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

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Chapel HISTORY OF FORT POLK FORT POLK. the largest military installation in l,oui- siana. is located in the vvestern part of the state. near the burgeoning communities of DePvidder and 1,eesvi11e. The training center covers more than 199.000 acres t311 square milesl in picturesque Kisatchic National Forest, The ,Xrmy post. originally called Camp Polk. vvas established in 19-11 and named in honor of the ltigbt ltev- erend l.eonidas Polk. the first lfspiseopal Bishop of't11c Diocese of Louisiana. knovvn as the Fighting Bishop. tle vvas killed vvhilc serving as a Confederate lieutenant general in 1664 at Xlarietta, Ceorgia. During Vvorld Vvar 11. former President lfisenboyver. Generals Xlark Clark. Omar Bradley. iylfred Cruenther. George S. Patton, and Walter Krueger vvere among the famous leaders vvbo directed the training of more than eight million soldiers at Fort Polk. The units receiving training included the 3rd, Tth. Sth. 9th. and 11th Armored Divisions. the 95th lnfantry' Division and the 11th Airborne Division. After the yvar. Camp Polk vvas deactivated and put on a stand-by basis. but during the summers National Guards- men and Reservists kept it partially open for tvvo-vveek training periods, The Korean War brought Camp Polk back to life in September 1950 vv hen the -15th Infantry Division. Oklahoma National Guard. vvas activated and trained for duty, leaving for japan in 1951. The camp has also served as headquar- ters for the XY Corps and later the 37th Infantry' Division from Ohio and the 1st fyrmored Division. The Post closed in 195-1 and vvas reopened and desig- nated a Fort in 1955 vvitb headquarters for Operation Sage Brush in vvhich over 555.000 troops took part. Exercise King Cole vvas subsequently' held at Polk before the Post vvas deactivated in june 1959. Summer encampments yvere the only military activity until September 1961, vvhen Polk facilities vvcre again required to support another national emergency-the Berlin Crisis. During 1961-62. the -19th Armored Division served a year of active duty at 1 ort Polk along vvith other tactical and support units, On 1 june 1962 the Post vvas designated an Infantry Training Center. A planning group of Regular .-Xrrny personnel vvas assigned to establish a training pro- gram. The first trainees arrived in july. and by early fall units providing basic combat, advanced individual and com- bat support training vverc fully operational, Rehabilitation of Post facilities vvas a gigantic task. Training and recreational resources had to be developed to acconunodate the Fortis neyv mission as a training center. An intensive beautification program vvas begun in 1962 and is still continuing. .VX nevv Honor Cate. magnolia and cypress trees, verdant lavvns. lakes. and vvidened Post roads provide scenic vvelcome to visitors. These projects are transforming Fort Polk into a garden spot of Louisiana. 1n December 1965 Polk vvas selected to conduct Viet- nam-oriented advanced individual training and noyv pro- vides more infantry replacements to Vietnam than any other training center. Fort Polk became a permanent in- stallation 23 October 1968, Construction of neyv buildings began in 19675 among those completed are four brigade classrooms, a bowling alley. 1,000-man theater. and one of the largest post ex- change eomplexcs yvest of the Mississippi. XVith the dec- laration of permancncy a total of 260 sets of on-post housing is planned for the initial housing 'construction effort during fiscal year 1970. Other projects include the Main Post Chapel vvith a religious education facility. a 60- man bachelor officers quarters. a dental clinic. and a nevv noncommissioncd officers club. Planning for future con- struction to afford permanent facilities in all areas throughout the Post is nearing completion. The ranges and training areas, vvhich include modern electrically controlled target systems. all-vveather access roads, and many varieties of ideal terrain. make available to Fort Polk trainees the finest area and facilities in the .ryriny for Infantry training, A closed-circuit educational television system is included among the nevvcst training methods and used in the modern 1,000-man brigade class- rooms. ln addition to material facilities, a dynamic training philosophy has been dc.ve1oped. lt is best expressed by Ccneral Creighton Abrams' comment made during his visit to the conunand in 1965. At Polk they don't recog- nize that there is anything they' canlt do, 1ts worth has been proved. Trainees have matched and topped qualifica- tion scores in physical training, combat proficiency tests, and marksmanship. By October 1969 more than 754,000 men have been graduated from training courses here. Entrance Road