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

Page 6 text:

Main Gate MP Chapel Fort Polk, largest Army installation in Louisiana, is also the youngest, fastest growing training facility in the Army. Located in western Louisiana, near the burgeoning communltles 0f Lees- ville and DeRidder, the installation covers more than 147,000 acres of Kisatchie National Forest. . The Post, originally called Camp Polk, was estabhshed as a result of the famous Louisiana maneuvers of 1941-42. Twenty- two million dollars worth of construction was completed 1n mid-1942. . Fort Polk was named after the Right Reverend Ideomtlas Polk, an Episcopal bishop of Louisiana, known as the Flghtlng Bishop? Reverend Polk was killed in action in 1864 at Marletta, Georgia, while fighting as a Confederate lieutenant general. During World War 11, Camp Polk trained mxlhons of men. Former President Eisenhower, General Mark Clark, General Omar Bradley, the late General George S. Patton, Jr., General Walter Krueger, and General Alfred Gruenther were among the famous personalities who directed the training Of equally famous divisions whose deeds in battle in the European, A51ast1c, 3nd Pacihc Theaters have gone down in history. After the war, Polk was inactivated to a stand-by statusJIi 1948-49, the camp was partially opened to accommodate Vlta National Guard and Reserve summer training. September 1950, saw the Post fully activated to meet the needs of the Korean War. In 1954, the Post closed, only to be opened the next year and designated a fort. In June 1959, Fort Polk again was closed. Wilt. Vegxsw s2. 4 m

Page 5 text:

Page 7 text:

Tabu-xw. Kim? 1 wing. a:vnx'q'wfu Operations continued on a limited basis for National Guard and Reserve two-week encampments. In September 1961, how- ever, Polk facilities were again called upon to answer another national emergencyathe Berlin Crisis. The 49th Armored Division of Texas; the 4009th US Army Garrison of Baton Rouge; and other Reserve and National 'Guard support units arrived for a year of active duty. With the growing need for an even stronger Army, in July 1962 the Post was designated an Infantry Training Center. Regular Army personnel began converging on Polk in the spring of 1962 and within a few months the first trainees arrived. By early fall units providing basic combat, advanced infantry, and common specialist training were fully operational. Rehabilitation of Post facilities from their condition in early 1962 was a gigantic task. Polk personnel had to develop train- ing and recreational resources to accommodate the new situation. A dynamic program of beautilication was begun and resulted in acres of verdant grass and foliage in every regimental area. The Post-wide planting of magnolia and cypress trees and other projects to come will transform Fort Polk into a garden spot of Louisiana. Today Fort Polk is a bustling, Vigorous training center. Its recreational facilities include baseball iields, softball diamonds, tennis courts, swimming pools, golf driving range, miniature golf course, a bowling alley, riding academy, sportsmenis ranges, iield houses, batting range, gymnasium, service clubs, libraries, theaters, and a day room in each company area. In addition there is an 18-hole golf course, one of the finest in the Armed Forces. Fort Polk required a host of ranges and training areas in order to produce top-notch soldiers to assume roles on the Army team. These were constructed or rebuilt to embody the latest advances in training techniques and methods. In addition to material facilities, a training philosophy had to be developed. The crux of this philosophy has been the evolu- tion of an incentive program designed to provide motivation for Regimental Headquarters Swimming Pool superior performance. Its worth has been proven by the trainees, who have matched, topped, and gone on to set new standards in physical training, rifle, and other weapons qualification scores. In the initial year of operation, over 38,000 Polk graduates were added to the Army ranks. Included among the Postis training accomplishments is the Army-wide record of 457.8 for the phy- sical combat prohciency test. It was established by Company 0, Second Training Regiment in October 1963. Fort Polkis climate, location and terrain make it an outstand- ing 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 temperature, fre- quently accompanied by drizzling rains. 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 the weekend Sightseer and out- doorsman. Southern towns of great charm welcome Visitors look- ing for a touch of the true aura of Louisiana,s history as well as a taste of its excellent French and Latin cuisine. Choice fish- ing spots on and near the Post are numerous, and hunters find small game in abundance. Cities in the surrounding area oiTer a wide range of business, educational, recreational, cultural and religious facilities. Within three hundred miles of the Fort are such Cities and recreational areas as New Orleans, Houston, Galveston, Dallas, Biloxi, Little Rock and Hot Springs. Professional services available include a bank, a credit union, post oifice, hospital and Red Cross ohice. Chapels and com- munity churches allow Polk personnel opportunity to worship in the religion of their Choice. Thus, Fort Polk provides a balanced program for its men. The recreational and cultural activities are some of the best the Army has to offer; at the same time, using the latest Army techniques, the Post performs the Vital mission of turning civil- ians into the finest soldiers to be found anywhere in the Army. 3 Main Gate Golf Course