Steven DeNovi

2nd Armored Division

U.S. Army

The 2nd Armored Division, nicknamed "Hell on Wheels," was activated on July 15, 1940, at Fort Benning, Georgia. The division gained fame during World War II, landing in North Africa in 1942 and later participating in the invasions of Sicily and Normandy. It played a crucial role in the breakout from Saint-Lô and the subsequent advance across France, Belgium, and into Germany, including the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, the division served during the Cold War in Germany and was deployed in Operation Desert Storm before its inactivation in 1995.

The 709th Military Police Battalion was activated on 9 May 1942 at Camp Niantic, Connecticut, during World War II. It participated in the Normandy landings and subsequent European campaigns, providing critical military police support throughout France, Belgium, and Germany. After the war, the battalion remained in Europe, becoming a key element of U.S. Army Europe’s law enforcement and security operations. Today, the 709th MP Battalion is headquartered in Germany and continues to provide military police support across Europe, upholding its longstanding mission of security, order, and discipline.