Pre-Fort Leavenworth

The sun rises over Fort Leavenworth

Not too many years ago, clearing of the northwestern portion of Fort Leavenworth was begun to allow the construction of the new United States Disciplinary Barracks (the military's name for prison, "the slammer", the "hoosegow"). As the earth was scraped away, an ancient-gatherer fire site was discovered just a few feet below the surface of the ground, very shortly after work began. To ensure that historically relevant materials were not destroyed, the site was cordoned off. Later some of the remnants of the man-made fire were carbon dated. The results published in the Kansas City Star were nothing short of incredible. Men and (as likely) women had started this fire some 6,500 years ago! I have read that biblical history commences some 4,500 years ago...the pyramids of Egypt built some 3,000 years ago (?). To think that a group of folks from what would become Kansas would be communing above the muddy Missouri River that long ago is intriguing. Was this the Og, Son of Fire of whom I have read when I was but a lad? Did they carry their fire in a container...or did they use flint to start their fires the old (really old) fashioned way? We can only imagine... Would a far-distant descendant of Og carry away the "white briefcase" as the distinguished graduate of the Army staff college? Ah, all within the realm of possibility.

Over the next who-knows-how long, two other unlikely descendants of Og named Lan and Rob will bring you glimpses into the 5,700 or so acres of history that became Fort Leavenworth. I say "unlikely descendants" as Lan began his journey in Vietnam and I from even more exotic Pennsylvania (but I did get to visit Vietnam on a government-sponsored trip right out of college). Of course, nobody from here (we're back at Leavenworth) is really "from here", so we shall spin the story of Fort Leavenworth wrapping in the people, places and animals who came here... Yes even animals, all of whom when considered, make it in our estimation, the most unique place in the US Army. We trust Og would agree...and hope all of you who arrive to read, marvel, chuckle (?)...and view Lan's wonderful photography come to endorse same.