"Of the troops...for the troops."
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The 4th Infantry Division MP Platoon WWII reenactment unit was formed in the Fall of 2001 by Mike Pumphrey. There were usually a few scattered individuals that would show up at events wearing MP arm bands & a helmet decked out with bold "MP" markings. There didn't seem to be much in the way of organization of these troops. So it was decided to form a dedicated military police unit that would perform the same role that the brave MP's of the US Army did over half a century ago. Our reenactment unit is based in Maryland, but we have members from Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, Ohio and Indiana as well. We participate in living history events, equipment & uniform displays, and battle reenactments. Our impression is typically that of the combat area military policemen, but we also portray stateside or pre-invasion England American MP's depending on the focus of the event. And if the event call for it, on occasion we drop the arm bands and MP helmets and become proud members of the 4th Infantry Division as leg infantry.
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The Original 4th Infantry Division
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The 4th Infantry Division fought with distinction during the First World War & earned it's nickname "Ivy" Division from the Roman numeral "IV". The division was re-activated in June 1940 while Europe was already engulfed in the second World War of the 20th century. American involvement seemed inevitable.
The 4th had been tested as a new "motorized" division, but it was decided to standardize the army by equipping all infantry divisions with an equal amount of vehicles. The 4th was re-designated as an infantry division in September 1942. The Military Police contingent of the division was organized as a platoon, then a company, then back to a platoon in August 1943. It was the duty of the MP's to direct traffic, man roadblocks, security posts, escort & guard enemy prisoners, enforce army regulations and to keep order. The MP's trained with the division at Ft. Benning, GA, Camp Gordon, GA, Ft. Dix, NJ and amphibious training at Camp Gordon Johnston, FL. They also participated with the division in the Carolina maneuvers of 1941 & 1942. The 4th Infantry Division sailed for England in January 1944. They were to participate in the Normandy invasion by landing on Utah Beach. The men of the MP Platoon were vital in directing men & equipment off the beaches inland. Other accomplishments of the Ivymen was helping to liberate Paris in August 1944, fighting in the Hurtgen Forest, and participating in the Battle of the Bulge. The 4th finished the war east of the Rhine near Amberg, Germany. |
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