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

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BOWLING x .- Wm mm x .4 ,pv - PICN IC ALLIGATOR INFORMATION CENTER BUS STATION

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HISTORY OF FORT POLK FORT POLK, the largest military installation in Louisiana, is located in the western part of the state. near the bur- geoning communities of DeRidder and Leesville. The training center covers more than 199,000 acres t311 square milest in picturesque Kisatchie National Forest. The Army post. originally called Camp Polk, was establish- ed in 1941 and named in honor of the Right Reverend Leonidas Polk, the first Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Louisiana, known as the Fighting Bishop. He was killed while serving as a Confederate lieutenant general in 1864 in Marietta. Georgia. During World War II, former President Dwight D. Eisen- hower. Generals Mark Clark, Omar Bradley, Alfred Gruen- ther. George S. Patton, Jr., and Walter Krueger were among the famous leaders who directed the training of soldiers at Fort Polk. The units receiving training included the 3rd, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 11th Armored Divisions, the 95th Infantry Division and the 11th Airborne Division. After the war, Camp Polk was deactivated and put on a stand-by basis, but the summers National Guardsmen and Reservists kept it partially open for two-week training periods. The Korean War brought Camp Polk back to life in Sep- tember 1950 when the 45th Infantry Division, Oklahoma National Guard, was activated and trained for duty, leaving for Japan in 1951. The camp has also served as headquarters for the XV Corps and later the 37th Infantry Division from Ohio and the lst Armored Division. The post closed in 1954 and was reopened and designated a Fort in 1955 with headquarters for Operation Sage Brush in which over 85,000 troops took part. Exercise King Cole was subsequently held at Polk before the post was deacti- vated in June 1959. Summer encampments were the only military activity until September 1961, when Polk faciiities were again required to support another national emergency - the Berlin Crisis. POST HEADQUARTERS GUEST HOUSE MAIN GATE AIRPORT

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During 1961-62. the 49th Armored Division served a year of active duty at Fort Polk along with other tactical and support units. On 1 June 1962 the post was designated an Infantry Training Center. A planning group of Regular Army personnel was assigned to establish a training pro- gram. The first trainees arrived in July, and by early fall units providing basic combat. advanced individual an com- bat support training were fully operational. Rehabilitation of post facilities was a gigantic task. Train- ing and recreational resources had to be developed to' accomodate the Fort's new mission as a training center. An intensive beautification program was begun in 1962 and is still continuing. A new Honor Gate. magnolia and cypress trees, verdant lawns, lakes. and widened post roads provide scenic welcome to visitors. Forty-seven picnic sites have been developed for use by military personnel, their families and friends. Alligator Lake and Toledo Bend are other recreational sites undergoing constant improvement. These projects are transforming Fort Polk into a garden spot of Louisiana. In December 1965 Polk was selected to Conduct jungle oriented advanced training and was named a permanent installation 23 October 1968. By 21 April 1972, the post had graduated more than l-million trainees in basic combat. advanced Infantry and combat support like cooks. clerks. wiremen and mechanics. Construction of new building began in 1967; among those completed are six brigade classrooms, cold storage plant, gas station. bowling alley. lOO-man theater. 60-man batche- lor quarters. Main Post Chapel, with a religious educational facility, 28 chair dental clinic, an Information Center, and one of the largest post exchange complexes west of the Mississippi. Since the declaration of permanency, a total of 260 sets of on-post housing is under construction. Other projects nearly completed include batchelor enlisted quarters. a family area with a new commissary, theater, NCO Ciub. and 18-holegolf course. Northwestern State University has extended its courses on-post so that military and civilian students may now attend college year-round and receive degrees without IeaVo ing the post's campus. The ranges and training areas. which include modern electrically controlled target systems, alleweather access roads, and many varieties of ideal terrain, make available to Fort Polk trainees the finest area and facilities in the Army for Infantry training. A closed-circuit educational tele- vision system is included among the newest training meth- ods and used in the six modern 1,000-man brigade class- rooms. In addition to material facilities, a dynamic training phi- losophy has been developed. It is best expressed by General Creighton Abrams' comment made during his visit to the command in 1965. At Polk they don't recognize that there is anything they can't do. its worth has been proved. Trainees have matched and topped qualification scores in physical training. combat proficiency tests. and marksman- ship. ALLIGATOR LAKE 'V POST THEATER 9V nu i'm- POST EXCHANGE BOWLING ALLEY