route security
operations, VIP security, and critical site security. During the Bosnian National Elections in
September 1996, the Battalion provided around the clock support to nearly 200 election sites and
counting houses in the Tuzla Valley. Upon the successful transfer of Military Police functions to the
covering force of the 1st Infantry Division in November 1996, units of the Battalion redeployed to
Germany, bringing an end to the second major deployment of the “SPARTANS” outside of Germany
since 1990.
The colors green and yellow, are the colors of the Military Police Corps. The heraldic bend charged
with the red torteauxs symbolizes the Battalion’s route security and circulation control mission on the
famous Red Ball Highway across France, Belgium, and into Germany during World War II. The two
torteaux represent campaign honors awarded for operations in World War II.
793RD MILITARY POLICE BATTALIAN
“ACHIEVEMENT WITH HONOR”
The 793rd Military Police Battalion was activated at Camp Maxey, Texas on 26 December 1942, and
has been continuous active duty since that day.
In February 1944, the Battalion departed the United States for a period of retraining in Scotland and
was then transferred to France in August 1944. From August through December 1944, the
Battalion performed traffic security duty on the Red Ball Highway.
From December 1944 to June 1945, the Battalion was charged with the protection of the Port of
Antwerp, Belgium. It was during that period that the Battalion was awarded the Meritorious Unit
Citation and was cited in the Order of the Belgian Army.
In June 1945, the Battalion moved to France to prepare for deployment to the South Pacific, but the
end of the war resulted in its being assigned port security in Marseille. In January 1946, the
Battalion entered Germany for duty with the Third United States Army at Bad Toelz until April 1946,
when it moved to the Nürnberg-Fürth area. Attached to the 26th Infantry Regiment, First Infantry
Devision, the Battalion was assigned security duties at the Nürnberg War Crimes Trials.
In February 1947, the 793rd Military Police Battalion moved to William O. Darby Kaserne, its
present location. They again moved to Monteith Barracks, then to Pinder Kaserne. Finally, in
September 1948, they returned to William O. Darby Kaserne, where the Headquarters Detachment,
793rd MP Battalion and a platoon from the 30th MP Co and the 218th MP Co are presently located.
In 1953, the 793rd Military Police Battalion began to spread out and cover a vast area of Bavaria.
The MP Station was moved from the Palace of Justice to William O. Darby Kaserne on 24 June
1953.
In 1968, the 793rd Military Police Battalion and the Feldjäger Battalion 760 were designated as
partnership units which created a closer working relationship. This relationship has flourished
throughout the years and was recognized by the Commander-in-Chief, United States Army Europe
in 1970 and in 1991 with the USAREUR Project Partnership Award.
During the months of September and October 1972, elements of the 793rd Military Police Battalion
were placed on additional security for the Olympic Games in Munich and possible terrorist attacks
from Middle East countries.
In September 1979, the 793rd MP Battalion was awarded the Department of the Army Community
Award for excellence in support of the Community Relations program. It was in recognition of the
unit’s assistance to the residents of Katzwang, Germany during the flood disaster on 26 March 1979.
On 16 November 1980. the three line companies were reorganized. This reorganization increased
the combat power of the Battalion. Most significant was the authorization of one M60 machine gun
and one M203 grenade launcher per vehicle.
In 1985 the Battalion was assigned to the 14th Military Police Brigade and received the 595th and
981st MP Companies which ere Lance Missile Security companies. With the phasing out of the
Lance Missile from the Army inventory, these two units were scheduled for deactivation in 1990.
In November 1990, the 793rd Military Police Battalion was alerted for deployment with the 14th MP
Brigade to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD. Elements from the battalion
were among the first units from VII Corps to arrive in the Middle East and were the first to move out
of the port into the desert. Reminiscent of its support to General Patton’s Third Army along the Red
Ball Express in World War II, the battalion provided battlefield circulation control for the thousands
of vehicles moving from the ports into their staging areas. When Operation DESERT STORM
commenced, the battalion provided battlefield circulation control, area security and enemy prisoner
of war support to the 1st Armored Division and the 3rd Armored Division in their historic sweep
across Saudi Arabia, north across Hussain’s barrier and deep into Iraq. During this time the
battalion captured or processes 7000 enemy prisoners without sustaining any loss of life or serious
injury. At the conclusion of the war, the battalion moved into Rafa to protect the refugee operations
and remained there for over a month until it redeployed in May 1991.
The was brought with it a monumental mission for those units which remained in Germany; the
protection of soldiers, families, and facilities from terrorist attack. Here also, the battalion
responded magnificently and with considerable assistance from out partners in Feldjäger Battalion
760, successfully deterred any attacks.
With the drawdown of forces in Europe, the 793rd was reassigned to the 18th Military Police
Brigade, V Corps on 16 March 1992. During the reorganization the battalion picked up three MP
companies, lost three MP companies, and reflagged 21 platoons to arrive at its end state
configuration. The reorganization permitted the battalion to realign its platoons to provide better
training opportunities and enhance its deployability.
The 793rd Military Police Battalion continues to participate in an active partnership program. The
participation in training, athletic and social activities has developed a close personal and
professional relationship between the 793rd Military Police Battalion and the German Feldjäger
Battalion 760. The partnership program is culminated annually, with a march composed of teams
from both battalions from Fürth to Munich.
The Battalion currently has four line companies spread throughout Bavaria: the 212 the MP
Company (Kitzingen and Giebelstadt); the 218th MP Company (Augsburg, Fürth, and Bamberg);
the 615th MP Co (Ansbach, Schwaebeisch Hall, Crailsheim, and Illesheim) and the 630th MP Co
(Bamberg, Erlangen, Fürth, and Schweingurt).
The Battalion deployed to Saudi Arabia in December 1990 in support of VII Corps during Operation
Desert Shield/Storm. The Battalion advanced into Iraq and Kuwait in February 1991 at the start of
the ground offensive in support of the 1st Armored Division, where it conducted extensive Enemy
Prisoner of War operations. In April 1991, the Battalion supervised the evacuation of thousands of
refugees from Iraq to Saudi Arabia.
The Battalion was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation – DESERT SHIELD/STORM and
campaign streamers – DEFENSE OF SAUDI ARABIA 1990-1991, LIBERATION AND DEFENSE OF
KUWAIT 1991, and SOUTHWEST ASIA CEASE FIRE, for military operations in Southwest Asia.
The Battalion redeployed from Saudi Arabia to Germany in May 1991, and was subsequently
reassigned to the 18th MP Brigade, V Corps.
The Battalion deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina in December 1995 in support of Task Force Eagle
(1st Armored Division) and Operation Joint Endeavor. For almost eleven months, soldiers of the
Battalion performed a wide variety of missions including circulation control, area and route security
operations, VIP security, and critical site security. During the Bosnian National Elections in
September 1996, the Battalion provided around the clock support to nearly 200 election sites and
counting houses in the Tuzla Valley. Upon the successful transfer of Military Police functions to the
covering force of the 1st Infantry Division in November 1996, units of the Battalion redeployed to
Germany, bringing an end to the second major deployment of the “SPARTANS” outside of Germany
since 1990.
The colors green and yellow, are the colors of the Military Police Corps. The heraldic bend charged
with the red torteauxs symbolizes the Battalion’s route security and circulation control mission on the
famous Red Ball Highway across France, Belgium, and into Germany during World War II. The two
torteaux represent campaign honors awarded for operations in World War II.
“ACHIEVEMENT WITH HONOR” |
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