If you have any photographs of Battalion duty uniforms from any era, please feel free to pass them along to the History Project Manager via the Email Link above. Unless specifically noted, all the MP uniforms included in this section are from authentic photographs submitted by Battalion veterans.

1943 - New Guinea 1SG Lem Troster

    

     Prior to World War II the Military Police Corps was the red headed stepchild of the United States Army. The Department of defense found only a need for it during times of national conflict.

     It wasn't until 26 September 1941 that the MP Corps became a permanent member of the Army family.

     The primary distinction at that time between the appearance of regular GI and an MP was a black cotton or wool arm band with the white letters MP sewn onto it pinned to the left sleeve of a soldiers uniform shirt or jacket, and an OD colored steel helmet with the white letters MP painted on the front.

 

1944 HHD Section Leaders in New Guinea

Semi-dress Uniform An Olive Drab (OD), colored wool field jacket also known as the "ETO," for European Theater of Operation, or more commonly known as the "Ike" for Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower. The jacket was worn over a tan shirt, black tie, with a pair of matching OD wool pants, tan socks, and brown leather boots or low cut dress shoes.

    The hat or cap with brown brim was issued with interchangeable covers of olive drab wool, cotton khaki and white, the MP's wore the white cover. In some duty assignments the steel (pot) helmet or just a painted helmet liner was worn.

    The brassard was a black wool band with MP in white, the holster and sam brown strap were brown leather.

Field Uniform Olive Drab (OD) colored wool or cotton Field Jacket, ETO or Ike Jacket, tan shirt, OD wool or cotton pants with brown leather boots. The black tie was optional depending on the whims of the unit commander or higher authority. The soft cap or steel (pot) helmet was the standard head cover. The brassard was a black wool band with MP in white, the holster was brown leather worn on a webbed belt.

Field Uniform Summer/Tropical Khaki 8.2 ounce cotton twill shirt (long sleeved) and pants. Black tie was optional depending on command. Tan socks and brown leather boots or low cut dress shoes and leggings. The dress cap with white cover, steel (pot) helmet, or garrison cap was the standard head cover. The brassard was a black wool band with MP in white, the holster could be worn on a brown leather belt with sam brown strap, or on a webbed belt.

1943 - Australia PFC Stanley V. Knoll (D Co.)