JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- Most people celebrate an anniversary in low-impact ways; a thoughtful card, a nice dinner, and maybe giving a gift. But most people aren't the Soldiers of Joint Base Lewis-McChord's 42nd Military Police Brigade.
The brigade ran 70 miles in honor of the Army MP Corps Regiment's 70th anniversary at Cowan Stadium on Lewis Main, Sept. 14 and 15.
Starting at 7 p.m., hundreds of volunteers from throughout the brigade ran in shifts and carried its many colors throughout the night -- a daunting task that culminated with a three-mile brigade run across post the following morning. The regiment, which will officially turn 70 on Monday, encouraged its almost two dozen active duty, Reserve, and National Guard brigades and commands and their subordinate units to participate in this run at duty stations worldwide and on deployment if possible.
Colonel Robert Taradash, 42nd MP Bde.'s commander, and his leadership teams and Soldiers from across its two local battalions and Headquarters and Headquarters Company started with the colors.
The 759th MP Battalion, stationed at Fort Carson, Colo., is also part of the 42nd MP Bde. and held its own run in conjunction with its JBLM-based parent unit. Before the first mile began, Taradash reflected that while brigade Soldiers gathered to honor 70 years of the MP Corps as an official branch, the legacy of the American military police officer is as old as America itself.
"There have been military police since the Revolutionary War when the Marechaussee Corps was formed by General (George) Washington," Taradash said, "so we've been around for a lot more than 70 years, but we're here tonight to celebrate our regiment."
The Army MP Corps Regiment, which was formed at the beginning of America's participation in World War II, has served the nation in every conflict since its inception, but Taradash especially noted the in-demand role the corps has played since 9/11. He used his own brigade as an example of MP Soldiers' selfless service.
"I can pretty much assuredly say that since 9/11 elements of this brigade have been deployed continuously," he said. "I'm honored to run with these Soldiers. They've endured a lot and most have volunteered since 9/11; I'm very proud of them."
Command Sgt. Maj. Dawn Rippelmeyer, command sergeant major of the 42nd MP Bde., ran with both the leadership and MP Soldiers from throughout the ranks. She said the effort to carry the 42nd MP Bde. and its subordinate unit colors for 70 continuous miles and finishing together with a brigadewide run had multiple significance.
"It'll symbolize 70 years of continuous military police service to the nation and the Army," she said. "Finishing together is certainly a part of our warrior ethos; we're not going to leave any of our Soldiers and comrades behind and we do everything through teamwork. We'll keep those colors moving."
In his third year in the Army, Spc. David Frank, a Soldier from 170th MP Company, 504th MP Bn., said his command sergeant major's feelings on honoring the MP corps' history weren't lost on him.
"I'm here to honor those who've gone into combat and those who've fallen," he said. "I'm here doing this for them."
Understanding the nod to 70 years of history, Master Sgt. Jametta Bland, operations sergeant major for the 508th Military Police Battalion, said she hoped her fellow troops ended their run with a better appreciation for not only being an MP Corps Soldier, but also a member of the 42nd.
"Tonight is about esprit de corps," she said. "This is an example of leadership displaying the importance of all of us working as a team ... MP Corps all the way."
David Poe: david.poe@nwguardian.com
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