I was station here from 2002 to 2004 but was deployed to Iraq the majority of my time here. Remember some strip clubs, cadillac jack and the most popular spot in leesville Walmart
Well we here do want to at least Thank all of you military folks and your families and pray one day that you will say maybe it wasn't that bad?? For we do respect your service to our country and proud to be apart of making your training go well here!! God Bless each and every one of you!!!
Spent 2 years there and only have 2 pictures of the place. Gawd it was back in 72-74 and there was absolutely nothing to do except drink beer and play monopoly, day after day. The local girls would not even speak to us. SOOOOO glad I was sent overseas! Then when I was overseas Infantry Branch told me that I was going BACK to FT Polk. My response was simple. I ETS'd. BTU the fishing was great!
I lived in the Ft Polk barracks in 84, 85 and 86. The training missions we took to Germany and to Ft Bliss Texas were fun and interesting. I was stuck on post with a bunch of other bored guys the rest of my time there. I had various friends at times who took me fishing, hunting, to see wrestling in Alexandria, to see stock car races, movies, swimming at some lake that had a beach, drinking in Leesville, etc to pass the time. I see them on facebook sometimes. We were so immature back then.
Was stationed there from 83-87 and did my entire tour there. I remember great food and fishing was always renting a boat and fishing. Stayed in North Fort in those same wooden barracks. Hated those things. First 6 months i was there i was staying at Peason Ridge building tank roads and clearing trees on a D8. what a kick in the face to start my first and only tour in that hell hole.
Wow. I enjoyed the brief history of the base, and the images were awesome. The plans for the future were kind of impressive as well. As a Leesville native, it's good to hear that Ft. Polk is expanding their services. Hopefully that indicates the base will be around for a good long while. Leesville is basically a support community for the base, and as such relies so heavily upon it. Thanks!
I was there from 97 to 2000. It sucked then too. I see they updated the PX, moved JRTC HQ on the other side of the golf course, and built more housing.
Basic 11B at D-4-2 Capt Quick CO. Jun '74. Then after 2 week leave AIT with Capt Sharpe. Afterward straight to Jump School then FT Bragg. My first pay check the capt short changed me a $20. The drill sgt ripped the poplin shirt off me and buttons went flying, he said I didn't say put on that shirt. I was in the hospital a few days for spinal meningitis which turned out neg after a spinal tap. My 2nd week I was promoted to acring E5 squad leader and on a detail confescared a bad containing 2 six packs of beer. Before I could turn around the Drill came up from behind and asked what was in the bag. Before I could say anything I was relieved of command. I did a little better 3 yrs later when given the Soldier's Medal for Heroism (by Pres. Carter) at B 2/17 after being stationed at Ft Ord. I was born at Ord when my dad was a CO there and was initially assigned there in spring of '74, great memories there.
A.I.T. -- Sept-Nov 1967. Got there on a Sunday late afternoon. They took us in the dining room (old wooden barracks) for a sandwich -- roaches on the walls. B-2-3. Company B, 2nd Bn, 3rd Tng Bde. We knew where we were going after A.I.T.
During the Vietnam war, 'Polk was a living "hell-hole". Nobody in the army wanted to train there for a litany of reasons. The training was brutal and had a high awol rate. The post was divided in two separate parts: North and South forts. North fort is where the infamous "Tigerland" was located. Training in the summer of '69 was brutal. You must realize that this was one of the major training facilities for Vietnam at the time. I see from your comments that things must still be the same.
@ Fort Polk I did my basics training (Bravo Co. began the end of March 1973 -to the end of July)... Would like to hear from Charles Pipkins of Texas,,,this is Ken. 37 years later!
Sure is different than when I was stationed there as permanent party from 1965-67. Can't believe some of the comments from others about living conditions. There was no on base housing for families, commisary, hospital of any sort, etc. Leesville was "Sleeze Ville". Blacks and white didn't mixed off the base. We were happy to have showers with hot water. I was in South Fort but out processed those from Tiger Land to their port call. Company A Special Troops! Hoorah!
It did suck, and so did sleezeville, and all the deridder critters- was there from 95 to 98 and then 13 months in Bosnia in 99, not the greatest 4 years of my life.
In reply to Daniella... Fort Polk comes up 2nd on the list of Army worst duty stations... Sooooo ya.. and yes I will have a nice life..my husband just got called up to serve in the White House (go read who gets to serve in the White House..).. we leave this hole in the spring. Fort Polk is a cesspool my condolences to anyone who gets stationed here.
@tcooperent I was there in '66 and was in Charlie Co, 1st btn, 1st training brigade (South Fort). There's a few things about your comments that concerns me though. You said that you left Houston for the "bus ride to the "Base", which as anyone who's been in the Army knows that the facility is known as "Post", not "Base". The Army uses the term "Drill Sergeant", not "Drill instructor" as in the Marine Corp. This is not meant to be a criticizim but an observation, that's all.
Much of the comments are accurate. The housing they show at the end is tiny...compared to the old, moldy, run down housing we have to call our home. People pretty much party and scream most nights..and worse on the weekends. I have never seen so much drinking in base housing. Nice PX.. cause it is new, why don't they show the tiny old cramped commisary they force us to shop in. A sad excuse of a base. The army should be ashamed ... OMG.. GET US OUT OF HERE
My entire career in Army, not once did I ever meet anyone who liked Ft. Polk, everybody I ever met who was stationed there said the place sucked....bad. I was lucky enough to miss getting stationed but still did 2 tours at that shithole Ft. Hood.
TheChuck624 LMFAO it's funny when someone says that shithole or that hellhole. I've heard it all for every location in the army. "Jeez I'm glad I left that shithole in Ft. Bliss." "Damn that sucks you got stationed in that blackhole Ft. Riley, good luck." "Damn, someone must hate you because they sent you to Ft. Lewis." "Damn, Ft. Hood, glad I'm not going to that shithole." lol so literally every base in the army is either a shithole, hellhole, or blackhole.
Maddix Roberts No not really. I was stationed at a couple pretty decent places in Germany. There are some good duty stations out east. It was the Army after all and no one was ever really happy where they were stationed. But Polk? Never heard anyone say anything good about it. No one liked Hood either. I don't really think it was so much the surrounding area, I think it was more the shitty duty.
+Maddix Roberts those bases need to be in a decent civilization. use busses to run the soldiers to training sites. thats why soldiers have a difficult time to deal with eveyday life. its not a psychiatic insitute nor a maximum security prison.
+Maddix Roberts did you know that middle in Paris is a military training centre , basic, ocs and permanent party arecright there? they call it ecole d militaire, military school not tbe ones we sent our kids . there. so, why can it not be done here. soldiers are not having the bubonic plaque. but there sure treated that way. absurd
Ha, ha, ha, everyone who's commenting here about Fort Polk (Fort Puke) hated being stationed there, lol. Vets like me from the Vietnam era remember Tigerland (North fort, or North post whichever term you used). Tigerland AIT was as bad as acutally being in Vietnam (without the fatalities and casulalties) and the trainees were glad to be 'outta there.
You are right about that! Did both Basic Training and AIT at the same time at Tigerland. 16 weeks of Hell. Do anyone remembers The Casino in Leesville? That place at night was scary and I'm from Philly and found out that place was more hood then Philly!
Listen up Elf044, There's no such thing as Army "Base", it's POST ! The Air Force and Navy has "Bases" and the Marines has "Camps". I was trained at 'Polk in the '60s during the Vietnam era (Charlie company, 1st Bn, 1st Bde.) I'm suprised you live so close (Leesville, La.) and didn't know Fort Polk was a "Post".
