The Top 100 Military Sites in America by L. Douglas Keeney

Author:L. Douglas Keeney [Keeney, L. Douglas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lyons Press
Published: 2018-06-21T16:00:00+00:00

Fort Leonard Wood hosts three commands that are essential to the functioning of the army—the US Army Military Police, the US Army engineering battalions, and the Chemical Corps. Museums on these three branches are found in one building, the handsome redbrick Mahaffey Museum Complex on Fort Leonard Wood.

Start your day with the Army Engineer Museum and explore the numerous exhibits that show their handiwork and explain their role in support of our frontline soldiers. Often confused with the Corps of Engineers (which they are not), the army engineers are combat-trained soldiers who build barracks, erect pontoon bridges, clear land mines, and even build defensive revetments. Dioramas with mannequins show them building bridges, riding combat bulldozers, and erecting other structures.

The Chemical Corps Museum is your next destination. Maps, photographs, and dioramas depict the chilling effects of chemical weapons on World War I soldiers, and how the army learned to defend against them. There is an extensive collection of gas mask and chemical suits and a Doomsday Truck that was designed, presumably, to protect the last surviving humans against anything toxic left in the air after a major biochemical attack.

Last stop is the Military Police Museum, with surprising facts and info—for instance, we all know that MPs directed traffic and picked up soldiers who’d had one too many, but did you know they also controlled Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin during the Cold War (there is a section of the Berlin Wall here for you to see), directed traffic over the battle-damaged World War II bridge at Remagen, and escorted celebrities who traveled overseas to entertain our soldiers?

A key part of any visit here is the large and excellent outdoor display of tanks and armored vehicles, complete with combat bulldozers and—you guessed it—MP vehicles. The Military Vehicle Park is anchored by six fully restored World War II–era barracks themed to show a soldier’s life during our nation’s conflicts. The Vehicle Park has an armored bulldozer, an armored steam shovel, several self-propelled and towed artillery pieces, tracked vehicles for combat engineers, multiple rocket launchers, a Vietnam-era RPB river boat (with an “MP” on the side), a Huey, and more. Each piece has been fully restored to its period colors and markings and is in tip-top condition.

All of the three museums use well-built dioramas and tableaus to tell their stories of these specialized commands. Be sure to visit the three gift shops in the main building.

Hours: Mon–Fri: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sat: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sun: closed

Website: www.wood.army.mil/museum

Street address/GPS address: 495 S. Dakota Ave., Fort Leonard Wood, MO 65473

Montana

The story of air defense is the focus of Montana’s superb destination—but not in the expected way. Rather than jets, the Big Sky state will make you remember the early days of computers.

Malmstrom Air Force Base Museum and Air Park, Great Falls, Montana

Hands down, this is one of the nicest airparks in the nation. The lawns are beautifully manicured, the aircraft are nicely painted and well maintained, and the museum has all sorts of one-of-a-kinds in it.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.