Photo By Chad Ashe | The Commander of Group for Joint Readiness Training Center, Operations Group, Col....... read more read more
FORT POLK, La. – The Joint Readiness Training Center, Operations Group showcased the complexity of supporting unit rotations by hosting a tour of its training area, commonly referred to as the ‘box,’ for the public Nov. 21. Concurrently, 3rd Battalion, 353rd Regiment hosted “Return to Tiger Land,” an event to highlight the training held on Tiger Land for infantrymen leaving for the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1976.
More than 1.1 million Army Soldiers attended basic training at Fort Polk, in Tiger Land, while the Infantry Training Center was operational. Box tour attendees were fortunate to see Tiger Land, the first planned stop on the way to training area Shuttgart-Gordon, named for two Medal of Honor recipients for actions above and beyond the call of duty while in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993. At the culmination of the box tour, participants witnessed a training scenario there, complete with vehicle explosions and blank-fired weapons from U.S. forces and Opposing Forces.
On hand for both events were Vietnam Veterans, Soldiers and their Families, friends of the unit, and the community to honor sacrifices made years later, and the ones Soldiers are making today. Those in attendance for the Tiger Land event were able to see Vietnam War-era equipment, weaponry, and vehicles, as well as those used today on the battlefield. These displays of past and present military items were made available due to coordination efforts of 3-353 battalion leadership and volunteers from the community who brought their personal items, and with the assistance of the Fort Polk Museum who brought what displays that were not artifacts.
The commander of Group, Col. Christopher LaNeve, recognized Vietnam veteran members of the box tour group returning to Tiger Land during the briefing in Fort Polk’s Bayou Theatre. For the members of the group returning, this was the chance to see how things have changed and visit the past. This was also a chance to see how units here are training to prepare Soldiers for war.
The COG said the training mission for JRTC is a collaborative effort that not only makes up Soldiers on Fort Polk, but others. “It’s the community, the incredible civilian force working with us, and the role players on the battlefield. It’s the Soldiers every single day that are either opposing forces, observer controllers, or our incredible Tiger team that make it happen,” said the COG.
Joe McGee, a visitor from Raceland, La., helped his group operate a display of Vietnam War equipment used to put on Vietnam War reenactments. His goal, and that of his team, is to get more people involved in remembering the Vietnam War through reenacting the past. “It is an honor because so many who trained here went to Vietnam,” said McGee on his invitation to support the event at Tiger Land.
McGee said he and a group started Vietnam War reenacting for their love of Vietnam War history and love for those who had fought there. The group has participated in several events throughout the area, including one at nearby Camp Claiborne, birthplace of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. Another reenactment held in north Peason Ridge called “Tiger Land Tactical” is located in the area once used by the Army to create mock Vietnam villages for training.
Family members of those Soldiers who support the training mission in Operations Group were there to see what their loved ones do to support the rotational training unit. Spouses and children touring both events were able to experience equipment and climb onto military vehicles for the perfect photo opportunity. Smiles remained on the wide-eyed faces of attending children while exploring training area Shuttgart-Gordon.
Ruth Ann Tisland and her children were there to attend the box tour and Tiger Land visit. “Kids were excited to see what their dad did during the rotation. After seeing the tour, I now understand what he does,” said Tisland.
For the Vietnam War veterans and some family members visiting Tiger Land, this was not all fun but part of a grieving process. One Vietnam Veteran in attendance said he and his wife was concerned seeing these images and touching the equipment would not be good for him. Instead he found it healing and seeing the new training and equipment raises his hopes.
Donna Nance had never been on a tour of the training area even though she lives close to Fort Polk, but she is very familiar from the stories she would hear from her late husband Dan, who had supported JRTC since it was established at Fort Polk in 1993, and before when units deployed to the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Storm from 1991 to 1992.
Donna said Dan had passed away last year, and this was her chance to understand for herself why he was so passionately proud of what he did here to support the mission at JRTC and Fort Polk. She said many in the Fort Polk community who have been around awhile remember Dan’s contributions to JRTC.
Whether it was to connect for the first time or reconnect with the training here at JRTC, the showcase brought together Veterans of past and present, those who drove through Fort Polk gates for the first time, and those who have set foot here many years ago to return to a time remembered.
“We are humbled and proud that you would spend today with us. It’s a small snapshot of what we do here every single month,” said the COG.
| Date Taken: | 11.21.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.22.2015 14:12 |
| Story ID: | 182571 |
| Location: | FORT POLK, LOUISIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 530 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, JRTC Ops Group hosts ‘box’ tour and Tiger Land return, by Chad Ashe, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
