1199th Military Police Company

1199th Military Police Company (photo taken 30 March 1944)
(Back L-R) Pfc Samuel "Tiny From", unknown,
Pfc Eugene E. Blackburn, unknown, unknown, unknown\

(Front L-R) T/Sgt Robert "Buck" Fisher, T5 James G. Anderson,
Pfc Paul O. Harmon, Pfc Micho R. Rodriquez, unknown, unknown

The first MPs at Molesworth, from October 1942 to January 1943, were assigned to Company "E", 156th Military Police under the command of Provost Marshall Lt Roland H. Ringsrud. After the Company "E", 156th MPs left, the responsibility of guarding the base and providing patrol and visitor control was assigned to the Provost Marshall Captain Frank M. Jones. Men from the various Bomb Squadrons served as military police and patrol and visitor control at the gates. In March 1944 the 1199th Military Police Company was organized, under the command of Provost Marshall Lt Francis R. Gorman, and trained military police specialists arrived at Molesworth. They took over the functions conducted by the previous Provost Marshall. Many of the men who had served as military policemen from the Bomb Squadrons were transferred out of Molesworth. S/Sgt Donald H. Woods (Woddie) was initially the acting First Sergeant. After T/Sgt Robert W. Fisher arrived, he took over as First Sergeant and Woodie became Provist Sergeant. In April 1945 the 1199th M.P. Company became part of the 425th Air Service Group and was assigned to the Headquarters and Base Service Squadron. Later many of the MPs were transferred with the 303rd to Africa.

The Military Policemen carried the M.O.S. 677 and their duties were endless. At Molesworth it was mostly guard duty at the gates, checking passes and vehicles in and out. There was a road that went through the base that was used by British civilians. The MPs would let them through at one gate and call the other gate to check that they got there. Molesworth MPs patrolled the small towns, pubs and dance halls, and on the base patrolled the base, checked the planes, gates and buildings. The night before D-Day there were MPs and squadron guards on all of the planes and MPs were at all interrogations and briefings. MPs also were on hand guarding all planes that crashed off base. The MPs had one motorcycle plus other personnel carriers and jeeps.

On Special occasions, such as the visit of high ranking officers, the Royal Family and the Russian VIPs, all gates and intersections were guarded and the MPs furnished highly efficient guards-or-honor, demonstrating just how military an American soldier can be, at the same time, furnishing real protection to the visitor. The low accident rate at Molesworth was directly attributed to the manner in which the Military Police enforced traffic regulations, and prevented absent-minded jeep drivers from wondering in front of taxiing or landing Fortresses.

A special honorary MP was an English Airedale dog named Jocko. Jocko was acquired by Military Policeman Paul O. Harman and served Molesworth during the entire stay of the 1199th MP Company.

(L-R) Pfc Eugene E. Blackburn,
Pfc Micho R. Rodriquez,
Pfc Paul O. Harmon

1199th MILITARY POLICE PERSONNEL

NAME	RANK	SERIAL #	JOB DESCRIPTION
Acquista, Salavatore J	Pfc	32786529	Military Policeman
Akers, Arthur	Pfc	39854816	Military Policeman
Anderson, James G	T/5	35649438	Military Policeman
Anderson, Richard T	Pfc	36425174	Military Policeman
Barnes, Floyd E	T/5	37494714	Military Policeman
Birdsall, Thomas W	Cpl	31281737	Automotive Mechanic
Blackburn, Eugene M	Pfc	35424847	Military Policeman
Bruex, Victor J	Pfc	36801727	Military Policeman
Bumpus, George F	Pfc	31294574	Military Policeman
Camic, Joe Z	Pfc	35701184	Military Policeman
Casperson, William J	Pfc	16089915	Military Policeman
Davenport, James D	Pvt	15082614	Military Policeman
Davis, Clarence M	Pfc	35657006	Military Policeman
Dennis, Thomas S	T/5	33634169	Military Policeman
Dennistron, George P	Pfc	35799476	Military Policeman
Edwards, Albert C	Pvt	19146845	Military Policeman
Estes, William T	Pfc	33193402	Military Policeman
Fisher, Robert W	T/Sgt	6249089	NCOIC Military Police Company
Frum, Samuel	Pfc	12145989	Military Policeman
Gallion, Paul L	Sgt	37410307	Military Policeman NCO
Gorman, Francis R	1Lt	0584980	Commanding Officer
Greaves, Harold P	Pfc	39035668	Military Policeman
Hanks, Lloyd	Pfc	39414739	Military Policeman
Harmon, Paul O	Pfc	33242769	Military Policeman
Jenson, Horace B	Sgt		Military Policeman
Jones, Frank M	Capt	0386839	Commanding Officer
Keene, Rupert C	Pfc	34409846	Military Policeman
Klabe, Milton L	Pfc	36301626	Military Policeman
Lagermann, Leslie A	Unk	36828193	Military Policeman
Menzynski, Edward F	Cpl	32795981	Administrative Clerk/typist
Miller, Jack W	Sgt	33454791	Administrative NCO
Montano, Paschal J	Pfc	36724573	Military Policeman
Natti, Robert H	Sgt	31295927	Administrative NCO
Nelson, Thurston T	T/5	34398974	Military Policeman
O'Toole, Martin J	Pvt	33678483	Military Policeman
Olinger, Almos S	Pfc	33678417	Military Policeman
Ramos, Romeo E	Pvt	18200684	Military Policeman
Rantone, Bruno	T/5	31259599	Supply Clerk
Reasoner, Arnold	Sgt	18000478	Military Policeman NCO
Reeves, William M	Pfc		Military Policeman
Rendon, Rudolph T	Sgt		Military Policeman
Robertson, James L	Pfc	34584103	Military Policeman
Rodriguez, Micho R	Pfc	38435844	Military Policeman
Sampson, Franklin O	Pfc	35752553	Military Policeman
Sathoff, Elmer W	Pfc	33199547	Military Policeman
Sczesny, Benjamin F	Pfc	35057602	Military Policeman
Seagraves, Howard W	Pfc	34766791	Military Policeman
Silvey, William	Sgt	38008605	Military Policeman NCO
Sotelo, Ernesto N	Pfc	38440006	Military Policeman
Spavale, Sam S	Cpl	37368145	Military Policeman
Starkey, Claude A	Pvt	6921018	Military Policeman
Starnes, Clarence G	Pfc	38436543	Truck Driver, Light
Tullos, Howard E	Pfc	38430693	Military Policeman
Walter, Louis J	Pfc	16097774	Military Policeman
Wilson, Melvin R	T/4	34366677	Cook/Bakery Specialist
Wood, Donald H	S/Sgt	6262957	Military Policeman NCO

[photos courtesy of Paul O. Harmon and the 303rdBGA Archives]
[Researched by 303rdBGA Historian Harry D. Gobrecht]