US Army Training Center - Yearbook (Fort Polk, LA)

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PHILIP C. WEHLE Major General, U. S. Army Commanding General Major General Philip C. Wehle was born on 5 September, 1906, at Westport, Connecticut. He graduated from the United States Military Acad- emy, West Point, New York, on 12 June, 1930, and was commissioned a second lieutenant of Field Artillery in the Regular Army. He began his military service as a battery offi- cer in the 82d Field Artillery at Fort Bliss, Texas and served in this capacity until 1933, when he attended the Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in 1934. He was then assigned to the 11th Field Artillery, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Returning to the United States in November, 1936, General Wehle began a four-year tour of duty as an instructor at the Military Academy, which ended in 1940 when he was assigned to the newly activated 99th Field Artillery Battalion CPackJ at Fort Hoyle, Maryland. Early in 1942 he was assigned to the 603d Field Artillery in the Asiatic-Paciiic Theater. Later that year he became Personnel Oiiicer CG-ll of the First Joint Army-Navy Task Force Head- quarters in the Pacific. He served there until his return to the United States in May, 1943, and became battalion commander of the 616th Field Artillery CPackJ at Camp Carson and Camp Hale, Colorado. In 1944, General Wehle served in the Euro- pean Theater of Operations as Assistant Corps Artillery Officer of the XVIII Airborne Corps through the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe Campaigns. He returned to the United States in 1946 and was assigned to Headquarters of the Army Ground Forces in Washington, D. C., and Fort Monroe, Va., where he first served in the Plans Section, Policy Group and later as Sec- retary of the General Staff. In May, 1950, he returned to the European Theater and served with Headquarters, United States Army, Europe. From August, 1952 to June, 1953, he attended the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, and then served as an instructor at that installation from June, 1953 until September, 1954. Arriving in the Far East on 1 October, 1954, General Wehle was assigned to the Korean Mili- tary Advisory Group and later became Senior KMAG Advisor to the Second ROK Army. He remained here until his appointment as 7th Divi- sion Artillery Commander on 7 July, 1955. Gen- eral Wehle was then appointed I Corps Artillery Commander in September, 1955. In 1956 he returned to the United States and assumed com- mand of the 2d Division Artillery, Fort Lewis, Washington. From 30 August, 1957 to June, 1959, General Wehle was Assistant Commandant, U. S. Army Artillery and Missile School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In August, 1959 he was assigned to Europe and became Chief of the U. S. Military Assistance Advisory Group to France. Since 10 September, 1962, General Wehle has been serving as Commanding General, United States Army Training Center, Infantry, Fort Polk, Louisiana.

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Chapel Visitors Lounge ing in over 1300 square miles of territory. In July, 1962, the first trainees arrived at Fort Polk for Basic Combat Training at the newly established United States Army Training Center, Infantry. In addition the Center also conducts Advanced Individual, Common Specialist, and Basic Unit Training. Its location, climate, and terrain makes Fort Polk an out- standing training area the year-round. The climate is mild, with gulf breezes modifying the summer season and tempering the winter chill. Freezing temperatures seldom occur, although periodic northwestern winds occasion sudden drops in tem- perature, frequently accompanied by drizzling rain. Snow is very rare and the summer nights are generally cool. From their vantage point at Fort Polk, servicemen soon learn that Louisiana has much to offer to the weekend sightseer, out- doorsman and to those just interested in a unique state. Southern towns of great charm welcome visitors looking for a touch of the true aura of Louisiana's history as well as a taste of its excellent French and Latin cuisine. Choice fishing spots near the Post can easily be found and hunters find small game fairly abundant. Cities in the surrounding area offer a wide range of business, educational, recreational, cultural and religious facilities. Today, Fort Polk is a bustling Infantry training Post. Its recreational facilities include baseball fields, softball diamonds, tennis courts, swimming pools, field house, gymnasiums, service clubs, libraries, theaters, and a dayroom in each company. In addition, there is an 18-hole golf course, one of the finest in the Armed Forces. Fort Polk provides a balanced program for its men. The off-duty recreational and cultural activities are some of the best the Army has to offer, at the same time, using the latest and finest Army techniques, it performs the vital mission of turning civilians into soldiers. Swimming Pool . I A . vf23l:g.. ...sam ,.,m.Jg'fi-f'l- 11 iff. 4 .

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QQLP-P3-X-C45 HEADQUARTERS FORT POLK Office of the Commanding General Fort Polk, Louisiana Soldier, this is your book. You are its subject and its author. It depicts you as, in two short yet strangely long months, you made the big change from civilian to soldier. May it remind you always of your first service to your country, a service in which you begrudged neither hours nor effort, a service which was a complete giving of yourself. Having given much you have gained much. Yet more, much more, re- mains to be done. If you will but carry on in the future as you have during your first eight weeks of service, you cannot lose, for you will find that your manhood has developed to its finest andlfullest potential. And, should the war drums sound and our nation have need to place you in the van- guard of her fighting men she will indeed be well served by such as you. aww.. PHILIP C. WEHLE Maior General, U. S. Army Commanding