Memories of Army Life and MPs of the 529th: The Top Military Police Company in the United States Army of the 1970s

The Top Military Police Company in the United States Army During the 1970s.

It isn’t often that the military unit in which one is serving is judged to be the best in the entire United States Army, but that’s the remarkable truth regarding the 529th Military Police Company in 1974 – and euphemistically for the decade of the 1970s.

In the early 1970s, it had been barely 25 years since the end of World War II in Europe, and Germany again was a place of violence. The children of some of the former henchmen of Nazi Germany were determined to rid their country of its American occupiers – whatever the cost – and the commanding general of the United States Army in Europe (USAREUR) was a primary target. Standing between these criminals and the pursuit of their goal of destruction in Heidelberg was the 529th Military Police Company of Patton Barracks. Though the Nazi descendants struck with violent and often fatal terroristic attacks throughout Germany in their effort to oust the American presence – striking in Heidelberg on two separate occasions causing three deaths, numerous injuries, and massive destruction of property – they were never successful in achieving their stated goal.

In 1952, the 529th had been transferred from La Rochelle, France, to Heidelberg, and assigned a security mission for the commander-in-chief (CINC) of the United States Army in Europe (USAREUR) and his staff at the sprawling USAREUR headquarters command post which had been set up in a former Nazi Germany Wehrmacht (army) installation. In this capacity, the 529th was designated not only as the protective unit for the CINC and the Deputy-CINC and their staff, but also for the Command Building at which the CINC and his staff were located; the USAREUR Command and Control Center (“War Room”); the airfield at which the CINC’s aircraft were located; the CINC’s residence; and the large complex of buildings and staff comprising the USAREUR Headquarters.

The 529th in Heidelberg was also an “Honor Guard” unit which represented and “carried the torch” for the USAREUR Command at various official ceremonies and functions throughout Europe. Within this “honor guard” mission, the 529th was (and continues to be) a sister-unit to the famed “Old Guard” in Washington, D.C.

As a result of all of the above, the 529th Military Police Company was held to an exceptionally high standard, and its proficiency soon became obvious. Only the best were selected for and retained in this unit. In 1973, the first indication of the excellence of the 529th was made apparent. It was named “First Runner-Up” for the coveted “Brig. Gen. Jeremiah P. Holland Award” recognizing the best military police company in the United States Army worldwide. In 1974, the 529th won the Holland Award outright as the top unit. In 2009, it was the recipient of the “Griffin Award” as the best U.S. Army MP unit in Europe, and in 2012 – the unit’s final year to be headquartered in Heidelberg – it again was named “First Runner-Up” for the Holland Award.

Prior to its relocation to Wiesbaden, Germany, in 2013, the 529th had existed in Heidelberg for a total of 60 years (1952-2012). Aside from its distinguished record in this historic town, this unit also had a very “colorful” cast of characters over the years, a few of whom are highlighted on the pages within this book.

This is the story of the award-winning men and women of the 529th Military Police Company of Heidelberg, Germany, who persevered in a time of deadly terrorism in the 1970s.

R. Olin Jackson was raised in northwest Georgia, where he attended the parochial schools. In 1971, he volunteered for service in the United States Army where he was trained as a military policeman and ultimately assigned to the security detail for the U.S. Army Commander of NATO, Gen. Michael S. Davison, in Heidelberg, Germany.Serving from 1972 to 1975, "R.O." was also a member of the USAREUR Color Guard detail from 1973-1975. In 1974, competing against over 170 other U.S. Army military police units, the 529th was the recipient of the prestigious "Brigadier General Jeremiah P. Holland Award" as the top military police company in the United States Army worldwide.Upon completion of his military service, R.O. was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the Army Commendation Medal and was honorably discharged.R.O. returned stateside where he earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Georgia State University in 1977, and a master's degree in political science history from the University of North Georgia in 1982.Professionally, R.O. initially landed employment as a speechwriter for a Georgia politician in 1978, moving on in the early 1980s to the University of North Georgia where he served as Director of Media Services and Sports Information.In 1984, R.O. was employed as a senior account executive with a major public relations firm in Atlanta. In this capacity he traveled throughout the United States for clients ranging from hotel chains to national resort developers.In 1987, R.O. founded Legacy Communications, Inc., where he became the executive editor and publisher of his flagship award-winning creations - North Georgia Journal and Georgia Backroads magazines - the premier travel and history publications of Georgia. He parlayed this endeavor into an 18-year publishing career.In the interim, R.O. also wrote/co-wrote and edited a selection of books, including "Moonshine, Murder and Mayhem in Georgia" (2003); "Tales of the Rails in Georgia" (2004); "Georgia Backroads Traveler" (2005); and "Georgia's Doc Holliday" (2005).In 2005, R.O. sold Legacy Communications and the magazines and semi-retired to manage an investment portfolio of commercial real estate. In 2021, he returned to the world of journalism, founding Whippoorwill Publications, LLC.R.O.'s creative works at Whippoorwill have included "Mystery & History in Georgia, Volume I" (2022) (Recently honored with a Five-Star Award by "Readers' Favorite" book awards.); and the companion to that book: "Mystery & History in Georgia, Volume II" (2023). These and other works by R.O. are available on IngramSpark.com, Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com and other fine booksellers.Other creative works include "Some Genealogy Keys to Some Georgia Family Trees" (2023) which provides detailed historic and genealogical information on ten interrelated Georgia families: the Neels, Andersons, Fricks, Hudgins, Tanners, Jordans, Gravatts, Pettyjohns, Rogers and Jacksons; and a soon-to-be-released book, "John Henry 'Doc' Holliday: A Matter of Survival" (2023).R.O. is married to the former Judy Grizzle of Dahlonega, Georgia. The couple make their home in Roswell and Rockmart, Georgia. R.O. also has a son - Burke - by a former marriage. He and his talented wife, Olga, have produced two wonderful grandchildren - Alexander and Catherine.