720th
Battalion History ~ 1955
~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association History Project ~
AFFEC
4th Army
This Page Last Updated ~ 2 December 2007 ~ Click on all thumbnail photographs to enlarge for viewing.
              
If you were a veteran of the 720th MP Battalion or any of its subordinate units, and recognize any of the events listed on this page, or you are a surviving family member of a Battalion veteran from this era and would like to contribute Information, personal stories, documents, media articles or photographs, please take a moment to contact the History Project Manager at the Email Link provided above for instructions or assistance. Your contributions are extremely important to the Battalion history and always welcomed.
At the start of 1955 all elements of the 720th Military Police Battalion were serving in Tokyo, occupied Japan.
January
1 January, Tokyo, Japan Annual Ration Book issued to PFC (SFC Ret.) John E. Stafford, C Company (Camp Zama), 720th MP Battalion.
720th
Date Unknown, Tokyo, Japan The personnel of the 720th MP Battalion were reassigned to the 519th MP Battalion who took over responsibility for their MP duties in Tokyo, Japan, pending departure of the 720th colors to Fort Hood, Texas.
519th
February
After 14 years of overseas deployment the 720th returns to the United States
21 February, Fort Hood After 14 years of overseas deplpoyment through WWII and duty in Occupied Japan, the 720th Military Police Battalion colors were cased and transferred from its occupation duties in Tokyo, Japan, to the 4th Army at Fort Hood, Texas. The newly formed Battalion performed discipline, law, and order functions, field exercise support, traffic control points, in addition to providing sentry support and VIP escorts.
4th Army
March
2 March, Change of Command LTC George E. Painter (last commander in Japan) passed command of the Battalion to LTC Robert M. Allgeier.
November

1 November, Fort Polk, Louisiana A Company of the 720th MP Battalion participated in Exercise SAGEBRUSH, conducted at Fort Polk, Louisiana.  It became the largest field trials held in the United States since World War II. It included 110,000 Army troops plus 40,000 Air Force personnel. The exercise scenario tested the divisions under conditions of simulated atomic war, covering 25 major areas and focusing on dispersion, communications and mobility.
WANTED: Information, photographs or personal stories relating to Exercise STAGEBRUSH, please contact the History Project Manager via the Email Link at the top of the page.
We Were All Over Louisiana CPL (SFC Ret.) William A. Sweeney, A Company, 720th MP Battalion, 4th Army, September 1955 to February 1956.
December
15 December, Fort Hood The Battalion elements assigned to Exercise SAGEBRUSH in Louisiana (1 November) completed their assignment and returned to Fort Hood.
At the end of 1955 all elements of the 720th Military Police Battalion were serving at Fort Hood, Texas.