281st MP Co. Trieste, Italy

APO 209 (from Oct or Nov 47 until 26 Oct 54, when troops were withdrawn from Trieste, & unit deactivated 2-12-54).

281^st Military Police Company, TRUST.  In 1941 a cadre was formed, comprising men from the 2^nd Inf. Regt., Ft. Brady, Mi., to become Co A, 702^nd MP Bn.  In 1942 the unit was redesignated the 888^th MP Co (Avn) and assigned to the 8the Air Force.  In June 1942 the unit was deployed to Gourock, Scotland, then assigned to Polbrook Airport, England and in December the unit shipped from Liverpool to Oran, Algeria, where it was assigned to Hqs. 2^nd Corps.  The unit set up shop and started performing MP duties in Oran and Algiers.  They experienced many difficulties because of improper equipment, such as rifles being issued rather than pistols; scout cards made available instead of jeeps; replacements not being trained MP’s; black market trafficking; high rates of VD and poor race relations in the ranks.  In Feb 1943 the unit was redesignated the “281^st MP Co.” and continued to perform MP duties.  In December 1944 the unit was reassigned to Rome, Italy and performed MP duties such as: town patrol, provided security to Stragglers Point, the 73^rd Hospital Prison Ward, the US Embassy, the US Rest Center and hotels occupied by American civilians, etc.  In 1945 the unit became a part of the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, United States Army (MTOUSA).   Sometime in October or November 1947 the unit was closed out in Rome and reassigned – on paper – to the TRUST Command (Trieste United States Troops), in direct conjunction and coordination with the redesignation and reassignment of the 88^th MP Plt. to become the 281^st MP Co.,  APO 209, Free Territory of Trieste (FTT), TRUST.   The unit performed MP duties, such as foot patrol and mobile patrol within the confines of the Free Territory of Trieste.  Other Duties performed encompassed traffic control, Criminal Investigation activities, vice control and military stockade operations.  These activities were performed from 1947 until 26 October 1954, at which time the US troops started a withdrawal from Trieste.to Leghorn, Italy and ultimately to CONUS.    Zone A was returned to control of the Italian government and Zone B was placed under  permanent Yugoslav control.  The 281^st MP Co. was officially deactivated on 2 December 1954, in Italy.  I would like to add that it was initially reported that no personnel were reassigned from the 281^st MP Co, Rome, Italy to the 281^st MP Co., Trieste, in 1947.  That appears to be untrue, since Pfc. Frank J. Snapp who was assigned to the Patrol Section of the Provost Marshal’s Office, Rome, in December 1946  was the 281^st MP Co, Trieste, TI&E NCO when I arrived in May 1949.  Consequently, other personnel may have also been reassigned from Rome to Trieste?