545TH Military Police Company
1st Cavalry Division
A Pictorial History
USO Shows Activity
As of July 4, 2010

Throughout the history of the 545th Military Police Company, the unit has participated in the Security for or had the privilege of viewing numerous USO Shows around the world. The following is a short pictorial history of this activity:

Fort Bliss, Texas

Aside from southern California and New York City, there were not too many USO Shows at the beginning of WW II and since the 1st Cavalry Division shipped out for Australia almost at the very beginning they did not have the pleasure of any such activities. The only on post entertainment they had at Fort Bliss were the Post Movies or the Service Club.

 

Fort Bliss Main Post Theater circa 1940 – 1942 photo complements of Texas A&M.

 

The Fort Bliss Service Club circa 1921 – 1942 photo complements of Texas A&M.

 

Australia

 

The 545th MP Company trained 7 days a week and on top of that provided details to help load ships while they were in Australia and aside from an occasional pass to Brisbane had very little free time for shows of any kind. To date we have no record of any USO Shows playing in Australia that the MP Platoon attended.

 

Pacific Theatre

 

There were several USO Shows in the Pacific like the one shown above with Carol Landis in 1943 but to this writers knowledge the 1st Cav never got close to any of them. Photo courtesy of the Bob Hope Collection.

 

 
There was one USO show with Francis Langford held in Manila but the MP Platoon was busy elsewhere at the time. Photo courtesy of the Bob Hope Collection.

 

Japan

 

At the end of WW II the occupation troops saw very few shows with stateside entertainers. There were a few USO Shows but there is no record to date of the MP Platoon attending any of them.

 

Korea

 

In the article on the next page from the Military Police Journal and provided by the MP Corps Museum you’ll see Bob Hope being presented with a 545th MP Brassard by the 1st Cavalry Division Provost Marshal, LTC Leslie H. Pearse. Bob never forgot that. Later on in this article you see the 545th once again providing security for Bob Hope in Vietnam and at his request!

 

 

 

Vietnam

 

This Bob Hope USO Show took place in Saigon, Vietnam and although the 545th did not provide security, many of its members attended this show.

 

 
Although slightly out of the 1St Cav AO, at the personal request of Bob Hope, the 545th MP Co provides Security for this USO Christmas Show at Ch Chi Vietnam circa 1969. Bob never forgot his Cav MP’s from Korea. Note the 545th Helmets in the foreground.

 

Bob Hope in Ch Chi, RVN 1968 and the 545th MP Co was there.

 

Who can forget Connie Stevens in this famous Red Dress – the 545th MP’s sure won’t.

 



Nancy Sinatra USO Show for the 1st Cav Troopers 1967
And the 545th was there.

 

Another USO Show in the vicinity of An Khe that the 545th MP’s provided security for.

 

Another photo of the USO Show members from the group shown above in the vicinity of An Khe.

 

Afghanistan

 
At the writing of this document, there are no known contacts with any USO Shows or photographs thereof for this period of the units’ history.

 

 

Desert Storm

 
Just prior to desert Storm a USO Show was held in Saudi Arabia and members of the 545th MP Company got to attend this one. There are no photos available at this time.

The Iraq War

 

 
One of the USO Shows attended by members of the 545th MP Co in Baghdad, Iraq.

 

Another great USO Show attended by members of the 545th MP Co in Baghdad.

 

Robin Williams with a Cav Stetson at a USO Show in Baghdad.

 



NFL Football Player throws Smirf ball at a USO Show in Baghdad.

 



545th MP Co NCO, SSG Rodriguez with General Richard Myers, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff at a USO Show in Baghdad circa 2004.

 



Robin Williams on stage at a USO Show in Baghdad, Iraq circa 2004.

 

 

 


Fort Hood, Texas

There was a USO Show at Fort Hood that members of the 545th MP Co as well as III Corps MP’s provided Security and Traffic Detail for which took place on 22 June 1980. Chief entertainers were Mel Tillis and his daughter Pam Tillis, The Kendals and Gene Watson. Sadly there are no photos available of this show at the writing of this document.
545th MP Sp/4 Joe Ward provided personal security for Pam Tillis most of the day. Joe is a member of our association.

 

 

 

Bob Hope entertains the troops

(Make sure to turn off the music above, prior to viewing this video)

 

 

This document prepared by:

 
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
http://545thmpassn.com/