Tigerland Fort Polk - During the Vietnam War, Fort Polk was known as the "Home of the Combat Infantryman" because of the basic combat training that was taught there. Most of us remember the 1960s and early 1970s, and the first thing most people think of is the Vietnam War years. Yes, and it was a time of love, peace marches, riots and the hippie generation. But one thing that affects America more than anything else is the war we're in in Southeast Asia in a country we've never heard of called Vietnam. Early in the presidency of John F. Kennedy, the first military advisers were sent to Vietnam to help train the small Army of the Republic of Vietnam, commonly known as the ARVN. The ARVN fought to keep South Vietnam from communist control from North Vietnam. It will be a long war, in which the United States and its allies will contribute men, equipment, weapons, and supplies of all kinds. And North Vietnam is supported by all its communist allies, the Soviet Union, China, Hungary and other Eastern Bloc countries. From 1963 until the fall of Saigon to the NVA in 1975, Americans were equally involved in the war in this country 10,000 miles from home.
During the eight weeks of basic infantry training, Fort Polk has two training areas for these incoming soldiers. The most famous is Tiger Land, located on the main Fort Polk. But the one we're going to visit today is known as "Tiger Ridge." Tiger Ridge is located on the Peason Ridge Military Reservation in Vernon, Sabine and Natchitoches Parishes. At Tiger Ridge, there is a Cantonment area headquarters where there are barracks for these trainers along with a conference room where hot meals are served. At the main entrance is a large overhead sign that says "Tiger Ridge" along with other signs that say "Fight-Win" and "Bong the Cong". But the use of these barracks and barracks is very little. These soldiers will be in the area training in patrol techniques, seek and destroy targets, and attack and defend a Vietnamese village known as Tiger Village.
Tigerland Fort Polk
The tiger village consists of several huts, buildings, a guard tower and shelters for the animals. The villagers were NCOs (Non Commissioned Officers) who had served in Vietnam and other combat situations during their careers. They can be friendly or they can be VC. The soldiers must find out which side they support. It is a large village and has a large berm around it for protection. Built into this berm are M-60 machine guns, battle stations for each soldier, and 'punji poles' made of sharp bamboo and accordion wire are firmly planted around the berm to prevent the village from being attacked and invaded. from VC. And underground throughout the village are holes where villagers can hide under attack or where the enemy can hide and infiltrate the village's defenses. This is a very challenging place for young people who are afraid.
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The trainees were transported from the main office in the Cantonment area to an assembly point near Tiger Village. Here they receive ammunition, water and C rations for the field. The order was given and the patrols set out to search the village. There are traps, punji holes, and spider holes all the way into the village where the VC can stand up and shoot the sentries. After completing the settlement, they entered the village and began to search. Every villager can be interrogated, every villager can be searched, and every nook and cranny can be searched for enemy equipment and personnel. After exploring the village, the patrol spends the night alone or radios to security points in the village. Soldiers used bunkers and trenches at night, regardless of the weather, just as they would later in Vietnam. And during the night there were some VC searches of the defense line around the village. At all these events, the instructors are in contact with the trainees. They will be patient and explain anything that the trainees missed while searching, how to find and avoid traps, how to find the best fire pits when digging at night, how to question villagers and get as much information from them as possible. and how to clean and store your guns and tools. This is as close to the real deal as these trainers get. The tactics and training they received at Tiger Ridge helped the soldiers survive when they arrived in beautiful Vietnam. And because of the intensive training Fort Polk soldiers had when they arrived in Vietnam, they didn't have to go through a week of training with their new unit because of the training they received while at Fort Polk.
Recently, in December 2018, I returned to Tiger Village fifty years after it was built and was widely used. This large village was once protected by a hill and thousands of thorny bamboo poles known as "punji poles". Although there are no ruins or buildings left in the village, there are many things that set this area apart and bring back memories. Much of the original berm is still there. The base still has old fighting pits with M-60, M-14 and M-16 brass, parts of the old accordion wire around the camp are still there, the old ambush road is still there a month later. a few spider holes to find, old canisters with c-holes lying around, lots of old two and a halfs on the way from the ambush that was destroyed, some of the old tunnel networks are still there in a few places, with the castle. the glue breaks off from the bottom, allowing air to enter the holes. It's a place steeped in military history... a time in our history that was as tumultuous as the nation wanted from war. As I walked past the large area in the village, I could almost hear the sound of gunfire and guns coming from the ambush road as the ambush took place. This is where the heroes of the US Army trained in the war tactics they used while living and fighting in the jungles of Vietnam. I remember the sacrifices these heroes made. As I walked by, I wondered how many of the men who trained here are now listed on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. They fought bravely and with honor and overcame many obstacles. And if you remember those GIs and their sacrifice, give a Vietnam vet a pin on the back and say, "Thank you, my friend, for your service. We're sorry you never got it when you came home years ago, but we remember and thank you." now you. !" I proudly salute the thousands of trainers who have passed through Tiger Village! And the memory of this place will remain in the minds of those who trained in this village more than fifty years ago.
Tiger Village is the main training village on Peason Ridge where thousands of soldiers undergo Advanced Infantry Training (AIT) at Fort Polk, La. during the Vietnam War. During the training, a large village was attacked and captured by the trainees. (Robertson Collection)
Tiger Village surrounds the village and the berm protecting the village is covered with sharp punji sticks. (Robertson Collection)
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The remains of a tank that a soldier builds as it is today. (Robertson Collection)
The area in the berm where all the hooks and animal populations once stood 50 years ago is the same as it is today. (Robertson Collection)
Part of the old fence stands today on the site of Tiger Village. (Robertson Collection)
The old ambush route is in Tiger Village as it is today. While the patrolling coaches continued on this journey, they were ambushed by the enemy. (Robertson Collection)
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One of the one and a half old military trucks that are still on the old road from the ambush in Tiger Village. (Robertson Collection)
A section of one of the underground tunnels in Tiger Village can be seen at the site of the old village. (Robertson Collection)
One of the oldest windmills for the tunnel network is still visible 50 years later in Tiger Village. (Robertson Collection) Louisiana Fort Polk was at the center of the US Army's plans to modernize its combat forces with World War II tactics. Half a million troops gathered in the woods of central Louisiana for the Louisiana Maneuvers in 1940-1941.
A majestic soldier on horseback greets visitors as they enter the Fort Polk Military Museum,
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