Box Tour and Tiger Land display brings past and present together

Photo By Chad Ashe | Carl S. Cedars, left, speaks with fellow participants of the Box Tour and Tiger Land event May 7. Cedars, who was in the 9th Infantry Division, fought in Vietnam and completed his Infantry training here at Fort Polk’s Tiger Land.  

FORT POLK, LA, UNITED STATES

05.07.2016

Story by Maj. Chad Ashe 

Joint Readiness Training Center Operations Group

FORT POLK, Louisiana – The Box Tour and Return to Tiger Land event May 7 provided the surrounding communities of Fort Polk, Louisiana a glimpse of training, past and present, which takes place here at the Joint Readiness Training Center.

The event provided an opportunity for an older generation to revisit the equipment and uniforms once seen during the Vietnam War-era, and a chance to see part of a current training scenario in action, as Soldiers attack the opposing force in one of JRTC’s premier training sites.

Fred Adolphus, Fort Polk Museum manager—who brought in items from the museum—said the Vietnam War generation is starting to reach the age where they are really starting to take an interest in their contributions during the time.

“We highlight Tiger Land but we highlight the training role that Fort Polk had at the United States Training Center (Infantry), and the Advanced Individual Training Brigade which was the Infantry Training Brigade here,” said Adolphus.

Adolphus added that this display is a chance to show the younger generation too.

There were several Vietnam War veterans in attendance, honored by applause for their service at Fort Polk’s Bayou Theatre before departing for the tour.

One of the Vietnam War veterans in attendance was Carl S. Cedars, who served over 40 years in civil service after he completed his time in the Army. He brought some of his memorabilia to the Tiger Land event to share with the public.

Cedars was with the 9th Infantry Division who fought in Vietnam and completed his Infantry training here at Fort Polk in Tiger Land. He said the drill instructors in Tiger Land would tell the trainees that what they saw in training, they would see this in Vietnam. Cedars said they were right.

“I’m glad to see that the people are coming out to learn about our war. It won’t ever be forgotten,” said Cedars.

The training at the Joint Readiness Training Center is some of the most rigorous, realistic, and relevant training the Army conducts, and is a tool to sharpen Infantry Brigade Combat Team readiness within the force. The display today showed our guests in the community that some things never change.

• Date Taken: 05.07.2016
• Date Posted: 05.07.2016 16:26
• Story ID: 197615
• Location: FORT POLK, LA, US