Welcome to the 202nd Military Police Company. Dedicated to the past and present members of this storied unit. The 202nd served in France, UK, North Africa, Italy, Austria, France, Fort Sheridan, IL, Giessen, West Germany, Iraq (WWI, WWII, Cold War, Op. Provide Comfort and the War On Terror), and CONTINUES to serve overseas today. The numerous pictures below from World War II, were submitted by Father William Patterson, and other veterans of the unit.
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Note: Information, including stories and unit history, may follow each picture below.

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Special to the Stars and Stripes, By Sgt. Bob Geake, MPs Of 202nd Earn Many Gallantry Marks

WITH THE 5TH ARMY, Feb. 11 (1945)--One of the veteran units in the Mediterranean Theater, the 202nd MP Company, now with the 5th Army's II Corp in Northern Italy, has a service record that reads more like that of a front-line outfit. Since wading in a H-Hour at Arzew in the North African invasion, its members haver served throughout the Tunisian, Sicilian and Italian campaings. They have won 21 Silver Stars and 18 Bronze Stars and other decorations. Five of their men have been killed and 19 wear the Purple Heart.

Strictly 'combat MPs" they haven't policed a town in 18 months. Through their 27 months overseas, they have been responsible for traffic control and securityfor their entire corps, which averages about 100 square miles in area, and in additon have worked as many as five division areas at the same time. Nearly all of this duty has been above the "light line," marking the beginning of the total blackout of the last forward area. Thirty men have been injured on their posts as a result of traffic accidents under these conditions.

MANY CASUALTIES The unusually high casualty rate for a so-called "rear area" outfit is the result of their frequent posts at "hot" crossroads and bridges in forward areas where Jerry has had a chance to zero in his artillery, and along vital roads which are often bombed and strafed. Most of the Silver Stars for gallantry in action have been earned there too, as MPs worked through barrages in their sector to rescue wounded men.

Activated in May 1942, the 202nd was assigned to Camp Blanding, Florida, where it trained and served until July of that year, when it sailed for England. In October, they sailed from Scotland for North Africa and the invasion. Elements of the 202nd landed with the first wave at Arzew and set up a traffic system on the beaches. Other MPs in the company entered Arzew and helped mop up snipers behind the 1st Ranger Battalion. During the German counter-offensive in February at Kasserine Pass, 202nd MPs were left behind to fire dumps and destroy communications. Ordered to "stay in the area until the foot soldiers are out," they stayed in the area around Gafsa until three of them were captured by the onrushing Krauts. In the Sicilian campaign, the 202nd MPs again landed with the first waves on D-Day and proceeded up through the central part of the island with their II Corps. The 202nd landed in Italy in October 1943, and went into the field with II Corps near Capus.

HIGH POINT Their toughest stand was near Venafro, where some of their company operated a radio net to regulate mule pack trains over a four mile route up into the mountains. In the Mignano sector alone, seven MPs in the company were awarded Silver Stars. The 202nd is one of the few 5th Army outfits that does not claim to have been the first to enter Rome, but they will bet you that one of their MPs was at least the 18th man to enter the capital. He was Cpl. George G. Bagby of Charlottesville, Va., one of the company's 21 motorcycle riders, who went into the city with an advance 18-man infantry patrol which offically set up information and security posts in Rome at 2:20 PM on the afternoon of June 4. Cpl. Bagby and the four other men in his jeep captured 9 Germans themselves. After opeating the main supply routes through Rome for a few days, the MPs hit the field again and have been in it almost without interruption. Their present commander is Capt. Daniel M. Schuveiller of St. Paul, Minn. The men of the company say their job of enforcing orders and reguations is slowy but surely getting easier. They like to think it is because the fellows are getting used to seeing them out on duty with them in all kinds of weather and taking quite a bit of shelling and as a result are more understanding and friendly.

FEWER GRIPES At any rate, the men up front bitch much less at MPs than men in the rear, the infantryman least of all. Cpl. Frank C. Sidella, of Waterbury, Conn., thinks it's just because the men in the field have to take so much and, "Well, 'misery loves company,' even an MP." Altogether, though, these combat MPs think the fellows up there are "right guys." What the guys in thurn think of them when they are obliged to crack down during a "dress and discipline campaign," the MPs try to forgive and forget. Suiting the action to the word, they made stacks of signs reading, "Seasons Greetings," and tacked them up all over their area for the recent holidays. "Peace in the Two Corps, and Good Will Toward Soldiers."

(Parts submitted by Father William Patterson March, 2004 & original article submitted by Red McCormack May 2004).
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Please Note: Father William Patterson is a 202nd MP Co. veteran, and served in the unit as a PFC in Italy during World War 2. He has kindly submitted hundreds of pictures and documentation detailing the unit's service overseas. Some of which is included below.