#FridayForts - Ft. Riley

Fort Riley, "Home of the Big Red One" (1st Infantry Division), is known for its excellent training, abundant recreational opportunities, rich history, and tremendous relations with surrounding communities.

That's according to the website for Fort Riley, located in Kansas, about 60 miles west of Topeka. I can't speak to all of that, but it definitely has a rich history. 

In 1853, Camp Center, in the Kansas Territory was named after Major General Bennett C. Riley, just 3 weeks after his death. It initially served as a military post to protect people and trade traveling over three of the major trails heading westward, the Oregon, California and Sante Fe Trails. In the years after the Civil War, the post was a U.S. Cavalry base and school for cavalry tactics. It was also used as a base for years of Indian skirmishes, George Custer was stationed here with the 7th Cavalry in 1866. Custer Hill is the main troop billeting area on the base and the Custer Home is a period accurate museum located on the base. In 1887, Fort Riley became home to the United States Cavalry School. 

Among other notable units associated with Fort Riley are the 9th and 10th Cavalry, the famed "Buffalo Soldiers". They were each stationed at Ft. Riley at various points in their histories. Just before World War One, both became part of the 2nd Cavalry Division, which was also stationed here for a short time.

In the following two decades, sometimes referred to as the golden age of cavalry, thanks to rigorous, outstanding training at Fort Riley, U.S. Cavalry units grew to be among the best in the world. The United States Army Cavalry School's reputation, ranked them with the French and Italian schools. All things cavalry became very popular for the time, including horse shows, hunts and polo matches, which were an outgrowth of the cavalry.

Advances in battlefield technologies demonstrated during WW1 cast doubt, by some, on the future of effective usefulness of  cavalry units. The War Department had directed the development of tank units by the late 1920's and in 1936, the 7th Cavalry Brigade(mechanized) was activated. In 1938, the 7th marched from Fort Knox to Fort Riley and took part in large-scale combine maneuvers of horse and mechanized units. These exercises helped prove the effectiveness of mechanized cavalry.

The lead up to World War Two saw changes at Fort Riley. One notable change was the rebuilding of Camp Funston, just outside the base. Funston was initially built as a cantonment that could accommodate up to 50,000 troops. In December, 1940, the 2nd Cavalry Division was stationed there and an additional 32,000 acres were acquired for training purposes. The 9th Armored Division was organized in July, 1942 and after they deployed, Funston was turned into a POW camp. It became one of up to fourteen in the immediate area.

Just after WW2, in November, 1946, the Cavalry School ceased operations. The following March, the last tactical horse units were deactivated. The Cavalry School was replaced with the Ground General School. It trained newly commissioned officers in basic military subjects. An officer’s candidate course was conducted along with training officers and enlisted men in intelligence techniques. Soon after, the storied 10th Mountain Division was activated. The 16-week basic military program conducted by this division prepared soldiers for infantry combat and duty with other infantry units. This was 1948. About two years later, North Korea invaded South Korea and Fort Riley became the focal point for much of the training of the troops involved.

The Cold War saw the 10th Mountain Division rotate to Germany as part of Operation Gyroscope. The void at Fort Riley was filled handily by the Big Red One. The 1st Infantry Division began arriving in July, 1955 and did not fully integrate until the last units of the 2nd Battle Group, 8th Infantry arrived in December 1959. Over the next seven years, heightened activity with the 1st Infantry Division in the way of Operation Long Thrust, which saw troops moved to and from Germany, the building of the Berlin Wall, and the Cuban Missile Crisis had Ft. Riley bursting at the seams. To support the need for more adequate training facilities, an additional 50,000 acres were acquired in 1966.

The Vietnam War required the 1st Infantry Division to be deployed starting in July, 1965 with the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry. Divisional HQ followed in September. Fort Riley was home to a new provisional basic combat training brigade which was followed by the addition of the reactivated 9th Infantry Division. They soon followed the 1st ID to Vietnam.

Soon, the 24th Infantry Division would arrive. The 1st ID would return from Vietnam in April of 1970. Reserve Officer Training Corps summer camps were also held at the fort, demonstrating and teaching their skills to aspiring second lieutenants. The fort also hosted the model U. S. Army Correctional Brigade, housed in Camp Funston, and the 3rd ROTC Region Headquarters until their inactivation in 1992.

Operation Desert Storm saw the Big Red One on the move, yet again. Along with the 1st Infantry Division, 27 non-divisional units were deployed and twenty-four reserve components were mobilized. This amounted to 15,180 soldiers being sent overseas via 115 aircraft. This, along with 3,000 short tons of equipment. This culminated with the "100 hours of combat", in February, 1991, which crushed Iraq's Republican Guard. Later that spring, the 1st ID came home to Fort Riley.

Spring of 1995 saw the 1st Infantry Division's HQ transferred back to Germany. All that remained at Ft. Riley was 1st Brigade, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division and the 937th Engineer Group.

1999 saw the re-emergence of Ft. Riley as a Division Headquarters with the reactivation of the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized).

In April, 2003, the 3rd Brigade 1st Armored Division deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 3rd Brigade operated in and around Baghdad in support of the 1st Armored Division. Over the next 9 years, Fort Riley units supported combat operations both Iraq and Afghanistan.

On August 1, 2006, the 1st Infantry Division returned to Fort Riley and became the post's main Division, replacing the 24th Infantry Division in that role.

Four museums, in addition to the Custer Home are located on base. The U.S. Cavalry Museum, which features exhibits and artifacts dating from the Revolutionary War up until the 1950's, the 1st Infantry Division Museum, which traces the division from it's inception, the first territorial capitol of Kansas, which is the sole remaining building in the ghost town that was taken over by Ft. Riley after only 5 days of existence, and finally, one of  eight of the twenty M65 atomic cannons, known collectively as "Atomic Annie".

Fort Riley has been a focal point of U.S. military operations since its inception. The role it has played in cavalry operations, training and support have done a tremendous amount for the preparation and readiness of combat troops going back 150 years. Two of the most storied divisions in our history have called Ft. Riley home. Innumerable troops have passed through her gates in various roles with various duties and destinations. Many of them never came home. Let's not forget those who have fought out of Ft. Riley. The sacrifices they have made have gone a long way on forging the freedoms we now enjoy.

Thank you to all who have ever set passed through Ft. Riley in the name of defending this country! Your impact is cherished and your memory remains alive! 

  

#MondayMachines: LAV-25

During the 1980's, the Marine Corps was looking for a light armored vehicle in order to increase the  mobility of its divisions. They chose the LAV-25 built by General Dynamics Land Systems out of Canada.

The LAV-25 is an eight-wheeled amphibious armored recon vehicle based on the Swiss MOWAG Piranha I 8x8 vehicle. The Marines put them into service in 1983. The U.S. Army was also interested but declined at that time. They did go with the Stryker at a later date, which is based on the LAV III, which is also based on a MOWAG vehicle. The Army did, however, borrow about a dozen of the LAV-25 vehicles from the Marines which were used in the Gulf War by the 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne. The Marines ordered over 750 LAV-25's of all available variants.

They first saw combat during the Invasion of Panama in 1989. They have been in service since that time in the Gulf War, the Iraq war, and the war in Afghanistan. In recent years, a Marine light armored recon battalion will typically use 56 LAV-25's and 44 other variants, plus a unknown number of LAV-MEWSS (Mobile Electronic Warfare Support System, the details of which remain classified). The current plan sees them in use until the year 2035. They must be a fairly reliable vehicle to have been in use for over 30 years and 20 more planned in a time when technology has been and continues to be changing at a rate probably never thought possible.

The LAV-25 is powered by a turbo charged 275 hp Detroit Diesel engine. They can run 4-wheel drive, in which the four rear wheels are used or can be transferred to 8-wheel drive. They are capable of going 60+ mph and have a range of over 400 miles. They are also able, as an amphibious vehicle to operate in non-surf water conditions, an reach speeds of about 8 mph. The amphibious role is currently being limited and possibly removed from the vehicle. They use a crew of three and can carry four passengers with full combat gear.

The business end of these vehicles features an M242 Bushmaster 25mm chain gun. Spitting out up to 500 rounds per minute, this cannon can deliver a 25x137mm shell at a 3600ft/s muzzle velocity. If that finds its target, it can ruin someone's weekend plans in a hurry. The LAV-25 is also equipped with two M240 machine guns (7.62x51mm). It is safe to say that a dedicated crew is more than capable of of taking care of business.

Upgrades have continued on the LAV-25 since the 1990's. Through the upgrades, variants have been designated the LAV-25A1 and the more recent LAV-25A2, for which funding was reportedly approved. These phase I upgrades added features including, increased external and internal ballistic armor, fire suppression systems, and suspension upgrades to compensate for the heavier armor. The armor upgrades will increase protection from 14.5mm armor piercing rounds and also add an anti-spall lining similar to the Army's LAVIII "Stryker" vehicles. This armor also provides increased protection form IED's. Phase II upgrades include the turret drive system and the sighting systems.

The LAV-25's have several derivatives which include Anti-Tank, Mortar, Recovery, Command & Control, Logistics, Expeditionary Fire Support Systems(which upgrades the mortar capability with a recoil-less rifle version) and the previously mentioned, highly classified, Mobile Electronic Warfare Support System.

All of these features, upgrades, variants and derivatives make the LAV-25 one seriously versatile, highly functional and reliable piece of machinery. The Marines have been depending on them for over 30 years and they have served each other well.

 
POHANG, South Korea (March 29, 2006) - Staff Sgt. Heighnbaugh, a platoon sgt. with the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Platoon (reinforced), Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, fires an M240G medium machinegun on a light armored vehicle at the Su Song Ri Range here during Exercise Foal Eagle 2006. The BLT is the ground combat element of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

You're a Civilian?

I met a veteran who I'll call Mal. Mal served in the Army SPEC OPS with a PSY OPS unit during the Gulf War. I didn't learn this right away, it was only after talking to him for about a half an hour. It took me a while to ask him what unit he served with because I sensed our conversation needed to move to a point where he trusted me more. It was the second conversation I had with him that say.

During the first brief conversation, I told him about Honor the Veteran and gave him a business card. I told him if he was interested, I would love to feature him in a short piece. He was very adamant that he didn't want to bring attention to himself. Not because of where he served or what he did, just because he didn't see himself as being especially noteworthy or special in some way as to garner recognition. He was very humble. I left him my card anyway.

Later, when we met again, he asked if I had served. When I said no, he seemed somewhat taken aback. He said something to the effect of he didn't understand how a civilian would do something like this. I told him of those in my family that have served, friends, and just a general respect I have for those who have served. He asked what led me to create Honor the Veteran. I explained to him what I've already written about in previous posts here.

We spoke about how veterans are treated by some(which I think is changing for the better), and how the VA is doing a better(yet woefully inadequate in many cases) job at taking care of our returning vets who desperately need help. We spoke about the percentage of Americans who have actually served. We spoke about what he did during his service and some of the realities of war.

A few things he said stuck with me. One of them being that he felt veterans don't really desire sympathy or empathy from civilians, they have more of a desire for us to understand what they go through while they serve and after they serve. This is the hard part. We both agreed that if you haven't been there, you really have no way of understanding what they've gone through. I personally have told veterans, "I know how you feel" and in the same sentence said, "yet I really have no idea how you feel".

I got the feeling that Mal has come into contact with some less than thankful civilians regarding his service. He didn't seem bitter about it, he was just being honest in his assessment of his experiences. He was a very pleasant man to talk to but really opened my eyes up to something very sad. There are, in these current times of society being more appreciative, still a lot of veterans who feel ignored, not appreciated, or even treated poorly by society in general.

You've seen the phrase, "All gave some, some gave all", referring to the sacrifices that our military patriots have made in service to our country. We need to keep this in mind. You don't serve without "giving some". Some part of you is sacrificed. You may come back worse for wear or you may come back a better person, but you won;t come back the same. Some won't come back at all.

I've also recently seen a phrase that I'm at odds with. It says, "Thank you is no longer enough". While I agree that we should be more giving, more helpful and try to be as supportive as possible in any way we can to our veterans, I also believe that "thank you" is sometimes all we have at our disposal. It may not be enough, but it is at least a start. We need to be mindful of the first phrase more often when we meet a veteran so that we can "at least start" to thank them for what they have given, for what they have gone through, and for what they left on the battlefields and in the barracks all over the world.

"You're a civilian?" Yes Mal, I'm a civilian. A civilian who is trying to understand and who is extremely thankful for you and what you've done.

We should strive, through our actions and interactions, to come to a place where veterans will not be surprised by our thankfulness.