Fort Leavenworth
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
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
Individual evidence
- ↑ Listing of National Historic Landmarks by State: Kansas. National Park Service , accessed August 3, 2019.
- ↑ 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.