Fort Huachuca, AZ

Odometer 37959

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Wednesday  February 26, 2014

Fort Huachuca was for 20 years the home base for the Buffalo Soldiers.  Beginning in 1913 the 10th Cavalry Regiment defended the border, fought natives, and protected the wagon roads of the southwest.  During the build-up to WWII the fort had more than 25,000 men.  Now the HQ of NETCOM/9th Signal Command and the Army Intelligence Center, the fort can still have a transient population of 18,000 persons during the day.  The installation is a major training center for Military Intelligence, as well as providing Command Control, Communications, and Computer support wordwide, for a full range of military operations.  This command used to have the responsibility for unmaned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used by the army, but that mission was moved in 2006 to the Aviation Branch at Fort Rucker.

The fort has museums in three historic buildings on the post.  The museum is free and well worth the price!

This building was the theater on the historic old fort and has been converted into a museum that showcases the dress, armorment, and transportation systems in use back in the 17 and 1800s.

This is Brown Parade Field with officer and enlisted housing on two sides.  The parade field is still very much as it used to be back in the early days when it was first established. in 1887  The houses, though 

fixed up inside and out appear to be circa WWII.

The building that housed the Museum of Military Intelligence was closed during our visit and we have decided we will definitely go back to see it later in the month.

This fort has had important roles in training and support for the "Indian" wars, border protection, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

An old Army description of the fort states:

"It is the only fort in the Continetal United States where you can be Absent With Out Leave (AWOL) for three days and they can still see you leaving."

Tomorrow we plan to visit the historic mining town of Bisbee, south of here on AZ hwy 80.

Your Traveing Friends

Jeff and Joan