HISTORY

AND

OPERATIONS

Of

Company "A", 510^th Military Police Battalion

and the

821^st Military Police Company

by

LEON GROSSMAN

HISTORY

COMPANY "A", 510^TH MILITARY POLICE BATTALION, UNITED STATES ARMY

The 510^th Military Police Battalion began its existance on May 1, 1943, at Camp Maxey Texas. It was commanded by Major Lawrence R. Egdahl, of Wisconsin.

The original cadre came from Fort Custer, Michigan. The majority of the cadre fillers came from Camp Wheeler, Georgia; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and Camp Walters, Texas.

The battalion consisted of Headquarters Company, and Companies "A", "B", "C".

Company "A" began operations under the command of 1^st Lt. Maurice S. Weintraub, of Florida. James R. Carrier, of Washington, D. C., was first sergeant. The platoon sergeants were Staff Sergeants Leo Shelander of New York; Paul Harrington, Stanley Lantz, and Kenneth L. Dissinger, all of Pennsylvania.

The mess sergeant was Sergeant Walter P. Soltys of Pennsylvania; the motor sergeant was Staff Sergeant Lawrenve Wienstroer of Michigan; and the supply sergeant was Staff Sergeant William Van Devender of Washingon D.C. The officers were 2^nd Lt. Madison Tinsley of Louisiana; 2^nd Lt. Fred J. Thomas of California; 2^nd Lt. George J. Pflanz of Iowa; and 2^nd Lt. Robert O’Donnell of New York.

After a strenuous basic training, during which fillers arrived from Fort Leavenworth , Kansas; Camp Logan, Colorado; Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Camp Blanding, Florida; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Camp Croft, South Carolina; and Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, the company was at full strength.

From the latter part November, 1943 until the first of April, 1944, the company participated in the Louisiana Maneuvers. The first platoon, under the command of Lt. Tinsley and its platoon sergeant, Staff Sgt. Kenneth Dissinger were station at Jasper, Texas. The two traffic platoons, under the command of Lts. Pflanz, Thomas, and 1^st Lt. Harvey N. Higgins of Arkansas operated from the field. The Battalion was under Third Army command.

In the meanwhile, Lt. Weintraub was promoted to Captain, 2^nd Lts Pflanz, Thomas, and Tinsley were advanced in rank to First Lieutenant. Edmund J. Devaney of New York, succeeded James Carrier as First Sergeant. The platoon sergeants were Staff Sgts. Dissinger, Vernon L. Anderson, of Florida; Clyde M. Newman of North Carolina.

From Leesville, Louisiana, the battalion moved to Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas in the early part of April, 1944. The Battalion became part of the United States Fourth Army and began preparing for overseas duty.

1^st Lt. Alfred W. Schwass of Illinois, and 2^nd Lt. John W. Havens of New Jersey replaced Lts. Pflanz and Thomas, who were transferred to other companies. Staff Sergeant Jacob Donaldson of Wyoming became supply sergeant; Staff Sergeant William L. Weber of New York became mess sergeant; and Sergeant Arlie L. Burns of Arkansas became motor sergeant.

Early June, 1944 found the Battalion headed for the Port of Embarkation under the command of Lt. Colonel Egdahl with Major Robert Murphy of Connecticut as the executive officer and arrieving at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts.

July 1^st found the Battalion aboard the S.S. Mt. Vernon. Leaving from Boston Massachusetts. The voyage over the Atlanta Ocean was a pleasant one, although the second day out found a vast majority of men at the rail suffering from sea-sickness. The Battalion had to pull Military Police duty on the trip over which consisted of security guard duty and some kitchen police duty was also done. The ship, which was not in a convoy, zig-zagged across the Atlantic Ocean and finally arrived at Liverpool, England on July 8^th, 1944.

Lt. Robert L. Shaw, the Battalion Personnel Adjutant and two enlisted men, who comprised the advance detail, met us at the docks. We went by train to Bristol, England; arrived in that city on July 10^th.

Our primary duties were Police Patrolling and Castle Guard of the Ninth United States Army.

The last day of August and the first day of September saw the Battalion landing on French soil at Utah Beach. We went to a village named Mi Foret, which was about 10 miles North of Rennes, France. Our duties were guarding the Ninth Army Headquarters, Forward and Rear Echelons and also directing traffic.

On October 12^th we boarded "40 and 8" cars at the rail center in Rennes and traveled across France, through Paris and after an all-night layover in Liege, Belgium, arrived at Masstricht, Holland. Still with the Ninth Army Headquarters our main work was guarding the Forward and Rear Echelons. Lt. General William Simpson was our Commanding General.

The latter part of October found Company "A" packing up and moving by motor train to Etain, France, which was located between Verdon and Conflens. It was there that we found out that we were to become the 821^st Military Police Company. The Battalion, which was called one of the best Military Police by many high ranking officers had been disbanded and Company "A" had become the 821s Military Police Company; Company "B" had become the 822^nd M.P. Co.; and

Company "C" became 823^rd M.P. Co. Headquarters Company became a part of Ninth

Army Headquarters. The 821^st M.P. Co. joined III Corps; the 822^nd M.P. Co. joined XIII Corps; and the 823^rd joined the XVI Corps.

OPERATIONS

821^ST MILITARY POLICE COMPANY

The 821^st Military Police Company became operational in November, 1944, when it became part of III Corps. The commanding General of III Corps was Major General Millikan.

The commanding officer of the 821^st M.P. Co. was Capt. Maurice S. Weintraub. The platoon leaders were

1^st Lt. Harvey N. Higgins---First Platoon

1^st Lt. Madison Tinsley---Second Platoon

1^st Lt Fred J. Thomas----Third Platoon

1^st Lt. John W. Havens---Police Officer

1^st. Sergeant----1^st Sgt. Edmund Devaney

Mess Sergeant----S.Sgt. Jacob Donaldson

1^st Platoon Sgt.----SSgt. Kenneth Dissinger

2^nd Platoon Sgt.----SSgt. Vernon Anderson

3^rd Platoon Sgt.----SSgt. Clyde Newman

While III Corps was preparing to become operational, the 821^st M.P. Co. maintained police and traffic duty in Etain, France. While in Etain, the platoon sergency of the 3^rd platoon was assume by SSgt. Sgt. Kenneth Erickson of California, replacing Newman

Then on the 6^th day of November1944, we moved into Metz, France. Fighting was still going on in the city, with four forts still being held by the Germans. Within a week, however, the Germans surrendered the forts.

Several changes took place in the company personnel. The early part of December found the following men in charge of the squads in the three platoons

1^st Squad----Sgt. James Barbee of North Carolina

2^nd Squad----Sgt. Leon Grossman of New York

3^rd Squad----Sgt. William O’Toole of Missouri

4^th Squad----Sgt. Rosco Bayless of Tennessee

1^st Squad----Sgt. Franklin Rogers of Kentucky

2^nd Squad----Sgt. Thomas Meyer of Colorado

3^rd Squad----Sgt. James Evans of North Carolina

4^th Squad----Sgt. Emmit Dunn of Florida

1^st Squad----Sgt. Raymond Fisher of New Jersey

2^nd Squad----Sgt. Joseph Maier of North Carolina

3^rd Squad----Sgt. Charles Gantt of North Carolina

4^th Squad----Sgt. Dave Lee of Tennessee

The Germans were being push back on all fronts. Suddenly on the 16^th of December began an offensive drive in the Ardennes in Belgium. The offensive will always be known as "The Battle of the Bulge"

We were sent to Arlon, Belgium on the 23^rd of December to direct traffic for units coming up from 3^rd Army, to help force the Germans back. We were strafed and bombed by the Germans throughout our stay in Arlon. The planes were continually a menace during our first weeks there.

On December 11^th, while in Metz, France, Sgt. Grossman and Pvt. Joseph Edwards of Tennessee were returning from a detail with German prisoners when they noticed a French women waving at them. They stopped and Sgt. Grossman, questioned the woman and found out that Germans were on a neighboring hill. Grossman who was in charge of the detail, picked Edwards to accompany him, and left Pvts. Roger Payton and Ralph Lollis to guard the prisoners in the truck. As they moved ahead, they noticed a partially concealed pill box. Grossman and Edwards rushed the pill box and captured two surprised Germans who had been left behind to man it. The Germans were armed far superior to Grossman and Edwards, for their undaunted courage and aggressiveness, they were recommended by Capt. Weintrub for the bronze Star Medal.

While in Arlon, Belgium, Sgt. Grossman and Pvt. Edwards received Bronse Star Medals for heroic achievement against the enemy. The awards were the first to be given in III Corps and the 821^st Military Police Company. The medals were presented by Major Richard Barrett, III Corps Provost Marshal on Jan. 12^th, 1945 in a ceremony in our company area.

III Corps was part of Third Army at that time, with General Patton our commanding General. The early part of February found the 821^st M.P. Com. and III Corps , under First Army Command. Our Commanding General was General Hoges. We moved up to Raeren, Belgium which was 10 miles south of Aachen, Germany and about one-half mile West of the German border.

We crossed the German border on March 6th and entered Vicht. Our stay there wasn’t for but a day and we traveled on to Geich, which was small village two kilometers from Zulpich, arriving there on March 7^th.

The Allies were pushing the Germans back rapidly, like other front-line outfits, we kept moving almost every day.

March 11^th found us at Rheinbach. The Germans were retreating across the Rhine River and were planning to defend their lines across the river from Remagan. They planned to blow up the Ludendorf Bridge. which spanned the Rhine at Remagan. The advance units of the 9th Armored Division captured the bridge in tact, and quickly established a beach-head on the opposite side (EAST) from Remagan On March 14^th, we moved to Heimershiem, about five miles from Remagan. To keep traffic moving across the bridge. The Germans kept shelling the vicinity of Remagan and the bridge, but never succeeded in blowing up the bridge. However, on the 17^th the Ludendorf Bridge collapsed killing almost a company of Engineers who were making repairs. The bridge had been weaken by the almost constant shelling and the everlasting motor convoys which were bringing to the widening bridge-head, men and materials. The collapse of the bridge didn’t delay our troops to any extent as a pontoon bridge was built almost immediately. Our MPs kept traffic moving regardless of the strafing and bombing of enemy planes or the shelling by the German forces.

On March 22^nd, we moved across the Rhine River and made our CP at Linz. We were still being shelled by the Germans; one 88 shell dropping 25 yards from the CP, but it did not explode due possibly to faulty mechanism. In rapid succession the company moved to Settlers, then to Frankenbach and from there to Rochenberg, and on April 5^th, to Roddenau a town outside Frankenberg. The 3^rd platoon, under Lt. Thomas, and part of the 1^st Platoon , commanded by Staff Sgt. Kenneth Dissinger and Sgt. Grossman were sent to Korbach were it was feared that the Germans might break through, for their lines were less than 5 kilometers away. (Note a kilometer is equivalent to 5/8 of a mile.

April 12^th found the entire company at Fredeberg , which was at the southern extremity of the Ruhr pocket. While there, an attempt was made by two Germans, to pass through our lines in an American jeep. However, the alertness of Pfc. Kemp Culbert of Tennessee, prevented such an attempt . Culbert, on a security post with Pfc. James R. Dinkins, also of Tennessee, halted a jeep approaching their post. The vehicle surged forward as Culbert asked for the password. Culbert commanded the jeep to halt, and when the command was not obeyed, opened fire. Dinkins also fired several rounds. Culbert succeed in killing the driver, but the other occupant escaped under cover of darkness. He was captured the next morning. Culbert was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his heroic achievement.

Another long trip was made, this time from Fredeberg to Neustadt-on-the-Aisch , where we again joined General Patton’s Third Army on April 20^th.

The German Army was slowing disintegrating and thousands of Germans soldiers were being captured or surrendering themselves to the Allied forces.

Our stay at Neustadt-on-the-Aisch was short. We moved to Schwabach, by-passing Nurmberg, and arrived there on the 24^th. Two days later found us at Beilngries. On April 29^th, we crossed the Danube River at Ingolstadt, and continued on to Mainberg.

May 2^nd found an advance detail under Capt. Weintrub and Sgt. Grossman entering the town of Dorfan and actually taking the town before the armored units and infantry came in. German soldiers were surrendering by the hundreds and our prisoner of war enclosure (PWE) had thousands every day. German officers were surrendering their entire commands, and it became a common sight to see an entire company of German soldiers march through the streets of Dorfan to give themselves up at our PWE.

The war in Europe was drawing to a close and on May 9^th, 1945 we received the joyful announcement of VE(Victory in Europe) Day.

We moved to Furth on May 12^th, and on May 14^th into Nurnberg.

In August numerous changes took place in the officer personnel in the company. Lt. Tinsley was replaced by 1^st Lt. Elmer Keller; Lt. Havens was replaced by 2^nd Lt. Charles More of New Jersey; Capt. Weintraub, who was transferred to XV Headquarters was replaced by 2^nd Lt. Edwin Sandham of Ohio. Lt. Thomas became company commander.

Two casulties took place in May 1945. Pfc. Robert L. Wilson of Florida was accidently killed by a bullet from a rifle which went off when dropped to the floor of the billets and Pfc. Herman Smith of Tennessee died of heart failure.

Bronze Stars Medals were awarded to eleven men and Officers, three of which were for heroic achievement and the remainder for meritorious service. They were.

Sgt. Leon Grossman of New York

Pvt. Joseph Edwards of Tennessee

Pfc. Kemp Culbert of Tennessee

Capt. Maurice Weintraub of Florida

1^st Lt. John W. Havens of New Jersey

1^st Lt. Madison Tinsley of Louisiana

1^st Lt. Fred J. Thomas of California

S. Sgt. Kenneth Erickson of California

S Sgt. Vernon Anderson of Florida

S Sgt. Kenneth Dissinger of Pennsylvania

Pfc Gus Weidemann of Texas

The men in the 821^st Military Police Company, who were with the outfit since its arrival in the European Theatre of Operations were intitled to battle stars for the following campaigns: Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, Central Europe.