545th Military Police Company and
The Generals
As of January 26, 2012

           

Since World War Two, the 545th Military Police Company has been the darling of the generals and was specifically called upon by name to perform missions and duties which were often times out of their regular Area of Operations. This highly decorated unit is often the topic of discussion amongst the generals and their staffs, much to the chagrin of other Military Police units and to the pride, tradition and history of the 545th!

General Douglas Macarthur

“No greater record has emerged from the War than that of the 1st Cavalry Division – swift and sure in the attack, tenacious and durable in defense, and loyal and cheerful under hardship. It has written its own noble history. My personal connection with it in many moments of crisis has especially endeared it to me."

“The 545th MP Company is the finest, bravest and most noble Military Police unit in the Pacific Theater”

 

MG William C. Chase, CG 1st Cavalry Division 1945 – 1949
“We refer to the 545th MP Company as the First Team’s Finest because that’s exactly what they are!”

 

MG Hobart R. Gay, CG 1st Cavalry Division, Korean War 1950 – 1951
“The 545th MP Company or the First Teams Finest as we refer to them in the Division has accomplished some extremely difficult missions in an extremely difficult part of the world – I am very proud of them and pleased to call them my MP Company”

 

General William C. Westmoreland, Vietnam, 1965 - 1970
“The First Team’s Finest can always be counted on to get the job done and that is why I have personally called upon this proud and glorious unit on numerous occasions”

 

MG John J. Tolson III
Commanding General, 1st Cavalry Division 1967 – 1968

Whatever those men in the 545th MP Company do – they do with gusto!
The 545th MP Co is the finest MP unit I have ever had the honor to have under my command

MG John J, Tolson III (photo center w/o shirt), CG 1CD plays Volley Ball with the 545th MP Company at Phouc Vinh, RVN 1967

 

MG Carl W. Gustafson, PMG US Army 1968 – 1970
“When I want some excitement and to spend a little time with some great MPs, I just visit the 545th MP Company in Vietnam” As told to CPT Sam Reinert in Phouc Vinh, Vietnam 1969

 

    

LTG Hal Moore

In a Hand written note to the 3rd Platoon Leader of the 545th MP Company, 1LT William A. Rampmeir – “Thank you for all the help that you and your men gave to me and my troopers in some very sporty situations in Vietnam”

 

General Norman Schwarzkopf, Desert Storm
“It is my understanding that the 545th MP Company has volunteered to take the point for the 1st Cavalry Division when we cross the berm into Iraq? Where else would you put the First Team’s Finest but in the lead?”

 

 

General Tommy Franks. Iraq, OIF II
“Those good old boys from the First Teams Finest will get it done every time. I remember them well from Vietnam when I was a very junior officer in the
First Cavalry Division”

 

 

MG David D. McKiernan, CG 1st Cavalry Division from 1999 until 2001 reenlists SGT Eric Soderlund of the 545th MP Company in his office
MG McKiernan was a big fan of the First Team’s Finest.
Eric is a member of our association

 

 

GEN P.W. Chiarelli, Vice Chairman, US Army Chief of Staff who commanded the 1st Cavalry Division during OIF II - note the inscription “To the officers, men and women of the First Team’s Finest”

 

 

GEN Chiarelli took time from his busy schedule in Baghdad to say a few words to the First Team’s Finest in 2004 during the Change of Command Ceremony between CPT Townsend and CPT Mularoni and showed up unannounced.

 

 

Seen here are CPT Ian Townsend and MG Chiarelli during one of the generals many visits to the 545th MP Company AO in 2004

 

 

CPT Ian Townsend,
CO 545th MP Company and LTG Sanchez in Baghdad 2004

 

GEN Richard Myers, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff shaking hands with 545th MP, SSG Rodriguez in Baghdad in 2004 “ I just had to have a photo taken with one of you MPs from the famous First Team’s Finest”

 

 

     

BG Rodney L. Johnson, PMG US Army 2006 – 2010

As stated to CPT Sam Reinert after the reactivation ceremony for the 545th MP Company at Ft Richardson, Alaska in 2008 “One of the most memorable experiences of my military career is when I commanded the First Team’s Finest at Fort Hood, Texas as a very young Captain” Note the inscription – To the officers, men and women of the First Team’s Finest

 

 

    

                                                     BG David D. Phillips                         BG Phillips in Stetson

“One of the proudest moments of my life is when I was made an honorary member of the First Team’s Finest at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and presented with one of their famous Stetsons”

 
As you can plainly see, the 545th MP Company has been no stranger to Generals and in fact the generals often sought our unit out. When GEN Peter Pace was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs (he is a Marine General), he was once asked who the First Team’s Finest were and he responded “Why everyone knows that is the 545th MP Company!”

GEN Westmoreland’s aide once called the 1st Cav PM in Vietnam, LTC Pearson direct and asked specifically for the 545th MP Company to assist with putting down a riot in the Long Binh jail. When LTC Pearson inquired what orders was he getting and from what HQS the reply was VO (verbal order) Westmoreland. That was enough for the 1CD G3 and our PM. We were on our way within less than 30 minutes.

The 545th MP Company is proud of its history and especially proud to know that down through years, we have always had good relationships with the generals of all branches of the military service.

 

MG Robert L. Howze ............................... September 1921 - June 1925                                           
BG Joseph C. Castner.................................June 1925 - January 1926
MG Edwin B. Winans........................ ...... January 1926 - October 1927
BG Samuel D. Rockenback.....................  October 1927 - November 1927
MG G. Van Horn Moseley...................... November 1927 - September 1929
BG Charles J. Symmonds........................September 1929 - October 1930
BG George C. Barnhardt......................... October 1930 - December 1930
MG Ewing E. Booth................................ .December 1930 - March 1932
BG Walter C. Short......................................March 1932 - March 1933
MG Frank R. McCoy...................................March 1933 - October 1933
BG Walter C. Short......................................October 1933 - April 1934
BG Hamilton S. Hawkins............................ April 1934 - September 1936
BG George Vidmer................................September 1936 - September 1936
BG Francis LeJ. Parker............................September 1936 - October 1936
MG Ben Lear............................................October 1936 - November 1938
MG Kenyon A. Joyce................................November 1938 - October 1940
MG Robert C. Richardson, Jr......................October 1940 - February 1941
MG Innis Palmer Swift................................February 1941 - August 1944
MG Verne D. Mudge...................................August 1944 - February 1945
BG Hugh F.T. Hoffman..................................February 1945 - July 1945
MG William C. Chase...................................July 1945 - February 1949
BG William B. Bradford.............................February 1949 - February 1949
MG John M. Devine....................................February 1949 - August 1949
BG Henry I. Hodes...................................August 1949 - September 1949
MG Hobart R. Gay..................................September 1949 - February 1951
MG Charles D. Palmer.................................February 1951 - July 1951
MG Thomas L. Harrold...................................July 1951 - March 1952
MG Arthur G. Trudeau..................................March 1952 - March 1953
BG William J. Bradley...................................March 1953 - April 1953
MG Joseph P. Cleland....................................May 1953 - June 1953
MG Armistead D. Mead...............................June 1953 - December 1954
BG Orlando C. Troxel, Jr..............................December 1954 - May 1955
MG Edward J. McGaw.................................May 1955 - November 1956
MG Edward H.J. Carns..............................November 1956 - August 1957
MG Ralph W. Zwicker................................October 1957 - January 1958
MG George E. Bush.....................................January 1958 - April 1959
MG Charles E. Beauchamp..............................April 1959 - May 1960
MG Charles G. Dodge.................................May 1960 - December 1960
MG Frank H. Britton....................................December 1960 - July 1961
MG James K. Woolnough......................... ..July 1961 - September 1962
BG D. C. Clayman....................................September 1962 - October 1962
MG Clifton F. VonKann.................................October 1962 - June 1963
BG Charles P. Brown....................................June 1963 - August 1963
MG Charles F. Leonard, Jr..........................August 1963 - October 1964
MG Hugh Exton...........................................October 1964 - June 1965
MG Harry W.O. Kinnard...................................July 1965 - May 1966
MG John Norton.............................................May 1966 - March 1967
MG John J. Tolson.......................................March 1967 - August 1968
BG Richard L. Irby.......................................August 1968 - August 1968
MG George I. Forsythe..................................August 1968 - April 1969
MG Elvy B. Roberts.........................................May 1969 - May 1970
MG George W. Casey......................................May 1970 - July 1970
MG George W. Putnam, Jr...............................July 1970 - May 1971
MG James C. Smith.....................................May 1971 - January 1973
MG Robert M. Shoemaker.........................January 1973 - February 1975
MG Julius W. Becton, Jr..........................February 1975 - November 1976
MG W. Russell Todd...............................November 1976 - November 1978
MG Paul S. Williams, Jr..........................November 1978 - November 1980
MG Richard D. Lawrence.............................November 1980 - July 1982
MG Andrew P. Chambers................................July 1982 - June 1984
MG Michael J. Conrad....................................June 1984 - June 1986
MG John J. Yeosock......................................June 1986 - May 1988
MG William F. Streeter....................................May 1988 - July 1990
MG John H. Tilelli, Jr........................................July 1990 - July 1992
MG Wesley K. Clark......................................July 1992 - March 1994
MG Eric K. Shinseki......................................March 1994 - July 1995
MG Leon J. LaPorte........................................July 1995 - July 1997
MG Kevin P. Byrnes.....................................July 1997 - October 1999
MG David D. McKiernan.............................October 1999 - October 2001
MG Joseph F.H. Peterson........................ ..October 2001 - August 2003
MG Peter W. Chiarelli.............................. .August 2003 - November 2005
MG Joseph F. Fil, Jr.................................November 2005 - February 2008
BG Vincent K. Brooks..................................February 2008 - April 2008
MG Daniel P. Bolger........................................April 2008 - April 2010
MG Daniel B. Allyn............................................April 2010 - Present

 

 

If any one should have any additions or corrections for this photo history, please contact –

Sam Reinert
CPT MP USAR (Ret)
Founder
545th Military Police Company Association
626 1/2 South 9th Street
Richmond, Indiana 47374 USA
(765) 962 4627 phone & FAX
Samreinert1@545thmpcoassn.org