Military Museums Click links below: Camp White - Medford, Oregon United States Army Military History Institute - Carlisle, PA United States Constabulary Museum - Ft. Riley, Kansas  - Sorry, Now Closed. CAMP WHITE Historical Association and Museum P.O. Box 2373, White City Oregon 97503 Near Medford, Oregon The  91st Div. trained here and fought the full length of Italy.           A display of pictures for the U.S. ARMY CONSTABULARY      During WW11 we had a Army Training Camp built out side of Medford Oregon in 1942, which was torn down in 1946.  The Hospital was built of bricks, so still remains and is a Veterans DOM. They have allowed us to put up a Museum here of the 91st Div. that trained here and fought the full length of Italy.  The  91st History is first but we have so much room we honor other wars and military Branches.       We have a display of pictures for the  U.S. Constabulary.  A trooper may donate his photo.  The Museum consists of pictures on one side and full uniform displays on the other. Every one that comes through really like the Museum. I am proud to be the Commander of this operation, I have been for a little over a year.  The Museum will be two years old Veterans Day. I am a retired Master Sgt. with 28 years military service.  "Al Inlow" For more information on this museum you can contact me at:   constab@cdsnet.net To see more of Al's Constabulary Days click below on Sonthofen. Sonthofen-Germany.

Cold War Warriors, The Elite of the U.S. Army, Comrades, your Ladies, and your guests.

I cannot describe for you how very proud and deeply honored I am that you have asked me to participate in the dedication ceremony this afternoon.

It is great to be here among my own
.
I had a full military career.  As you were told, I fought a tank during W.W.II, served in Vietnam for two years, and commanded the 14th Armored Cavalry Regiment along the "Iron Curtain" during the Berlin Crisis of 1961.

Yet, my service in the U.S. Constabulary stands out as one of the great highlights of my military career.

I feel very possessive about the Constabulary.  I was there at the very beginning.  I am a charter member.  More than that I feel like a mid-wife, a parent.  I was there for the birthing of the U.S. constabulary.  It takes nine months to birth a baby.  I watched closely and helped birth this baby in only six months.  From beginning to reality in only six months--a staggering accomplishment.

Let me now take a few minutes to review for you some information with which many of you are already familiar.

 When W.W.II in Europe ended, Germany was not only defeated, but ws demoralized, destroyed, and devastated.  The Country was a shambles.

The victorious nations would jointly assume the occupation of Germany by dividing it into four Zones of Occupation:  the Russian, British, French, and the United States.

As was the case with the other armies, the United States Army was faced with unbelievably difficult and unprecedented challenges.  There was no functioning municipal, state, national, or border police.  the beaten country was flooded with refugees and displaced persons.  It was the tactical units put in place after the war that prevented chaos.

One of these was the Fourth Armored Division.  This Division had distinguished itself by spearheading the advance of Gen. Patton's Third Army across Europe.  As the war was ending, it had been told that it would be a permanent occupation Division.

After VE Day, the battalions of the division were spread throughout its occupation zone, and were starting to bring law and order to the communities, and began assisting the German citizens to get their lives back together.

During the war I was a Tank Battalion Commander, but as the occupation began, I subsequently became Chief of Staff of the division.  We were working hard to accomplish our assigned missions when, without warning, we were hit by a combination hurricane, cyclone, tornado.

We wee told that the Division which had won fame during the war in  Europe would be summarily deactivated, would be a division no more.  This was staggering, unbelievable news.  What came next was even more astonishing.  We learned that as the Division was being deactivated, its units would become the nucleus of a brand new, unique, specialized force--so special and so unique that none like it had ever before existed in our Army.  It was to be a force especially created for the special needs of a successful occupation of Germany.  It would be called the United States Constabulary.

We were seized with an unprecedented sense of urgency, Thousands of task, it seemed, had to be accomplished at once.  As Chief of Staff I was the focal point.  But I had the direction and guidance of the Division Commander, Maj. Gen. Fay B. Prickett, and the full support and cooperation of the division staff and the commanders and staff of all subordinate units.  It was our responsibility to get the job done.  And what a big job it was!

The division had immediately to divest itself of all the items that had helped make it a fearsome power during WWII--its tanks halftracks, armored artillery-- its hundreds of trucks, engineer and maintenance equipment.

Even more important was the psychological change.  There had to be a different mindset.  No longer were the tactical troops--warriors, fighters.  Yes, they were still soldiers, but now they would have to learn to be soldier/policemen Constabulary Troopers.

Tremendous coordination had to be effected with the First Infantry Division.  They would take over the 4th's area of responsibility.  Their units had to be in place, as units of the 4th withdrew.

VI Corps Headquarters would furnish the elements needed to organize the constabulary Headquarters, but the 4th Armored Division became the nucleus for much of the rest.  Division Headquarters became the 1st Constabulary Brigade:  Combat Command "A" the 2nd Brigade, and Combat Command "B" the Third Brigade.

Something new came into being--three Regimental Headquarters in each of the Brigades.  And under the Regiments were battalion sized units called {after the Cavalry} Squadrons.  All battalions of the 4th Armored division, regardless of what they had been before, became Squadrons, and were scattered in all three brigades.  Tremendous planning and coordination had to be effected in the creation and organization of all these units.

There were not enough battalions in the 4th Armored to flesh out all the Regiments.  So tank, field artillery, antiaircraft and other battalions were gathered through the Theater, and integrated with the battalions of the 4th.

As all of this was taking place, each unit had to throw out its TO/E [tables of organization and equipment], and had to be equipped accordingly to the Constabulary TO/E.  Simultaneously, every soldier turned his back on his specialty--tanker, infantryman, artilleryman, and each one trained hard in his new role--that of soldier/policeman.

And almost at once--everywhere it seemed--on every vehicle, every sign, and on the helmets and shoulder of every trooper appeared the now famous yellow circle with the blue"C" crossed by the red bolt of lightning.

At the outset the mission seemed almost impossible, the challenges more than daunting.  But, amazingly, the mission was accomplished.  The U.S. Constabulary accomplished the U. S. Army's mission of insuring the success of the American occupation of Germany.

Why was the mission so successfully accomplished?  It was because of YOU, [pointing to seated troopers], YOU, and YOU--every damned one of YOU--the Constabulary Troopers.

The warriors of W.W.II, the "high pointers," had left.  They were home.

YOU came to replace them.  YOU were 17, 18, 19, 20, year old kids.

YOU had limited military experience and service.

But YOU became the backbone of the Constabulary.

YOU faced a situation that had never existed before.

YOU were confronted with unbelievable, unprecedented, demanding challenges.

YOU had no preparation for this job.  There were no Field Manuals to study--no precedent.  There had been nothing like it ever before.
YOU were given tremendous responsibilities, very little direction, supervision.

YOU were given the freedom to use your judgment, initiative.

YOU had to improvise, to "wing it."

YOU operated far and wide, in small groups, covered lots  of ground--very often only two of you to a jeep.

YOU patrolled the border--were National, State, Municipal Police; raided Displaced Persons Camps; policed the highways.

YOU were confronted with every temptation known to man.  Yet through you were just kids--you resisted, did not succumb to those pressures.

During the entire time of its existence, I know of no scandal, no serious incident that marred or tainted the United States Constabulary.

Yes, YOU were in and part of a unique organization with a most unique mission that would make its place in military history.

Today as you look at Europe and see the Germany of today, YOU should take tremendous pride, for it was YOU by your actions that helped jumps start that Country to what it is today.  It was a  country on its knees.  It was the initial care and feeding that YOU gave it that provided the boost it needed.  YOU helped pick it up off its knees.
Germany owes each of YOU a profound thank you.

There were rules established and edicts issued, and YOU forcefully and professionally enforced those rules and edicts.

But YOU were not the swashbuckling, swaggering, over-bearing, chest-thumping conquerors.  Anything but.  You met your responsibilities in a professional manner, but toward the beaten, defeated Germans YOU were sensitive, caring, compassionate--very human.

And when the Germans saw approaching the yellow colors, the Circle"C"--they did not run and hide or recoil in great fear.  Rather, they watched YOU with gratitude and respect.

What more can I say about you and the Constabulary?

Now very shortly, we will dedicate a museum, and her once again we have a typically unique Constabulary situation.

Units with long years, many decades of service, long histories establish museums, and do so with the help of Foundations and sizable grants from Corporations.

And here we have and outfit that existed for only six years with no help from Foundation or Corporations wanting to establish a museum.

The amazing part, as we will soon see, it is succeeding.  It is succeeding because YOU wanted a museum, and YOU have done something about it.  This is a museum that, thus far, has developed entirely from within.  It has taken vision, dedication, hard work.

But after all--isn't that what the U.S. Constabulary had been all about.

There is one individual to whom we all owe a great debt of gratitude.  He is a museum expert.  He is every bit as eager to see a successful Constabulary museum as we are.  For at least five years he had provided encouragement, professional guidance and advice.   His invaluable assistance has helped make all of this happen today.  Let's give a big hand of thanks to Terry Van Meter. [Standing Ovation by the Members].

This is a great moment for us all, and I am delighted and thrilled to be a part of it.
Thank you.

The above article came out the Lightning Bolt Booklet Volume 3, No. 3 April, 1999.

U. S.  Constabulary Museum Photos
All photos were taken by Irene Moore
Click on the photos to view them larger 
 

         
Poster of the 10th Regiment        US Zone Road Map   



Poster at Entrance of Museum



Military Money



U.S. Constabulary Jeep


U.S. Constabulary Motorcycle


M-8 Armored Car


U.S. Constabulary Troopers


United States Constabulary Uniform

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United States Constabulary Tanks

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