Battalion lineage

• Constituted 12 November 1942 in the Army of the United States
  Army of the United States
  The Army of the United States is the official name for the conscription force of the United States Army that may be raised at the discretion of the United States Congress in the event of the United States entering into a major armed conflict...
  
   as the 785th Military Police Battalion
• Activated 28 November 1942 at Fort Custer, Michigan
• Inactivated 10 December 1946 on Okinawa
• Redesignated 12 February 1948 as the 300th Military Police Battalion and allotted to the Organized Reserves
• Activated 25 February 1948 with Headquarters at Chicago, Illinois
• (Organized Reserves redesignated 25 March 1948 as the Organized Reserve Corps; redesignated 9 July 1952 as the Army Reserve)
• Inactivated 30 March 1951 at Chicago, Illinois
• Redesignated 24 June 1953 as the 785th Military Police Battalion
• Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment activated 16 December 1991 at Inkster, Michigan
  Inkster, Michigan
  Inkster is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2010 census, the city population was 25,369. It is one of several suburbs in Metro Detroit whose population is majority or plurality African American.- History :...
  
  

Campaign participation credit and honors

• World War II
  World War II
  World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
  
  

1. Rhineland
2. Central Europe
   Central Europe Campaign
   After crossing the Rhine the Western Allies fanned out overrunning all of western Germany from the Baltic in the north to Austria in the south before the Germans surrendered on 8 May 1945. This is known as the "Central Europe Campaign" in United States military histories.By the early spring of...
   
   
3. Asiatic-Pacific Theater
   Pacific Theater of Operations
   The Pacific Theater of Operations was the World War II area of military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it, a geographic scope that reflected the operational and administrative command structures of the American forces during that period...
   
   , Streamer without inscription
   • Operation Iraqi Freedom 2005–2006
4. 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) 2005–2006 (online link to permanent orders, pending)

Blazon

• Shield: Vert, a double-headed battle-axe Or blades Sable fimbriated of the second, surmounted by two swords saltirewise of the like.
• Crest: That for regiments and separate battalions of the Army Reserve: On a wreath of the colors, Or and Vert, the Lexington Minute Man Proper.
  The Statue of the Minute Man, Captain John Parker (H.H. Kitson, sculptor), stands on the Common in Lexington, Massachusetts
  Lexington, Massachusetts
  Lexington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,399 at the 2010 census. This town is famous for being the site of the first shot of the American Revolution, in the Battle of Lexington on April 19, 1775.- History :...
  
  .
• Motto: SAFEGUARD AND SECURE.

Symbolism

• Shield:

1. Green and yellow (gold) are the colors traditionally associated with the Military Police Corps.
2. The battle-axe is a symbol of authority and emphasizes the mission of the Battalion in both peace and war.
3. The swords represent military readiness and commemorate the unit's two campaigns in World War II.
4. Black denotes determination and dependability; gold is for honor and excellence.
   • Crest: The crest is that of the U.S. Army Reserve.
   • Background: The coat of arms was approved on 1992-07-27.

Distinctive Unit Insignia

• Description: A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall, consisting of a gold demi-battle-axe with two black blades superimposed by two diagonally crossed gold swords, overall in base two wavy green scrolls, one above the other with the top scroll inscribed "SAFEGUARD" and the bottom scroll inscribed "AND SECURE" in gold letters.

• Symbolism:

1. Green and yellow (gold) are the colors traditionally associated with the Military Police Corps.
2. The battle-axe is a symbol of authority and emphasizes the mission of the Battalion in both peace and war.
3. The swords represent military readiness and commemorate the unit's two campaigns in World War II.
4. Black denotes determination and dependability; gold is for honor and excellence.

• Background: The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 1992-07-02.

External links (and references)

• 1 – Lineage And Honors Information
• 2 – HRC Permanent Order 031-09 dtd 31 January 2007
• Distintcive Unit Insignia information at Army Heraldry