A MILITARY SPOUSE WHO UNDERSTANDS THE NEEDS OF YOUR FAMILY
LAUREN CALLIS
REALTOR, National Association of REALTORS
mobile 337.842.2121 office 337.239.2121 fax 337.239.2151 lauren.callis@century21.com 2730 Colony Boulevard • Leesville
www.century21stevedelia.com Licensed in the state of Louisiana Each Office Independently Owned and Operated
A Brief Word From The Editor
With over 10 years in the industry, producing local community guides, relocation guides, maps, NATIONAL raceway tracks, high school sports posters, sports event memorable, and college sports schedules we know ADVERTISING!
With a long (emphasis on long) time in this industry, we searched for a more effective, and up to date way to get our readers our informational magazine. With all of the IPads, Kindles, Androids, and cellphones we searched high and low for a way to reach newmovers. The first idea was “we could produce books with information about a county and set up distribution points so new movers could find out the attractions, events, and also aware new-comers of local businesses, but wait how would that help customers that,
haven’t decided yet, or people that don’t pick up magazines like this, and what if we produce too many we would just be hurting the environment, so we came up for away to solve all of those problems. On-line Guides! No extra waste, no extra liter!, also in this day and age how much is actually done in hard copy anymore, newspapers are digital, and people like the idea of being able to take media like this with them so they can take it anywhere and read it at their leisure, and it’s kinda hard to lose this copy, because all of our publications are readable by all of the leading digital readers, tablets, and cell phones, if you have internet access then you have our magazine! We also do print hard copies for people that request them.
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Leesville is the parish seat of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 6,612 at the 2010 United States Census. It is part of the Fort Polk South Micropolitan Statistical Area. The city is home to the Fort Polk U.S. Army installation. The populations of Fort Polk and Leesville, if combined, would result in a city with a population of more than 20,000. Geography Leesville is located at 31°8′37″N 93°16′16″W (31.143553, -93.271196) and has an elevation of 254 feet (77.4 m).
system, Leesville has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated “Cfa” on climate maps.
Nearly 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age Demographics or older. The average As of the census of 2000, household size was 2.29 there were 6,753 people, and the average family size was 3.02. 2,841 households, and 1,650 families residing in In the city the population the city. The population was spread out with 26.1% density was 1,238.7 people under the age of 18, 11.0% per square mile (478.4/ from 18 to 24, 28.6% from km²). There were 3,389 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to housing units at an average 64, and 13.9% who were 65 density of 621.7 per square years of age or older. The mile (240.1/km²). The median age was 34 years. racial makeup of the city For every 100 females was 55.49% White, 35.33% there were 96.0 males. For African American, 1.47% every 100 females age 18 Native American, 2.09% and over, there were 91.4 Asian, 0.56% Pacific males. Islander, 2.25% from other The median income for races, and 2.81% from two a household in the city or more races. Hispanic or was $23,864, and the Latino of any race were median income for a 4.92% of the population. family was $30,435. Males
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.49 square miles (14.2 km2), of which 5.45 square miles (14.1 km2) is land and 0.04 There were 2,841 square miles (0.10 km2) households out of which (0.55%) is water. 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living Climate with them, 36.2% were This climatic region is married couples living typified by hot, humid together, 18.3% had a summers and mild winters. female householder with According to the Köppen no husband present, and Climate Classification 41.9% were non-families.
had a median income of $27,267 versus $21,661 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,360. About 24.5% of families and 28.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.0% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age
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65 or over. Education The Vernon Parish School District operates public schools: Pickering elementary school k-4 • Pickering Middle School 5th and 6th grade • Pickering Jr High 7th and 8th grade • Pickering High School 9-12 • West Leesville Elementary School: K-4 • East Leesville Elementary School: K-4 • Vernon Middle School: 5th and 6th grade • Leesville Jr. High: 7th and 8th grade • Leesville High School: 9th through 12th grade •
The Vernon Parish Public Library operates the Main Library and the Dunbar Branch Library. Notable people • Michael Ford (American football), LSU runningback • Eddie Fuller National Football League player, running back with
the Buffalo Bills, also played for Louisiana State University and was part of the play which became known as the “Earthquake game”. • Bo Harris - American football linebacker in the NFL, played with the Cincinnati Bengals • Carolyn Huntoon - NASA scientist, first woman director of the Johnson Space Center • Buddy Leach Politician, former member of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana’s 4th congressional district, Louisiana House of Representatives, and Louisiana Democratic state chairman; unsuccessful candidate for state treasurer in 1987, governor in 2003, and for the Louisiana State Senate in 2007; brother of Carolyn Huntoon • Demond Mallet Professional basketball player, guard. Played in the German League and currently with Spanish Joventut Badalona. • Kevin Mawae National Football League
All-Pro Center for the Tennessee Titans • Keith Munyan - Born in Leesville in 1961 but moved away as a toddler, he is a Los Angeles photographer known for his multiple celebrity clients. • D’Anthony Smith National Football League Born in Berlin, Germany, but spent his teen years in Leesville while family was stationed at Fort Polk. Attended Pickering High School in Pickering Louisiana and Louisiana Tech. Currently plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars • John R. Smith, state senator, former state representative, and former president of the Vernon Parish Police Jury • Jazmine K. Wright, 2 Time Creech AFB Weapons Load Comp. Winner. Best #2 Man Ever Vernon Parish (French: Paroisse de Vernon) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 52,334. The parish seat is Leesville. The parish was founded in World Views Guides | 2014
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1871. Vernon Parish is part of the Fort Polk South, LA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the DeRidderFort Polk South, LA Combined Statistical Area. History On March 30, 1871, the Louisiana General Assembly passed an act designating the creation of Vernon Parish, by taking territory from the parishes of Natchitoches, Rapides, and Sabine. While there seem to be four stories surrounding the naming of the Parish, only one is affirmed officially by the State which is that it was named in honor of Mt. Vernon, the home of George Washington. Other stories, though folklore, are: 1) that it was named after a race horse owned by Joe Moore, one of the members of the committee chosen to name the parish, who claimed that by naming the parish after his fast horse the committee would insure the growth of the parish to be as fast World Views Guides
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as his horse: 2) that it was named after a popular teacher who had been an officer in the Royal Navy, only mentioned as “Mr. Vernon”. This was not to honor him, but to avoid disputes among the parish founders whom each wanted to name the parish after themselves. The final story is similar to the first and claims that the committee had been arguing over the name while drinking in a store, and in an attempt to preserve his precious whiskey and profits, the host suggested the committee stop a local man with a mule pulling a cart and that they should name the parish whatever the man said. The man answered them “I calls him Vernon, ‘cause he’s the fastes’ mule in de country.” Originally the area comprising Vernon was a part of a tract of land that was in dispute between the United States and Spain, this land was called the “Neutral Strip”. As a result of this dispute the area became a haven for outlaws. Prior to the
Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the only persons who came to the area were a few French and Spanish settlers. It was also during this period that Dr. Burr established the community of Burr Ferry. This community was known as the “Gateway to Louisiana”. Also located near this community, there still stands an artillery site (now called the “Confederate Breast Works”), which was manned by the Confederacy to guard against Union movements along the Nolan Trace during the Civil War. Leesville has been the parish seat of Vernon since the parish was created, though it was not incorporated until February 15, 1900. The city, although founded by Dr. Edmund E. Smart, was named by Senator R. Smart, his father, in honor of General Robert E. Lee. At the time of Leesville’s founding, the site was the home of a plantation owned by Dr. Smart. The house from that plantation is still found today at the
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corner of Lula and First street. In the late 1890s the timber industry, which was the dominant industry in the parish from its creation, began to boom with the arrival of the Kansas City Southern Railway in 1897, which is still in operation today. In the period after World War I, Vernon became the site of two socialist based communities; the Llano Del Rio Cooperative Colony (which became New Llano) established in 1917 and the Christian Commonwealth Colony. These colonies attempted to attract economists and sociologists for the purpose of conducting an experiment in communal membership and the sharing of labor duties. Of the two colonies the Llano Del Rio was the largest with over 10,000 people and was also the longest surviving community. Both colonies failed in the 1930s when the depression hit.
shortly after the 193940 maneuvers. Camp Polk quickly surpassed the timber industry as the dominant force in the parish’s economy, which became evident in the parish seat of Leesville when its population jumped from 3,500 to 18,000 after the camp opened. The Camp receives its name from Leonidas Polk, the first Episcopal Bishop in Louisiana, known as the “Fighting Bishop of the Confederacy” and served as one of the major training camps during World War II. Today, now called Fort Polk is the 5th largest military installation in the nation, containing approximately 200,000 acres (800 km²). With the constant movement of soldiers and their dependents in and out of the parish, Vernon experiences a unique blend of culture from numerous states and countries creating a true “melting pot.” Geography
In 1941, the United States According to the U.S. Army opened Camp Polk, Census Bureau, the parish
has a total area of 1,341 square miles (3,470 km2), of which 1,328 square miles (3,440 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (1.0%) is water. It is the largest parish in Louisiana by land area. Major highways • • • •
U.S. Highway 171 Louisiana Highway 8 Louisiana Highway 10 Louisiana Highway 28
Adjacent • • • • • •
parishes counties
and
Sabine Parish (northwest) Natchitoches Parish (north) Rapides Parish (east) Allen Parish (southeast) Beauregard Parish (south) Newton County, Texas (west)
National protected area •
Kisatchie National Forest (part)
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Demographics Historical population Census Pop. %± 1880 5,160 — 1890 5,903 14.4% 1900 10,327 74.9% 1910 17,384 68.3% 1920 20,493 17.9% 1930 20,047 −2.2% 1940 19,142 −4.5% 1950 18,974 −0.9% 1960 18,301 −3.5% 1970 53,794 193.9% 1980 53,475 −0.6% 1990 61,961 15.9% 2000 52,531 −15.2% 2010 52,334 −0.4% Est. 2013 52,606 0.5%
As of the census of 2010, there were 52,334 people residing in the parish. The population density was 39.4 people per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 75.70% White, 14.2% Black or African American, 1.4% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 0.50% Pacific Islander, and 4.1% from two or more races. 7.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In the parish the population was spread out with 9.2% under 5 years of age, 27.7% under the age of 18, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. Vernon parish residents are 48.8% female and 51.2% male. There
were
18,590
households with an average household size was 2.644. The median income for a household in the parish was $42,322. The per capita income for the parish was $14,036. About 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.60% of those under age 18 and 14.80% of those age 65 or over. Education Primary
and secondary education
All public schools in Vernon Parish are operated by the Vernon Parish School Board, which operates 18 public schools and one optional school. Schools providing a secondary education include: Evans High School (Grades PK-12) • Hicks High School (Grades PK-12) • Hornbeck High School (Grades PK-12) • Pitkin High School (Grades PK-12) • Simpson High School (Grades PK-12) • Anacoco High School (Grades 7-12) •
Pickering High School (Grades 7-12) • Rosepine Junior/ Senior High School (Grades 7-12) • Leesville High School (Grades 9-12) • Vernon Parish Optional School (Grades 7-12) •
Colleges and universities The Louisiana Technical College (LTC) system operates the Lamar Salter campus south of New Llano. The Central Louisiana Technical College Lamar Salter campus is one of 40 LTC campuses across the state. Northwestern State University (NSU), is a four-year public university primarily situated in Natchitoches, Louisiana and a part of the a part of the University of Louisiana System. The NSU-Leesville/Fort Polk Campus is located on Highway 467 near Fort Polk and serves the civilian communities of Vernon, Beauregard, and Sabine parishes, as well as the military community at Fort World Views Guides | 2014
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Polk. http://leesville.nsula. the military. CTC also edu/ help students transition The Fort Polk Education from a 2-year to a 4-year Center offers self- degree through numerous agreements development opportunities articulation for Service members, with 4-year institutions nationwide. military family members, Department of the Defense employees, military Retirees, Department of Defense contractors, and civilians from the local community in the classroom, distance learning, and online environments. Civilian students coming to the post for classes are required to use the main entrance located off U.S. Highway 171. Central Michigan University (CMU) operates a campus at Fort Polk. Central Texas College (CTC) is a public, openadmission community college offering associate degrees and certificate programs in academic, professional and vocational/technical fields. Due to its proximity to Fort Hood, CTC has evolved from a small junior college into a college catering to World Views Guides
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Louisiana State University offers a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts.
Library in Leesville and the Pitkin Branch Library in Pitkin. National Guard The Louisiana Army National Guard maintains a maintenance facility which services its vehicles on Fort Polk. 3-156 IB part of 256th Tiger Brigade is located at fort polk.
The Upper Iowa University (UIU) at Fort Polk offers classes on post to both Communities military personnel and civilians in the area. It was Cities opened in 1995 and offers • DeRidder bachelor’s of science (parish degree in nine majors. • Leesville seat) Courses can also be blended with UIU distance Towns learning programs (online and independent study) to • Hornbeck complete 11 other majors. • New Llano Certificate programs are • Rosepine also available. UIU offers courses on post during Villages five eight-week terms • Anacoco during the academic year. • Simpson All courses are offered during the evenings and on Census-designated places weekends. • Fort Polk North • Fort Polk South Public libraries • Pitkin The Vernon Parish Library operates public libraries. It operates the main library and the Dunbar Branch
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Unincorporated communities •
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Burr Ferry Caney Coopers Cravens Evans Fullerton Hawthorne Hicks Hutton Kurthwood Lacamp Leander Pickering Sandy Hill Slagle Standard Temple
Notable residents • Walter O. Bigby, Louisiana state representative from Bossier Parish from 1968– 1979, known as “Dean of the House”. • Frank A. Howard, former Vernon Parish sheriff and Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Vernon, Sabine, Red River, and De Soto parishes.
• James Otis “Jim” McCrery, III, Republican U.S. Representative from 1988–2009, was born in Shreveport, but grew up in Leesville, where he graduated from Leesville High School in 1967. • Bryan A. Poston, member of the Louisiana State Senate from 1964– 1992, was a Hornbeck businessman. • Frank A. Howard, a Hornbeck visionary and former Vernon Parish Sheriff, has been representing the 24th district in the Louisiana House of Representatives since his election in 2007. • Charles M. Poston, Sr., of Hornbeck, was a Louisiana state senator, 1960–1964; father of Bryan A. Poston. • Eddie Fuller National Football League player, running back with the Buffalo Bills, also played for Louisiana State University and was part of the play which became known as the “Earthquake game”. • Demond Mallet Professional basketball
player, guard. Played in the German League and currently with Spanish Joventut Badalona. • Claude Anthony “Buddy” Leach, Jr. Politician, former member of the United States House of Representatives, Louisiana House of Representatives, and Louisiana Democratic state chairman; unsuccessful candidate for governor in 2003 and for the Louisiana State Senate in 2007 • Kevin Mawae National Football League All-Pro Center for the Tennessee Titans • Keith Munyan - Born in Leesville in 1961 but moved away as a toddler, he is a Los Angeles photographer known for his multiple celebrity clients. • D’Anthony Smith National Football League Born in Berlin, Germany, but spent his teen years in Leesville while family was stationed at Fort Polk. Attended Pickering High School in Leesville and played collegiate football at Louisiana Tech University. World Views Guides | 2014
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Currently plays for the that she had traveled to Jacksonville Jaguars the United States. The DeRidder is a small city town was named for her in and the parish seat by her brother in law, who of Beauregard Parish, brought the first railroad to that area of Louisiana. Louisiana, United States. A small portion of the city extends into Vernon Parish. As of the 2010 census DeRidder had a population of 10,578. It is the smaller principal city of the Fort Polk South-DeRidder CSA, a Combined Statistical Area that includes the Fort Polk South (Vernon Parish) and DeRidder (Beauregard Parish) micropolitan areas, which had a combined population of 87,988 at the 2010 census. History
Prior to that the little town was known as Schovall and DeRidder. The first train line to serve DeRidder came in 1902. It was the Pittsburgh & Gulf Railroad - later called the Kansas City Southern. The July 26, 1924, the DeRidder Enterprise stated: “The first house in DeRidder was made of logs and covered with board shingles, split by hand from the logs of the forest. It was constructed in 1893 and was the old homestead house of Calvin Shirley, who was the original owner of the land upon which the first business house and residence of DeRidder were built. Mr. Shirley homesteaded the 160 acres (0.65 km2) which was later platted and became the original townsite of DeRidder.”
came to DeRidder near the turn of the century, “The largest pine in the world grew where DeRidder now stands - or so it is claimed by timber men who knew.” About the origin of the town, she says, “...the Kansas City railroad was built from Kansas City to Port Arthur - and came right through here about 1896. By 1898 the trains were running. The post-office was named Miersburg for the postmaster whose name was Miers. The railroad workers had used this spot for a camping place for the workmen and people wanted to get near the railroad - so 160 acres (0.65 km2) of land was bought for the town site.
DeRidder was named for Ella de Ridder, the “Immediately following sister-in-law of a Dutch the purchase of the town railroad financier. Her site, a ramble of rough family originally came houses were hurriedly built from the small town out of rough lumber... By of Geldermalsen in the 1898 the town consisted Netherlands, where she of nearly 300 people and was one of 13 children. She a number of shack homes ran away from home at an and a sawmill. C. Landry early age and was presumed and Mr. George Heard had dead by her family, who According to Eva Stewart a hotel. There were about only recently discovered Frazar, whose family 5 small stores, besides. World Views Guides
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West Brothers had a Rous (30.851419, -93.290230) Racket store on the east and has an elevation of 203 side of the track.” feet (61.9 m). U.S. Route By this time DeRidder had 171 leads south 48 miles a sawmill, and timber was (77 km) to Lake Charles the prime industry of the and north 15 miles (24 km) area. The Longleaf Pine to the entrance to Fort Polk was the primary tree used and 21 miles (34 km) to in the industry. In 1903, Leesville. U.S. Route 190 DeRidder was finally leads south and east 49 incorporated as a town. miles (79 km) to Kinder and west 52 miles (84 km) In April 1904, a large to Jasper, Texas. portion of the business section of DeRidder was According to the United destroyed by fire. The cause States Census Bureau, was apparently arson. DeRidder has a total area A grand jury collected of 9.2 square miles (23.9 2 enough evidence for this km ), of which 9.2 square 2 to indict George Smith, a miles (23.7 km ) is land gambler, with setting the and 0.077 square miles (0.2 2 fire. The man reportedly km ), or 0.96%, is water. left town. The “Hanging Jail” DeRidder’s first bank opened in 1906. On October 15, 1912, DeRidder was voted the parish seat of Beauregard Parish. The Beauregard Parish Court House and the Beauregard Parish Jail (see below) were built in 1914. Geography DeRidder is located in northern Beauregard Parish at 30°51′5″N 93°17′25″W World Views Guides
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The iron bars in most of the windows give the structure an eerie appearance. Inside, there is a spiral staircase that leads up to three floors of jail cells. Another history-making fact is that each cell had a toilet, shower, lavatory and window. When the jail was in use, prisoners could often be seen waving from the barred windows.
It was built to house 50 or so prisoners, but held 13 in comfort. The walls are 13 to 21 in (0.33 to 0.53 m) thick, made of reinforced concrete with a blasted finish. The first floor has quarters for the jailer and his family. In the jail’s basement, a long corridor The building known as the leads to the courthouse “Old Beauregard Parish next door. Jail” is a structure that is considered one of the In 1928, there was a most distinctive of its type famous double execution in the US. The structure by hanging in the jail for has the characteristics two murderers. These of the collegiate Gothic were the only recorded architectural style, with hangings in the jail. The shallow arches, dormer prisoners were hanged by windows, and a central an apparatus at the top of tower. This style was the spiral staircase. After popular with colleges, this the jail became known as “the hanging jail”. universities and churches.
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The jail was used until 1982, when a court action forced it to close. On October 4, 1981, it was put on the National Register of Historic Places, along with several other buildings in DeRidder.
16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average Demographics household size was 2.48 As of the census of 2000, and the average family size was 3.03. there were 9,808 people, 3,819 households, and In the city of DeRidder, 2,616 families residing in the population was spread the city. The population out with 27.1% under the density was 1,155.4 people age of 18, 8.6% from 18 per square mile (446.0/ to 24, 27.3% from 25 to km²). There were 4,454 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, housing units at an average and 14.5% who were 65 density of 524.7 per square years of age or older. The mile (202.6/km²). The median age was 37 years. racial makeup of the city For every 100 females, was 60.81% White, 34.73% there were 89.2 males. For African American, 0.57% every 100 females age 18 Native American, 1.42% and over, there were 83.3 Asian, 0.03% Pacific males. Islander, 0.57% from other The median income for races, and 1.88% from two a household in the city or more races. Hispanic or was $31,952, and the Latino of any race were median income for a 2.40% of the population. family was $39,384. Males There were 3,819 households, out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together,
population were below the poverty line, including 22.1% of those under age 18 and 18.2% of those age 65 or over. Education Beauregard Parish School Board operates local public schools. For the city of DeRidder these schools are: • Grades 9–12 DeRidder High School (DeRidder) • Grades 6–8 DeRidder Junior High School (DeRidder) • Grades 4 & 5 Pine Wood Elementary School (DeRidder) • Grades 2 & 3 G. W. Carver Elementary School (DeRidder) • PreK - 1st Grade K. R. Hanchey Elementary School (DeRidder) Media
The Beauregard Daily News, a daily newspaper, had a median income of is based in DeRidder. $36,388 versus $21,302 for females. The per capita Notable people income for the city was $16,996. About 15.0% of • Joe W. Aguillard, families and 18.0% of the president of Louisiana World Views Guides | 2014
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College in Pineville 2005 author - 2014; Beauregard Parish • H. O. West, founder school superintendent, of West Brothers clothing 1999-2000 stores • Mel Branch, college/ professional football player – LSU/Dallas Texans/ Kansas City Chiefs/Miami Dolphins • Chris Cagle, professional football player • Chris Cagle, country music singer • Jerry DeWitt, former Pentecostal minister and current author, public speaker and leader of the American atheism movement • Rusty Hamer, former child actor who committed suicide in DeRidder in 1990 • Gilbert Franklin Hennigan, former Louisiana state senator • Johnny Jones, college basketball head coach at University of North Texas and LSU • Michael Sanders, college/NBA basketball player – UCLA/Kansas City Kings/Cleveland Cavaliers • Jennifer Weiner, World Views Guides
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Fort Polk is a United States Army installation located in Vernon Parish, approximately ten miles east of Leesville, Louisiana, and thirty miles north of DeRidder in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana.
looming defense cuts. Fort Polk began as a base for the Louisiana Maneuvers in the 1940s. It served the 1st Armored Division in the 1950s, and became a basic training post during Vietnam War years of the 1960s and ‘70s. It hosted the 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) in the 1970s-1980s, and the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in the 1990s. Fort Polk is now home to the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC), the 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, 115th Combat Support Hospital, 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, the 162nd Infantry Brigade, U.S. Army Garrison and BayneJones Army Community Hospital.
It was named in honor of the Right Reverend Leonidas Polk, the first Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Louisiana, and a distinguished Confederate general in the American Civil War. The post encompasses approximately 198,000 acres. Of this, 100,000 acres are owned by the Department of the Army and 98,125 acres by the U.S. Forest Service, mostly in the Kisatchie National Forest. Fort Polk is the only Combat Training Center that also trains and deploys The land that is now Fort combat units. Polk is part of a region In 2013, there were 10,877 of cultural resources, troops stationed at Fort including archaeological Polk, which generate an sites, historic houses annual payroll of $980 and structures, and other million. Louisiana officials sites of historical value. are lobbying the Army and The U.S. Army has the United States Congress spent considerable time, to keep troop strength effort, and money on at full capacity despite locating, identifying, and World Views Guides
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inventorying thousands of archaeological sites on Fort Polk and the property owned by the U.S. Forest Service where the army trains. For more information on these cultural resources, visit Polk History.org Current Events Installation Strategic Sustainability Plan Fort Polk is currently working with stakeholders from the Army, civic leaders, and other interested agencies to develop an Installation Strategic Sustainability Plan. As good stewards and neighbors, it is imperative that Fort Polk’s long-term sustainability goals are consistent with the shared responsibilities of this installation and the surrounding communities. This plan, which is built on Fort Polk’s 25 year strategic goals, will effectively address sustainability issues that transcend our post boundaries and have regional or national interest. Fort Polk is
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paving the way for a new era in stewardship and integrated planning and considers this Installation Strategic Sustainability Plan to be a critical step in the continued viability of our shared resources. The areas of interest for the Installation Strategic Sustainability Plan are: 1.
Facilities and Infrastructure; 2. W o r k f o r c e Development; 3. Logistics; 4. Well Being; and 5. Readiness. Current Units Operations Group The Joint Readiness Training Center is focused on improving unit readiness by providing highly realistic, stressful, joint and combined arms training across the full spectrum of conflict (current and future). The JRTC is one of the United States Army’s three “Dirt” Combat Training Centers resourced to train infantry brigade task forces and their subordinate elements
in the Joint Contemporary 1-509th (ABN) Infantry Operational Environment. The mission of the With great emphasis Opposing Force is handled on realism, the JRTC by the 1st Battalion, 509th Operations Group provides Infantry (Airborne). It rotational units with the is the job of the 1-509th opportunity to conduct (ABN) to conduct combat joint operations which operations as a dedicated, emphasize contingency c a p a b i l i t i e s - b a s e d force missions. The JRTC Opposing Force (OPFOR) provide realistic, training scenario is based to on each participating stressful, and challenging organization’s mission combat conditions for essential tasks list and JRTC rotational units. many of exercises are mission rehearsals for actual operations the organization is scheduled to conduct. JRTC scenarios allow complete integration 4th Brigade Combat of Air Force and other Team, 10th Mountain Division military services as well as host-nation and civilian The 4th Brigade Combat role players. The exercise Team, 10th Mountain scenarios replicate many Division was officially of the unique situations and activated at Fort Polk challenges a unit may face on January 19, 2005. As to include host national part of the U.S. Army’s officials and citizens, transformation initiative, insurgents and terrorists, this organization was news media coverage designed to create a highly and non-governmental mobile, lethal, and flexible o r g a n i z a t i o n s . combat unit to support the rapid build-up of combat power wherever needed across the globe. The structure of the brigade World Views Guides | 2014
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is modular and provides for organic infantry, cavalry, field artillery, maintenance, logistic and support capabilities. The brigade was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from 2006 to 2007 then again for Operation Iraqi Freedom from December 2007 to January 2009. The brigade deployed to Afghanistan in fall 2010 and returned to the U.S. in fall 2011.
onset of hostilities during World War I, the unit sailed aboard the “S.S. Mataika,” departing the United States on 22 August 1918, and arriving in France 3 September 1918. Evacuation Hospital #15 earned a battle streamer for its participation in the Meuse-Argonne Forest offensive from 26 September 1918 through 11 November 1918. The hospital, having served honorably and proud during World War I, returned to the United States aboard the “S.S. America” and was demobilized at Camp Lewis, Washington on 28 June 1919. Evacuation Hospital #15 was reconstituted as the 15th Evacuation Hospital in 1936, after having been organized as an inactive unit of the Regular Army on 1 October 1933.
surgery, orthopaedics, podiatry, and physical therapy. Additional support for clinical operations is provided through a pharmacy, X-ray services, clinical laboratories, anaesthesia, and operative services. The 115th Combat Support Hospital is also staffed to provide medical command management and administrative support through an organic medical headquarters. During peacetime operations the 115th Field Hospital trains at the JRTC and Fort Polk. As a deployable medical systems hospital with the most modern equipment available, the unit is capable of being deployed in an area of operations during a contingency, war or national emergency.
115th Combat Support 115th Combat Support Hospital Hospital is a deployable The 115th Combat Support medical unit that provides Hospital traces its origin medical specialities to to Evacuation Hospital the battlefield. Medical #15, originally organized specialties provided by at Fort Riley, Kansas on the 115th Combat Support 21 March 1918. At the Hospital include: general
1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade is one of two U.S. Army active duty Maneuver Enhancement Brigades (the 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade is stationed at Fort Leonard Wood,
Since the brigade’s activation, they built an organization consisting of over three thousand five hundred soldiers, developed their leaders, fielded dozens of new systems, and deployed whenever called upon to conduct any mission.
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MO). The 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade is tasked to improve the movement capabilities and rear area security for commanders at division level or higher. The 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade is a tailored combined arms force. Aside from its headquarters element and the organic communications and logistics elements that form the basis for commanding, controlling, and supporting the brigade, the 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade is a mission, enemy, terrain and weather, troops and support available, time available, and civil considerationsdependent organization. The 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade leverages emerging modular principles and the “plug-and-play� nature of developing forces to apply the right force for the mission. Typically, but not exclusively, the MEB is composed of engineer, military police, and other units that routinely function together during
protection, stability, and support operations. The 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade has deployed units for combat operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and for humanitarian assistance in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. 162nd Infantry Brigade 162nd Infantry Brigade, Foreign Security ForcesTransition Team, is an Infantry Training Unit consisting of Soldiers handpicked for their skills, knowledge, and performance history. The brigade is responsible for training transition teams to deploying to Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn. U.S. forces are trained to prepare foreign civilian and military security forces within Afghanistan and Iraq for the transfer of security responsibilities back to the host nations. The Foreign Security Force Transition Team Training Brigade provides rotational units with the capability to provide training, coaching, and mentoring to the
Afghanistan NationalArmy and other Afghan Security forces in Afghanistan, and the Multinational Security Transition Command-Iraq. Major subordinate commands of the brigade are the 1st Battalion, 353rd Regiment; 2nd Battalion, 353rd Regiment; 3rd Battalion, 353rd Regiment; 4th Battalion, 353rd Regiment; 5th Battalion, 353rd Regiment; and 6th Battalion, 353rd Regiment. However the brigade is currently De-activating and will be disbanded by the end of fiscal year 2014. U.S. Army Garrison U.S. Army Garrison provides installation support for power projection, combat readiness and mission execution for all tenant units as well as JRTC rotational units; provides quality services and facilities, all the while optimizing available resources, sustaining our environment and enhancing the overall well-being of the Fort Polk community. U.S. Army Garrison provides World Views Guides | 2014
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installation support for Human Resources; Morale, Welfare & Recreation; Emergency Services; Logistics; Public Works; Public Affairs; Equal Opportunity; and Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security. Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital provides accessible and effective health care for the JRTC and Fort Polk community. The Fort Polk medical facility compromises the BayneJones Army Community Hospital, the Wellness and Readiness Center, the Department of Behavioural Health and the United States Army Air Ambulance Detachment. The hospital is named in honour of Brigadier General Stanhope Bayne-Jones, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. A bacteriologist and preventive medicine specialist, he achieved worldwide acclaim as the individual responsible for the control of typhus in World Views Guides
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Europe at the conclusion came in. of World War II. The Maneuvers involved half a million soldiers in 1940s 19 Army Divisions, and took place over 3,400 World War II square miles (8,800 km2) Construction of Camp Polk in August and September began in 1941. Thousands 1941. of wooden barracks sprang The troops were divided up quickly to support equal armies of two an Army preparing to notional countries: Kotmk do battle on the North (Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, African, European and Missouri, Kentucky) Pacific fronts. Soldiers at and Almat (Arkansas, Polk participated in the Louisiana, Mississippi, Louisiana Maneuvers, Alabama, Tennessee). which were designed to These countries were test U.S. troops preparing fighting over navigation for World War II. rights for the Mississippi Until 1939, the Army had River. mostly been an infantry The Maneuvers gave Army force with supporting leadership the chance to artillery, engineer, and test a new doctrine that cavalry units. Few units stressed the need for both had been motorized or mass and mobility. Sixteen mechanized. As U.S. armored divisions sprang involvement in World War up during World War II after II became more likely, the lessons learned during the Army recognized the the Louisiana Maneuvers need to modernize the were considered. These service. But it also needed divisions specialized in large-scale maneuvers moving huge combinedto test a fast-growing, arms mechanized units inexperienced force. That long distances in combat. is where Fort Polk and the Louisiana Maneuvers On the defensive front, U.S. doctrine was based on two
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needs: the ability to defeat Blitzkrieg tactics; and how to deal with large numbers of German tanks attacking relatively narrow areas. As such, the Maneuvers also tested the concept of the tank destroyer. In this concept, highly mobile guns were held in reserve until friendly forces were attacked by enemy tanks. Then, the tank destroyers would be rapidly deploy to the flanks of the penetration. Tank destroyers employed aggressive, high-speed hit-and-run tactics. The conclusion drawn was that tank destroyer battalions should be raised. Immediately after the war, the battalions were disbanded and the antitank role was taken over by the Infantry, Engineer and Armor branches. German POWs While primarily a training facility, Camp Polk also served as a military prison for Germans captured during World War II. The first prisoners of war (POWs), who began
arriving in Louisiana in July 1943, were from the Afrika Korps, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s troops who fought in North Africa. They were housed in a large fencedin compound in the area now encompassing Honor Field, Fort Polk’s parade ground. Finding themselves captured, transported across the ocean, and imprisoned in the middle of summer was made to hurt their spirits. The POWs picked cotton, cut rice, and cut lumber. They also helped sandbag the raging Red River in the summer of 1944. Prisoners were not forced to work, and some refused. Those who worked earned scrip for their labor, with which they could buy such necessities as toothpaste or snacks at their own Post Exchange.
training. Soldiers were stationed there temporarily during the Korean War and the Berlin Crisis. 1950s Korea In August 1950, the 45th Infantry Division of the Oklahoma Army National Guard became the first unit to train at Fort Polk in preparation for the Korean War. During the Korean War the 45th Infantry Division suffered 4,004 casualties; 834 killed in action and 3,170 wounded in action The division was awarded four campaign streamers and one Presidential Unit Citation. Most of the units who rotated through Camp Polk during 1952-54 were trained for combat by the 37th Infantry Division of the Ohio Army National Guard. Although the 37th division itself was not sent to Korea as a unit, nearly every soldier was sent as an individual replacement.
From the end of World War II until the early 1960s, the post was closed and reopened numerous times. During much of this time, it was open Operation Sagebrush only in the summers to support reserve component In 1955, the U.S. military
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conducted another large training exercise that covered a substantial portion of Louisiana. Named Operation Sagebrush, the focus of this exercise was to evaluate the effectiveness of military operations in a nuclear environment. The exercise lasted for 15 days with 85,000 troops participating. A provisional army, meant to represent U.S. forces, was built around the 1st Armored Division and an opposing force was built around the 82nd Airborne Division. U.S. Air Force bombers and fighter planes also participated in this exercise with powerful aircraft operating in the sky, stirring great interest among the citizens of the region. 1st Armored Division Upon completion of Operation Sagebrush, Camp was declared a permanent installation and the 1st Armored Division was reassigned from Fort Hood to the newly renamed Fort Polk to continue to World Views Guides
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test mobility and combat strategies for the nuclear age. The 1st Armored Division, with its modern M-48 Patton Tanks and new helicopters, remained at Fort Polk until June 1959, before returning to Fort Hood.
and basic training and AIT started being phased out. Fort Polk changed from a Continental Army Command (CONARC) post in July 1975 and became a Forces Command (FORSCOM) member. In the spring of 1976, the Infantry Training Center at 1960s - 1970s Fort Polk closed its doors and ceased operations. The Vietnam final chapter of the Vietnam In 1962, Fort Polk began War ended for Fort Polk. converting to an infantry 1970s - 1980s training center. A small portion of Fort Polk is With the end of the filled with dense, jungle- Vietnam War, Fort Polk like vegetation, and this experienced a transition helped commanders from an installation focused prepare their units for on basic and advanced battle in Southeast Asia. individual training to This training area became that of the home of the known as Tigerland. For reactivated 5th Infantry the next 12 years, more Division (Mechanized). soldiers were shipped Activated in September, to Vietnam from Fort 1975, the division called Polk than from any other Fort Polk home until it was American training base. inactivated in November, On Jan. 23, 1973, Secretary 1992. The date of this of State Henry Kissinger’s inactivation, November negotiated settlement to 24, 1992, was exactly 75 the hostilities took effect. years from the date of the In October 1974, Fort original activation of the Polk became the new division on November home of the 5th Infantry 24, 1917. The division Division (Mechanized), was organized with two
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active duty brigades and a brigade from the Louisiana National Guard. While at Fort Polk, the 5th Infantry Division participated in the NATO Reforger 78 and 84 Exercise in Europe and the 1989 Invasion of Panama, known as Operation Just Cause. During the stay of the 5th infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Polk experienced a major building program. The post saw the construction of new barracks, motor pools, 1000 family housing units, chapels, dental clinics and the Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital. Also built during this time was a modern Post Exchange commissary, warehouses, classrooms, athletic complexes and improved gunnery ranges. 1990s JRTC moves to Polk In 1993, the Joint Readiness Training Center moved from Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, to Fort Polk, and once again, the post was called on to prepare soldiers for conflict. Each year,
JRTC typically conducts several rotations for units about to deploy. During the 1990s, Fort Polk-based soldiers deployed to Haiti, Southwest Asia, Suriname, Panama, Bosnia, and other locations. Weather support for the exercise is completed by the units participating in the exercise in conjunction with the 26th Operational Weather Squadron. 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment The 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment arrived at Fort Polk in 1993 as the armored cavalry regiment of the XVIII Airborne Corps. Elements of the regiment deployed to Haiti in 1995 in support of Operation Uphold Democracy and to Bosnia in 1996 in support of Operation Joint Endeavor. The 2nd ACR deployed to Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Djibouti in 2002 to in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and then deployed in Iraq in 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (now known as Operation
New Dawn). The Army announced on 14 May 2004, that the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment would be transformed into an Infantry-based Stryker Brigade and move to Fort Lewis, WA. The transfer of the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment from Fort Polk to Fort Lewis was completed in 2006. The 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment were later moved to Vilseck, Germany. National Guard The Louisiana Army National Guard maintains a maintenance facility on Fort Polk which services its major units such as the 256TH IBCT and 225 Engineer Brigade.
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