~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association History Project ~
Battalion Campaigns and Decorations
 Includes organic companies and attached units
This Page Last Updated   7 July 2015
The Battalions CHARLIE Company and the 813th MP Company were the first military police companies to be awarded the "Presidential (at that time called the "Distinguished") Unit Citation for their participation in the Papuan Campaign," in June 1943.
If you notice any errors or omissions, can provide any missing units, General Orders, summaries, information, or photographs of the presentation ceremonies for any of these awards, decorations and campaigns, or would just like to offer a comment, please notify the History Project Manager via the Email Link provided above.

     Most of the honors, awards, and campaigns listed for the 720th Military Police Battalion and its organic units have been verified by official military archival records (issuing authority and orders numbers listed), however, some have yet to be verified through official documentation and their status are so noted by an asterisk or notation - Citation Needed. For those yet to be verified, the original information was obtained from interviews with former Battalion veterans, unofficial units histories, or period press releases.

     If you served with any of the units listed on this page during the time periods specified for the campaigns or unit decorations, and they do not appear on you military records of service, feel free to download those accessible via PDF or contact the History Project Manager for copies or information on those that are not.
Battalion and individual Company awards and honors are displayed during formal military ceremonies on the
 
The Streamer Project

     The Reunion Association is currently conducting a program during which we are asking for donations to assist us in obtaining each and every officially authorized streamer for our own Battalion (Vietnam) Colors and the Unit Guidon's of the organic companies. The Colors and the Guidon's with their attached decorations are displayed at each Reunion to honor those Soldiers Of The Gauntlet  who were taken from our ranks in the line of duty, war and humanitarian deployments throughout the world, as well as to recognize those who have served honorably in the past, and those who currently fill our ranks.
     The If you would like to make a donation or require additional information, please use this link to The Streamer Project
 
Remember, thousands of Veterans have earned medals for bravery every day. A few are even awarded.
     The Decorations and Campaigns show on this page are specific to Headquarters & Headquarters Company/Detachment Battalion Colors. Joint and separate decorations and awards for each of the Battalion's Companies Guidon's are listed in the Index below.
     The joint Army/Navy Phonetic (radio) Alphabet used to identify the names of the battalion’s letter companies: Company A – Able, Company B – Baker, Company C – Charlie, and Company D – Dog, was first developed in 1941, and continued until 1956 when replaced with the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet (ICAO or NATO phonetic alphabet). It was at this time that three of the letter company names, with the exception of Company C – Charlie, changed. Company A was now called Alpha, Company B – Bravo, and Company D – Delta.
U.S. Army
MP Corps
720h MP
Battalion
U.S. Army
Colors
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World War II
Asiatic-Pacific Theater
20 January 1942 ~ 8 September 1945
Basic Service Medals and Ribbons authorized for the individual Battalion soldiers serving in the WW II Asiatic-Pacific Theater.
Click on ribbon for criteria
WWII Victory
American Campaign
Asiatic Pacific Campaign
Philippine Liberation
Honorable Service Pin (Ruptured Duck)
ABLE
BAKER
CHARLIE
DOG
MEDICAL DET
 

     During WWII 1942 ~ 1945, Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment earned three of the 21 U.S. Army Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Streamers, and a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation before moving into Tokyo on Occupation and later Security Duty. Papua (Northeastern New Guinea) 23 July 1942 – 23 January 1943. New Guinea, 24 January 1943 – 31 December 1944. Luzon (Philippines) 15 December 1944 – 4 July 1945.

ABLE Company was awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
BAKER Company was awarded the Papuan Campaign Streamer, Meritorious unit Citation (GO No. 19, HQ New Guinea Base Section, 25 June 1945), and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
CHARLIE Company was awarded the Distinguished (Presidential) Unit Citation-Papua (GO No. 21, 6 May 1943 and GO No. 31, 10 June 1943) with the , Meritorious Unit Citation (GO No. 19, HQ New Guinea Base Section, 25 June 1945), Papuan Campaign Streamer, and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
DOG Company was awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. Medical Detachment (+) earned the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
Decorations

Philippine Presidential Unit Citation

Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment
Streamer Embroidered 17 October 1944 to 4 July 1945 Headquarters, and Headquarters Detachment, 720th Military Police Battalion Cited; Department of The Army General Orders No. 47-50, 1945 (orders needed)
Campaign Streamers
     The Asiatic-Pacific and European-African-Middle Eastern Theaters of World War II were addressed differently than the other conflicts on this page. Many of the World War II campaigns extended over long periods of time, and overlapped other campaigns in the same theater. Consequently, the war in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and that in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater were treated as separate wars. Each war was described in a narrative style within a framework of broadly outlined operations. Within each operation there may have been more than one campaign covered. From 7 December 1941 through 2 September 1945 there were a total of twenty-one separate and overlapping campaigns conducted in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

Papuan Campaign
*(9th U.S. Campaign) 23 July 1942 - 23 January 1943

New Guinea Campaign
*(11th U.S. Campaign) 24 January 1943 - 31 December 1944

Luzon Campaign
*(17th U.S. Campaign) 15 December 1944 - 4 July 1945
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Occupied Japan
8 September 1945 ~ 21 February 1955
Basic Service Medals and Ribbons authorized for the individual Battalion soldiers serving in the Occupied Japan Theater.
Click on ribbon for criteria
1
2
3
Occupation Medal-Japan Bar
Korean Service
U.N. Korean Service-Korea Bar
     Although the Battalion did not physically serve in South Korea, its veterans- to include its Medical Detachment who served in Occupied Japan, are also eligible for the award of the Korean Service and United Nations Service Medals under Department of The Army, General Orders No. 39, 9 June 1955. Criteria page 1, Unit List page 17.
Decorations

Meritorious Unit Commendation   (1st)

Headquarters & Headquarters Company, Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog Companies, and Medical Detachment
(Army) Streamer embroidered Korea 1 July 1950-27 July 1954
     With the start of hostilities in South Korea, the Battalion remained in Tokyo on occupation duty rebuilding Charlie Company. The award citation recognizes the Battalion for its ability to perform its occupation and security mission in metropolitan Tokyo after having Charlie Company, and volunteers from HQ&HQ Detachment, Able, Baker, and Dog Companies to fill its TO&E, redesigated as the X Corps MP Company (Provisional), and assigned to the landing at Inchon, Korea subordinate to the X Corps Headquarters, U.S. 8th Army.
     War Department, General Orders No. 22 with Citation, Pages 9 & 10, 30 March 1954.  
     *United States Army Forces, Far East, General Order No. 36, 1954 (official orders needed)
     Department of the Army, General Order No. 42 with Citation, 22 June 1955, Page 4.
     *Department of the Army, General Orders No. 109, 6 April 1955 (official orders needed)
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Vietnam War
10 October 1966 ~ 13 August 1972
Basic Service Medals and Ribbons authorized for the individual Battalion soldiers serving in the South Vietnam Theater.
Click on ribbon for criteria
National Defense Service
Vietnam Service
Vietnam Campaign with 60s Bar
Decorations

Meritorious Unit Commendation   (2nd)

Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment, Alpha, Bravo, Charlie Companies, & 615th MP Company
     (Army) Streamer embroidered Vietnam 19 October 1966-31 May 1967, Department of the Army General Order No. 17, 23 April 1968, Section II, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Paragraph 114, Page 85. NOTE: The PDF download time is long due to the number of pages.

Meritorious Unit Commendation   (3rd)

Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment, Alpha, Bravo, Charlie Companies, & 615th MP Company
(Army) Streamer embroidered Vietnam 1 June 1967-8 February 1968, Department of the Army General Order No. 48, 13 September 1968, Section II, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Paragraph 32, Page 27. NOTE: The PDF download time is long due to the number of pages.,

Meritorious Unit Commendation   (4th)

Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment, Alpha, Bravo, Charlie Companies, & 212th Military Police Company (Sentry Dog)
(Army) Streamer embroidered Vietnam 15 February 1968-1 February 1969, Department of the Army General Order No. 36, 8 July 1970, Section IV, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Paragraph 24, page 5.
with Palm

Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment
18th Military Police Brigade and attached and assigned units, Streamer Embroidered Vietnam 15 February 1966-1972, Department of the Army General Order No. 6, 23 February 1974, Section II, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Paragraph 5, Page 7.
Campaign Streamers

Counteroffensive, Phase II
*(4th Campaign) 1 July 1966 through 31 May 1967

Counteroffensive, Phase III
*(5th Campaign) 1 June 1967 through 29 January 1968

Tet Counteroffensive
*(6th Campaign) 30 January 1968 through 1 April 1968

Vietnamese Counteroffensive, Phase IV
*(7th Campaign) 2 April 1968 through 30 June 1968

Vietnamese Counteroffensive, Phase V
*(8th Campaign) 1 July 1968 through 1 November 1968

Vietnamese Counteroffensive, Phase VI
*(9th Campaign) 2 November 1968 through 22 February 1969

Tet 69/Counteroffensive
*(10th Campaign) 23 February 1969 through 8 June 1969

Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
*(11th Campaign) 9 June 1969 through 31 October 1969

Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
*(12th Campaign) 1 November 1969 through 30 April 1970

Sanctuary Counteroffensive
*(13th Campaign) 1 May 1970 through 30 June 1970

Vietnamese Counteroffensive, Phase VII
*(14th Campaign) 1 July 1970 through 30 June 1971

Consolidation I
*(15th Campaign) 1 July 1971 through 30 November 1971

Consolidation II
*(16th Campaign) 1 December 1971 through 29 March 1972

Vietnam Cease Fire Campaign
*(17th Campaign) 30 March 1972 through 28 March 1973
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On 31 August 1972 the Battalion's letter companies were deactivated and replaced with numbered companies. The 401st replaced Alfa Company, the 410th replaced Bravo Company, and the 411th Replaced Charlie Company.
Operation DESERT SHIELD / STORM
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq
15 October 1990 ~ 21 April 1991
Basic Service Medals and Ribbons authorized for the individual Battalion soldiers serving in the Desert Shield / Storm Theater.
Click on ribbon for criteria
National Defense
Southwest Asia Service
Kuwait Liberation (Saudi)
Kuwait Liberation
Decorations

Meritorious Unit Commendation   (5th)

Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment
(no attached units were recognized in this order)
(Army) Streamer embroidered Southwest Asia 13 October 1990-13 April 1991, Department of The Army General Orders No. 17, 19 June 1992, Section VIII, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Page 7.
Campaign Streamers

Defense Of Saudi Arabia
Army Streamer embroidered 2 August 1990 through 16 January 1991, Department of the Army, General Orders No. 7, Section II, Page 17

Liberation And Defense Of Kuwait
Army Streamer embroidered 17 January-11 April 1991,
Department of the Army, General Orders No. 7, Section III, Page 42

Southwest Asia Cease Fire
Army Streamer embroidered 12 April 1991 through 30 November 1995 (orders needed)
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Operation RESTORE HOPE
Somalia
1992 ~ 1993
Basic Service Medals and Ribbons authorized for the individual Battalion soldiers serving in the operational area.
Click on ribbon for criteria
National Defense
Armed Forces Expeditionary
Decorations

Joint Meritorious Unit Award   (Basic)

Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment
(no attached units were recognized in this order)
*Army Streamer embroidered Restore Hope 1993, Department of The Army General Orders No. 13, 29 June 1993. Citation Needed.
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Operation SEA SIGNAL
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, (GTMO) Cuba
1994 ~ 1996
Basic Service Medals and Ribbons authorized for the individual Battalion soldiers serving in the operational area.
Click on ribbon for criteria
National Defense
Decorations

Joint Meritorious Unit Award   (2nd)

Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment
(no attached units were recognized in this order)
(Army) Streamer embroidered Sea Signal 1994-1996, Department of The Army, General Orders No. 14, 11 April 1997, Section VIII- Joint Meritorious Unit Award,Joint Task Force 160, for Operation Sea Signal, Page 34.
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Operations JOINT ENDEAVOR / GUARD
Bosnia
1996 ~ 1997
Basic Service Medals and Ribbons authorized for the individual Battalion soldiers serving in the operational area.
Click on ribbon for criteria
National Defense
Armed Forces Expeditionary
Decorations

Army Superior Unit Award   (Basic)

HQ & HQ Detachment, 720th MP Battalion
(to include the assigned or attached units)
64th MP Company, 401st MP Company, 410th MP Company,
411th MP Company.

(Army) Streamer embroidered, Bosnia 1994-1996, Department of The Army, General Orders No. 15, 11 April 1997, Section IV,14 June 1994 - 13 January 1996 Page 3, Citation Needed.

Army Superior Unit Award   (2nd)

HQ & HQ Detachment, 720th MP Battalion
Army Superior Unit (1st OLC) , (Army) Streamer embroidered, Bosnia 1996, Department of The Army, General Orders No. 25, 8 June 2001, Section X, Task Force Eagle, 1st Armored Division, 14 January 1996-9 November 1996, Page 55. Citation Needed.

Army Superior Unit Award   (3rd)

HQ & HQ Detachment, 720th MP Battalion
Army Superior Unit (2nd OLC) , (Army) Streamer embroidered, Bosnia 1996-1997, Department of The Army, General Orders No. 25, 8 June 2001, Section X, Task Force Eagle Covering Force, 1st Infantry Division, 10 November 1996-4 April 1997, Page 59, Citation Needed.
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Operation IRAQI FREEDOM
IRAQI, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
19 March 2003 ~ 15 December 2011
Basic Service Medals and Ribbons authorized for the individual Battalion soldiers serving in the Iraqi Theater.
Click on ribbon for criteria
National Defense
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary
Global War on Terrorism Service
Southwest Asia Service

*Combat Action Badge
History and Qualifications for the The Combat Action Badge
Decorations

Meritorious Unit Commendation   (6th)

Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment
29 December 2004-8 November 2005
(to include the assigned or attached units)
64th MP Company, 11 March-8 November 2005
401st MP Company, 5 February-8 November 2005
411th MP Company, 20 March-8 November 2005
Battery A, 1st Battalion, 151st Field Artillery Regiment
3 January-8 November 2005,
Battery C, 1st Battalion, 151st Field Artillery Regiment
15 June-8 November 2005
Detachment, HQ&HQ Battery, 1st Battalion,
182nd Field Artillery Regiment
30 January-8 November 2005
313th MP Detachment
7 January-30 September 2005

(Army) Streamer embroidered 26 December 2004-8 November 2005, Department of The Army, General Orders No. 12, 16 December 2009, Section IV, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Page 5. 

(Citation) Department of the Army, Human Resources Command, Permanent Orders No. 337-03, 3 December 2007.

Valorous Unit Award   (Basic)

Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment
(to include the assigned or attached units)
64th Military Police Company
401st Military Police Company
411th Military Police Company
615th Military Police Company
978th Military Police Company
855th Military Police Company

(Army) Streamer embroidered 15 April 2003-5 November 2003, Department of The Army, General Orders No. 3, 6 November 2007, Section IV, Valorous Unit Award, Page 7. 

Army Superior Unit Award   (4th)

Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment
1 December 2005 to 31 December 2006
(to include the following assigned or attached units)
26th MP Company
1 December 2005 to 31 December 2006
64th MP Company
1 December 2005 to 31 December 2006
110th MP Company
29 October 2006 to 31 December 2006
178th MP Detachment
1 December 2005 to 31 December 2006
401st MP Company
1 December 2005 to 31 December 2006
410th MP Company
1 December 2005 to 15 June 2006
411th MP Company
1 December 2005 to 31 December 2006
Army Superior Unit (3rd OLC) , (Army) Streamer embroidered, 1 December 2005-31 December 2006, Department of The Army, General Orders No. 12, 10 August 2010, Section II, Army Superior Unit Award, Page 3, Citation Needed.

Meritorious Unit Commendation   (7th Pending)

Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment
4 March 2007-29 October 2007

*(Citation) Department of the Army, Human Resources Command, Permanent Orders No. 233-24, 21 August 2009, Page 2.
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Operation ENDURING FREEDOM
Afghanistan
11 September 2001 ~ Current
Basic Service Medals and Ribbons authorized for the individual Battalion soldiers serving in the Afghan Theater.
Click on ribbon for criteria
National Defense
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary
Global War on Terrorism Service
Afghan Campaign
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