On October 23, 24, and 25 1945, the 709th Military Police Battalion, departed Paris, France in three groups and proceeded to Frankfurt, Germany, then the Supreme Headquarters for the Allied Expeditionary Forces (SHAEF) commanded by General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower. Normal military police duties were quickly assumed in the devastated and dangerous city and skirmishes between members of the battalion and other US troops were not uncommon, attesting to the state of affairs. The battalion continued its discipline, law and order mission in the months following World War II. During this period Co A, 709th Military Police Battalion was billeted at the Bieberer Strasse Kaserne, Offenbachs. On 5 December 1947, all elements of the 707th Military Police Battalion were consolidation in the Gutleut Kaserne and all security in the city of Frankfurt was a 709th responsibility.The year 1953 brought a new mission to the 709th that required reorganization of the battalion. It assumed responsibility of Military Police service support in Central West Germany. Companies B, C, and D were deployed throughout the newly created Northern Area Command. Headquarters, 709th and Company A and elements of Company C , remained in Frankfurt. Company B established its headquarters in Bamberg, with detachments in Fulda, Bad Kissingen, Schweinfurt and Wildflecken. Company C was headquartered at Pioneer Kaserne at Hanau, with detachments at Darmstadt and Jaeger Kaserne Aschaffenburg, while Company D had its headquarters at Giessen, with detachments at Bad Nauheim and Kassel. The overall area was in excess of 20,000 square miles, and as much as 160 miles separated the units. During the period June 1953 until September 1954, the 709th dispatched a security platoon to EUCOM Headquarters at Camp DeLoges, France. The 536th Military Police Company was attached in 1954 to provide Military Police support in Wurtzburg, Kitzingen, Bamberg and Wertheim. Early in 1956, an additional responsibility came to the 709th, to police Amsterdam, Holland every May through December and to apprehend US military offenders from the Scandinavian countries plus escort them to Central Germany. Operation "Big Switch," November 1957 to January 1958, in which the 2nd Armored and 8th Infantry Division exchanged USAREUR locations required police support from the 709th. A month later, Operation "Sabre Hawk," tested the new Pentomic concept which also involved elements of the battalion. In the summer of 1958, the Mid East Lebanon Crisis required the 709th to provide personnel to perform emergency Police operations in that area, in which the battalion earned a letter of commendation for its efficient efforts. The disbanding of the 62nd Military Police Highway Patrol (HP)Companies in USAREUR during 1958 brought another requirement to the battalion of patrolling the major roadways of Central West Germany. During 1961 Company C, was headquartered in Hanau at Pioneer Kaserne, with Detachments located at Aschaffenburg, Babenhausen and Darmstadt. In 1964 the Battalion Headquarters vacated Gutleut Kaserne, Frankfurt and displaced to Funari Barracks, Mannheim, in anticipation of re-organization under the COSTAR concept and the activation of the 2nd Military Police Group. Also,TOE 19-35 became effective and caused the fourth company, Company " D" to be deactivated. During this time, Company C , was relocated to Bad Krueznach, Baumholder and Mainz. During July 1965, the 709th departed Mannheim, temporarily residing in the familiar Gutleut Kaserne,Frankfurt, and then began residency in its own Kaserne in Offenbach, soon named Bieberer Strass Kaserne.
In 1966 the adoption of the 15th Military Police Brigade unit patch, "the Griffin." was approved by the Institute of Heraldry in April 1966, and shortly thereafter the patches became available for all members of the 709th Military Police Battalion and replaced the USAREUR patch which was worn prior to 1966. Co C, 709th MP BN and 1st Platoon were headquartered at Rose Barracks, Bad Krueznach. The 2nd Platoon was headquartered at Smith Barracks, Baumholder. The 3rd Plt, Co C, 709th MP BN was headquartered on Dragooner Kaserne, adjacent the the Mainz MP Station, downtown Mainz. 3rd Platoon, Company C, 709th MP BN provided MP Duty Officers, MP Desk Sgts, MP Patrol Supervisors and MP Patrols to the the MP Stations in their area of operation in support of the Area Provost Marshal and USAREUR Provost Marshal Law Enforcement Mission. The reorganization of MP units in Germany caused the Company C, 709th Military Police Battalion to be relocated 10 January 1966 back to Pioneer Kaserne, Hanau. The 3rd Platoon, 537th MP Company replaced the 3rd Plt, Company C, 709th MP BN at Dragooner Kaserne, Mainz.
"OF THE TROOPS AND FOR THE TROOPS"
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