Decorative Gate

The decorative limestone block gate at the Grant Avenue entrance to Fort Leavenworth was erected in 1936 by the African American men of Civilian Conservation Corps Camp #4717C.  (Source:  Fort Leavenworth, KS Trivia)

Buffalo Soldiers Monument

Story by Rob

Video by Lan

What a beautiful monument by artist Dixon! I had the privilege of being an invited guest at both the groundbreaking and several years later, the dedication. General Colin Powell gets much credit for this monument as he was the ranking officer at both ceremonies...but wait! Want to know who was the driving force behind the Buffalo Soldier Monument? It was a US Navy officer named Commander Carlton Philpot who was serving on the staff of the Command and General Staff College in the late 1980s, early 1990s. Talk about unsung heroes! If Commander Philpot hadn't provided the impetus, the Buffalo Soldier Monument might still have become a reality...but who knows when? 

I'm going to forward Lan a remarkable photograph that the Frontier Army Museum at Fort Leavenworth was kind enough to digitize for me some years back. It depicts a group of soldiers on horseback, with the leader in the center, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Wainright. Wainright was the Master of Foxhounds at Fort Leavenworth from 1929-1931. He has his hounds and staff standing near a tree (that is still there) on Grant Avenue. Now the Army in that day and age much endorsed foxhunting. Because they liked to wear scarlet coats and chase foxes and coyotes with hounds? Partly. But more relevantly to a cavalryman as Wainright was, foxhunting developed cross country-riding skills that highly complemented the horse cavalry mission. And were there other mounted horse cavalrymen in the photo? Of course! None other than members of the illustrious 10th Cavalry Regiment which had arrived on post circa 1930. They were in time to join Wainright on a foxhunt on many foxhunts on the post, and as we used to do, take that ceremonial ride with hounds right through the middle of Fort Leavenworth. 

Fort Leavenworth Fox Hunt Club en-route to the Buffalo Soldiers Monument Wreath Laying Ceremony

Now many of the staff members of the foxhunt in the 1930s were taken from the ranks of the Buffalo Soldiers of the 10th Cav... In the picture that will be coming, you will see a large group of mounted 10th Cav troopers on the left...likely a mandatory weekend formation. The "Gee Whiz" factor of it all? The picture is just across Grant Avenue from where the Buffalo Soldier Monument will be constructed some 60 or so years later. I find that neat irony!! Look for it...and more of this in Legends of the Lamp, for we will wrap in Wainright, who was to become a great hero of WWII, the Kansas Jayhawks, and the most famous Army horse of them all, as we continue to make our point that Fort Leavenworth is the neatest 5700 acres in all the US Army!

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.

Fort Leavenworth's other Pools

Fort Leavenworth has one indoor and two outdoor swimming pools. It has three pools no longer in use: the former officer’s club pool at the Frontier Crossroads Center now filled in; the YMCA pool in the basement of the Patch School Age Services building now inactive; and the recreation center pool that now serves as the basement of the east wing of Townsend Hall (Source:  Fort Leavenworth Trivia)