Memories of Army Life and MPs of the 529th: The Top Military Police Company in the United States Army of the 1970s

It isn't often that one is able to maintain that his or her military unit was the top-dog in the entire United States Army, but that's the remarkable truth regarding the 529^th Military Police Company of Heidelberg, Germany, in 1974 - and euphemistically for the decade of the 1970s.

In the early 1970s, it had been barely 25 years since the end of World War II in Europe, and Germany, again, was a place of violence. The children of some of the former henchmen of Nazi Germany were determined to rid their country of its American occupiers - whatever the cost - and the commanding general of the United States Army in Europe (USAREUR) was a primary target.

Standing between these criminals and the pursuit of their goals in Heidelberg was the 529th Military Police Company of Patton Barracks. Though the Nazi descendants struck with violent and often fatal terroristic attacks throughout Germany in their effort to oust the American presence - striking in Heidelberg on two separate occasions causing three deaths, numerous injuries, and massive destruction of property - they were never successful in achieving their stated goal.

In 1952, the 529^th had been transferred from La Rochelle, France, to Heidelberg, and assigned a security mission for the commander-in-chief (CINC) of the United States Army in Europe (USAREUR) and his staff at the sprawling USAREUR headquarters command post which had been set up in a former Nazi Germany Wehrmacht (army) installation.

In this security mission, the 529^th was designated not only as the protective unit for the CINC and the Deputy-CINC and their staff, but also for the Command Building at which the CINC and his staff were located; the USAREUR Command and Control Center ("War Room"); the airfield at which the CINC's aircraft were located; the CINC's residence; and the large complex of buildings and staff comprising the USAREUR Headquarters.

The 529^th in Heidelberg was also an "honor guard" unit which represented and "carried the torch" for the USAREUR Command at various official ceremonies and functions throughout Europe. Within this "honor guard" mission, the 529^th in Heidelberg was a sister-unit to the famed "Old Guard" in Washington, D.C.

As a result of all of the above, the 529^th Military Police Company was held to an exceptionally high standard, and its proficiency soon became obvious. Only the best were selected for and retained in this unit.

In 1973, the first indication of the growing excellence of the 529^th was made apparent. It was named "First Runner-Up" for the coveted "Brig. Gen. Jeremiah P. Holland Award" recognizing the best-trained military police company in the United States Army worldwide. In 1974, the 529^th stepped to the fore in an even bigger way, winning the Holland Award outright as the top unit. In 2009, it was the recipient of the "Griffin Award" as the best U.S. Army MP unit in Europe. And in 2012 - the unit's final year to be headquartered in Heidelberg - it again was named "First Runner-Up" for the Holland Award.

Aside from its distinguished record in this historic town, this unit also had a very "colorful" cast of characters in the 1970s, a few of whom are highlighted on the pages which follow. This then is the story of all of the award-winning men and women of the 529^th Military Police Company who persevered during this time of deadly terrorism in Europe.