Fort Leavenworth

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The Grant Hall, landmark of Fort Leavenworth and the seat of the US Army Combined Arms Center

Fort Leavenworth is a military base near Leavenworth in the US state of Kansas . On an area of ​​23 square kilometers, it houses the Command and General Staff College , the National Simulation Center and the Fort Leavenworth military prison .

The base was founded in 1827 and is the oldest military base of the US armed forces west of the Mississippi River that is still used in this function . The base consists of around 1000 buildings and 1500 quarters on 70  hectares . It is to the north not far from the former Fort de Cavagnal , the westernmost military facility of the French in their former colony of Louisiana .

Naming and foundation

The fort was named after Colonel Henry Leavenworth (1783-1834). It was founded to protect the Santa Fe Trail , a connection route to the west of outstanding economic and military importance, along which a number of other bases were built.

Military prison

So-called Buffalo Soldiers in 1890. The first units to be recruited from African Americans were stationed at Fort Leavenworth and fought in the Indian Wars .

The Fort Leavenworth Military Prison , opened on May 15, 1875, is used for the custody of criminals from the US Army , Navy , Air Force , Marine Corps and Coast Guard . There is also a cemetery on the prison grounds, the Fort Leavenworth Military Prison Cemetery for soldiers who died in custody, including 14 executed German prisoners of war.

In 1881 the Command and General Staff College was established, initially as a training facility for infantry and cavalry units . After the Vietnam War , it received its current function as a higher officers' school .

US Army Combined Arms Center

The most important facility on the base is the US Army Combined Arms Center , CAC for short , which has been in existence since July 1, 1973 . a. is responsible for the coordinated electronic warfare of the armed forces .

Historic District

Since December 19, 1960, the fort has the status of a National Historic Landmark . On October 15, 1966, Fort Leavenworth was added to the National Register of Historic Places as a Historic District .

Trivia

Ann Dunham , the mother of Barack Obama , was born in Fort Leavenworth during World War II when her father was stationed there.

Web links

Commons : Fort Leavenworth  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Listing of National Historic Landmarks by State: Kansas. National Park Service , accessed August 3, 2019.
  2. ↑ Entry in the National Register Information System . National Park Service , accessed June 11, 2016

Coordinates: 39 ° 21  '18.3 " N , 94 ° 55' 16.3"  W.