From its start as a base for the historic louisiana maneuvers in the 1940s to a basic training post during vietnam and its current mission, fort polk has executed all of the armys missions during times of conflict and war. I would love to hear their stories and interview them, she told us. In 1962, fort polk began converting to an infantry training center. The twelve or so of us who had just completed our basic training at company e, 4th battalion, 5th training brigade earlier. Get specific details about this product from customers who own it. Aug 28, 2011 is there a patch for tigerland at fort polk louisiana from 196571. She would like to contact vietnam veterans who went through basic training or infantry ait at tigerland at fort polk. Most of the old wooden buildings have been replaced. Fort polk has approximately 8,000 soldiers stationed at the installation,000 family members living on and offpost, 6,000 department of the army civilians and contract employees working on post, and more than 40,000 retirees that live in central louisiana and rely on the installation for support services.
Fort polk tigerland patch 030 3 round embroidered patch. I have had this patch for years but just id it this week as the 3rd training bde ft knox 1973 paul. One such camp was fort polk located in southwest louisiana near the bustling towns of deridder and leesville. More than one million soldiers trained at fort polk during the vietnam war. Tigerland fort polk, louisiana embroidered patch 3. Many soldiers reported to basic training at fort polk and stayed on post for infantry training at tigerland before being assigned to infantry line. In 1962, fort polk began converting to an advanced infantry training ait center. Fort polk is a united states army installation located in vernon parish, approximately ten miles east of leesville. Since we did shift work, we were on separate rations and were able to take our meals at the px or off post. A small portion of fort polk is filled with dense, junglelike vegetation, and this helped commanders prepare their units for battle in southeast asia. It was during the vietnam war that fort polk became famous for its mock vietnam villages, known as tiger land. When it comes to history, things often come full circle.
For many, fort polk was the only stateside army post they saw before assignment overseas. Welcome to the official jrtc and fort polk facebook page. Fort polk was home to tigerland, an advanced infantry training center during the vietnam war, from 19621973. While we were exempt from kp we still had to pull gate guard duty. So im a fister and i just got my next assignment for fort polk. During the 1960s, the fourth army operated tigerland, an infantry training school at louisianas fort polk to prepare new recruits for infantry combat in vietnam. Our drill instructors just returned from the tet offensive in vietnam, and they definitely had an attitude and a message for us. That it is a fifth brigade tigerland opens up more questions. Free returns 100% money back guarantee fast shipping. Dorothy shrager, an author in california, is working on a project dealing with the vietnam war.
Training centers throughout the united states continued to process new, raw meat for the war. Iv been hoping ill get a good chance at getting a patch under this flag. I know at fort polk the 3rd and 5th training brigades were ait units while the 2nd was basic and you made reference to the 1st as a basic unit also. Fort polk tigerland infantry embroidered iron on patch 3. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Fort polk responds again as conflict breaks out in korea, vietnam. Fort polk tiger land army 3 inch green patch hfl1286. Willis and his parents were part of 300 visitors who were given a special tour of tigerland, the area that trained more than 1. Jan 20, 2017 the vietnam war was still going strong in the winter of 1970. As often the last stop for new infantrymen on their way to vietnam, tigerland was established in humid and muggy fort polk in order to closely mimic the.
Details about fort polk tiger land army 3 inch green patch hfl1286 f2d21g. I have often said, if i had a choice between another vietnam tour or fort polk, it would be nam. Fort polk is the armys joint readiness training center jrtc whose mission is to train and deploy combat and combat support units. Tiger land is where soldiers trained during the vietnam war on fort polk. Armed forces insignia tiger land fort polk patch patches. Most interesting crest there sapper89, shows then that the training brigades of the fort polk infantry training center had their own unique dis. This new facility is a great addition to the fort polk installation and provides one stop shopping for you the customer. The twelve or so of us who had just completed our basic training at company e, 4th battalion, 5th training brigade earlier in the morning of friday, february 24, 1967 were the first to arrive at our tiger land company area because we had a short ride on the back of a deuce and a half truck. Jan 29, 2007 here are some pictures of what fort polk s tigerland looked like as young soldiers were trained for war.
Find high quality printed fort polk mens tshirts at cafepress. This what fort polk and tigerland in louisiana is like us army where to go in. She would like to contact vietnam veterans who went through basic training or infantry ait at tigerland at fort read more. Airborne background trim fort polk is a united states army installation located in vernon parish, approximately ten miles east of leesville, louisiana, and thirty miles north of deridder in beauregard parish, louisiana. When i reported to my infantry platoon in viet nam, i thought tiger land wasnt so bad after all. Fort polk army base in louisiana info guide from 1967 this is a 1967 informational booklet on fort polk army base in vernon parish, louisiana. Fort polk is a united states army installation located in vernon parish, approximately ten miles.
Great gift for anyone who trained at tigerland during the vietnam era. This mission involved preparing most of the infantry soldiers for combat in vietnam. United states army installation management command shoulder patch. Nov 20, 2019 fort polk is the armys joint readiness training center jrtc whose mission is to train and deploy combat and combat support units.
My reason was i had two older brothers in vietnam at the time so i was shipped out to camp wentzel where i stayed until march 1970. Frank, baynejones army community hospital bjach commander. Fort polk tiger land army 3 inch green patch hfl1286 f2d21g. The twelve or so of us who had just completed our basic training at company e, 4th battalion, 5th training brigade earlier in the morning of friday, february 24, 1967 were the first to arrive at our tiger land company area because we had a short ride on the back of a deuce and a half truck fred dunlap a deuceandahalf truck entering tiger land, 1967. I like most of the men that showed up in our battalion had been trained at fort polk tigerland to be sent to vietnam or had been in nam and been wounded. Hollywood made a movie in 2000 that was called tigerland about fort polk s role in the vietnamera. Commanding general of jrtc and fort polk, brigadier general patrick d. Fort polk provides update on covid19 procedures news. Here are some pictures of what fort polk s tigerland looked like as young soldiers were trained for war. Fort polk was home to tigerland, an advanced infantry training center during the. Fort polk in louisiana is the armys joint readiness training center jrtc whose mission is to train and deploy combat and combat support units.
Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Return to tiger land attracts army veterans to fort polk. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. As an infantry soldier in vietnam, crations was my sole source of nourishment for at. I was sworn into the us army on february 19, 1968 at the boston army base. Iv heard allot of negitive and one of my ncos said have fun deploying all the time. Im not sure of all the locations but i do know that fort polk, louisiana was a main training center during the viet nam war. Tigerland fort polk, louisiana embroidered patch 3 round. Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. High quality embroidered tigerland fort polk patch greengoldblack very durable with iron on backing.
Tigerland fort polk patch greengoldblack veteran owned business. One guy from the 155 had just received orders to fort polk lousiana, tigerland. My experience is limited to ltp and jrtc at fort polk. Unique designs created by designers all over the world. For the next 12 years, more soldiers were shipped to vietnam from fort polk than. In july 1971, the fourth army was disbanded and consolidated with the fifth united states army at fort sam houston. May 08, 2009 162nd infantry bde brought back to life. Soldiers of the world war ii and vietnam eras would scarcely recognize the new fort polk. Kalb shantessa archie says it gave her and her children a greater appreciation for the military.
Frank, commander of the joint readiness training center and fort polk hosts a covid19 facebook live town hall april 16. Fort polk after serving as a critical piece in americas efforts to prepare for world war ii, the. Polk academy,drill corporal course, i cannot find anything about that course or the pocket patch issued after graduating, wish i could later in 68 i re entered the academy and became a drill sgt. Inspired designs on tshirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. A small portion of fort polk is filled with dense, junglelike vegetation, so this, along with louisianas heat, humidity and precipitation similar to southeast asia helped commanders acclimatize new infantry soldiers in preparation for combat in vietnam. Many soldiers reported to basic training at fort polk and stayed on post for infantry training at tigerland before being assigned to infantry line companies in vietnam. Is there a patch for tigerland at fort polk louisiana from 196571. Includes 1 one embroidered 4 x 1 embroidered patch for fort polk,louisiana more patch designs are available in my facebook group kaserne patches. Fort polk army base in louisiana info guide from 1967 all. If you have verizon wireless, you might want to look into getting something else. Rent tigerland starring colin farrell and matthew davis on dvd and bluray. Tagged as the second worst part of the earth, it was a recreation of the vietnamese jungle and was used to prepare american soldiers for the hellish terrain they were soon to be fighting in. Tigerland jungle warfare training at fort polk, louisiana. The twelve or so of us who had just completed our basic training at company e, 4th battalion, 5th training brigade earlier in the morning of friday, february 24, 1967 were the first to arrive at our tiger land company area because we had a short ride on the back of a deuce and a half truck fred dunlap a deuceandahalf truck entering tiger.
It was the beginning of a career that i could not have imagined. Army training camp during the mid1960s to early 1970s located at fort polk, louisiana as part of the u. I have often said, if i had a choice between another vietnam tour or fort polk, it would be nam our drill instructors just returned from the tet offensive in vietnam, and they definitely had an attitude and a message for us. Fort polk served as the armys largest infantry training center from 1962 until 1976. Fort polk is a united states army installation located in vernon parish, approximately ten miles east of leesville, louisiana, and thirty miles north of deridder in beauregard parish, louisiana it was named in honor of the right reverend leonidas polk, the first episcopal bishop of the diocese of louisiana, and a distinguished confederate general in the american civil war. Is there a patch for tigerland at fort polk louisiana from. The vietnam war was still going strong in the winter of 1970. This what fort polk and tigerland in louisiana is like us army where to go in florida filmed in 360 video. Shop classic tshirts, long sleeve, super soft triblend, baseball tees, football tshirts and more. On saturdays public tour of the joint readiness training. Nov 04, 2016 shot, edited, written and voiced by lydia magallanes for kalb nbc 5.