615th Military Police Company
Encyclopedia
The 615th Military Police Company is a military police company of the United States Army based in the Grafenwoehr, Germany area, with two subordinate augmentation platoons one stationed in Grafenwoehr and the other in Vilseck
. It provides law enforcement and force protection duties to the 7th Army Joint Multi-National Training Command.
Activated on 25 May 1944 at Fort Custer, Michigan.
Inactivated on 15 September 1945 at Camp Maxey, Texas.
Redesignated on 24 November 1952 as the 615th Military Police Company and allotted to
the regular Army.
Activated on 8 April 1965 at Fort Hood, Texas.
Inactivated on 28 March 1973 in Vietnam.
Activated on 21 October 1977 in Germany.
Deactivated from Augsburg, Germany, November 1997.
Reactivated in Grafenwoehr, Germany, on 16 April 1998 and continues to serve the
communities of the 100th Area Support Group (Grafenwoehr, Vilseck, and Hohenfels).
Currently serves the 7th Army Joint Mult-National Training Command in Grafenwoehr and Vilseck.
During the Vietnam War the Bloodhound's of the 615th served with distinction as part of the 720th Military Police Battalion from 17 December 1966 to 10 February 1968 during which time it shared the honor of earning two Meritorious Unit Citations. The 615th was again attached to the 720th MP Battalion from 13 April 1972 until the 720th left Vietnam on 13 August 1972. Many of the MPs from Battalion were transferred to the company to finish their tours. The 615th MP CO was deactivated in Vietnam on 28 March 1973, the last MP CO in Vietnam. The 615th Military Police was one of the first Combat Support Companies to deploy to Vietnam and were the last MP Company to leave Vietnam.
16- Vietnam Service Campaigns
4- U.S. Meritorious Unit Commendations
1- U.S. Naval Unit Commendation
1- Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm (Unit Citation)
2003 - J.P. Holland Award - Best MP CO in the Army
2010 - The Griffin Award - Best MP CO in Europe
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Vilseck
Vilseck is a town in the Oberpfalz region of northeastern Bavaria, Germany situated on the river Vils, a tributary of the Naab river.The town is geographically separate from a nearby large American military base known as the Rose Barracks but more commonly referred to as Vilseck...
. It provides law enforcement and force protection duties to the 7th Army Joint Multi-National Training Command.
Mission Statement
The 615th Military Police Company is a forward deployed military police combat support company stationed in Europe which deploys and conducts military police combat support operations as directed by the 18th Miltiary Police Brigade, 21st Theatre Sustainment Command and US Army Europe in support of regional military objectives. When not deployed the unit conducts Community Law Enforcement operations in support of United States Army Garrisons throughout USAREUR.Subordinate Units
- 512th Military Police Platoon - Grafenwoehr Germany, currently deployed to Turkey for base security
- 514th Military Police Platoon - Vilseck Germany
Lineage and Honors of the 615th Military Police Company
Constituted on 13 May 1944 as the 615th Military Police Escort Guard Company.Activated on 25 May 1944 at Fort Custer, Michigan.
Inactivated on 15 September 1945 at Camp Maxey, Texas.
Redesignated on 24 November 1952 as the 615th Military Police Company and allotted to
the regular Army.
Activated on 8 April 1965 at Fort Hood, Texas.
Inactivated on 28 March 1973 in Vietnam.
Activated on 21 October 1977 in Germany.
Deactivated from Augsburg, Germany, November 1997.
Reactivated in Grafenwoehr, Germany, on 16 April 1998 and continues to serve the
communities of the 100th Area Support Group (Grafenwoehr, Vilseck, and Hohenfels).
Currently serves the 7th Army Joint Mult-National Training Command in Grafenwoehr and Vilseck.
Vietnam War
1965 - 1973During the Vietnam War the Bloodhound's of the 615th served with distinction as part of the 720th Military Police Battalion from 17 December 1966 to 10 February 1968 during which time it shared the honor of earning two Meritorious Unit Citations. The 615th was again attached to the 720th MP Battalion from 13 April 1972 until the 720th left Vietnam on 13 August 1972. Many of the MPs from Battalion were transferred to the company to finish their tours. The 615th MP CO was deactivated in Vietnam on 28 March 1973, the last MP CO in Vietnam. The 615th Military Police was one of the first Combat Support Companies to deploy to Vietnam and were the last MP Company to leave Vietnam.
Desert Storm
The 615th Military Police CO did not deploy during Operation Desert Shield / Storm but provided port security for equipment that was being sent to the Middle East.Kosovo and Bosnia
The 615th MP CO deployed in support of operations in Kosovo and Bosnia several times through the late 1990's and early 2000's. To include providing route security to multi-national forces deploying into the region.Global War on Terror
The 615th served in the first wave of Operation Iraqi Freedom and has returned to Iraq 2 other times since the start of the war. They also recently were deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom X and XI from May 2010 to May 2011.Unit decorations
The 615th MP Company earned the following streamers during its tour in Vietnam:16- Vietnam Service Campaigns
4- U.S. Meritorious Unit Commendations
1- U.S. Naval Unit Commendation
1- Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm (Unit Citation)
| Ribbon | Award | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Valorous Unit Award Valorous Unit Award The Valorous Unit Award is the second highest unit decoration which may be bestowed upon a U.S. Army unit and is considered the unit equivalent of the Silver Star... |
2003 – 2004 | For service in Iraq |
 |
Meritorious Unit Commendation Meritorious Unit Commendation The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions.... (Army) |
1971– 1972 | for service in Vietnam |
|
Meritorious Unit Commendation Meritorious Unit Commendation The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions.... (Army) |
1968 | for service in Vietnam |
|
Meritorious Unit Commendation Meritorious Unit Commendation The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions.... (Army) |
1967 – 1968 | for service in Vietnam |
|
Meritorious Unit Commendation Meritorious Unit Commendation The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions.... (Army) |
1966 – 1967 | for service in Vietnam |
|
Meritorious Unit Commendation Meritorious Unit Commendation The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions.... (Army) |
1966 | for service in Vietnam |
 |
Navy Unit Commendation Navy Unit Commendation The Navy Unit Commendation of the United States Navy is an award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944... (Navy) |
1966 | for service in Saigon, Vietnam |
 |
Superior Unit Award Superior Unit Award The Superior Unit Award is a decoration of the United States Army which is awarded in peacetime to any unit of the Army which displays outstanding meritorious performance of a difficult and challenging mission carried out under extraordinary circumstances.... |
2004 | Best Military Police Company in USAREUR 2003 - The Griffin Award and the best Military Police Company in the Army 2003 - BG J.P. Holland Award |
| Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm | 1966 - 1970 | for service in Saigon, Vietnam |
Unit Recognition
2003 - The Griffin Award - Best MP CO in Europe2003 - J.P. Holland Award - Best MP CO in the Army
2010 - The Griffin Award - Best MP CO in Europe
Fallen Bloodhounds
In Honor of the men of the 615th Military Police Company that answered the call of duty to their country, their friends and their brothers of the United States Army Military Police Corps during the Vietnam War. These heroes are identified in the order they were taken from us. Let their dedication, sacrifices, and memory not be forgotten.{| class="wikitable" border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"
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