[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 136 (Tuesday, September 30, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H9001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  2000
               CELEBRATING FT. RILEY'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Miller of Michigan). Under a previous 
order of the House, the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran) is recognized 
for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of 
the 150th anniversary of Ft. Riley. For decades this military 
installation has played an important role in protecting our Nation and 
is now an essential component in the war on terror.
  Founded in 1853, Ft. Riley was established as a strategic post for 
settlers heading west. It was located between the Oregon and Santa Fe 
trails to provide protection for traveler. Ft. Riley was responsible 
for protecting the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad through 
that area, and the post used troops to police the new territory because 
of fighting between pro- and anti-slavery settlers. During the Civil 
War, confederate prisoners were housed at Ft. Riley.
  From the post's inception until the end of World War II, Ft. Riley 
was known for its cavalry units and was designated as the ``Cavalry 
Headquarters of the Army.'' It was also during that time that the famed 
``Buffalo Soldiers,'' the all-African-American Cavalry units were 
stationed at Ft. Riley. The Cavalry School produced some of the finest 
mounted horsemen in the world.
  However, it was also during World War I and II that the Nation began 
to see military warfare transition from cavalry to mechanized 
machinery. The invention of the tank, the machine gun, and the use of 
aviation shifted the focus of the military away from the horse and 
rider, towards mechanized warfare.
  At the end of World War II the Army closed the Cavalry School, 
replacing it with the Ground General School. This school trained 
enlisted men in intelligence gathering techniques and newly 
commissioned officers in basic military subjects.
  During the Cold War, the Army recognized Ft. Riley's strategic 
resources and designated it as the home base for the First Infantry 
Division, the ``Big Red One.'' The security threat from the Soviet 
Union, the expansion of communism transformed the mission of Ft. Riley. 
No longer would Ft. Riley be only a training and education center, but 
became the home base for a major infantry division. In 1955, the Big 
Red One began arriving at Ft. Riley. The addition of the Big Red One 
caused an influx of troops and families to the area, especially in the 
neighboring community of Junction City, Kansas.
  Through the Vietnam and Gulf War, Ft. Riley continued to actively 
support U.S. military missions abroad and continued to acquire land to 
train troops stationed at the installation. Today Ft. Riley consists of 
more than 100,000 acres. This allows troops to train in war-like 
conditions using live ammunition to prepare for situations such as 
those in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Bosnia.
  The resilient prairie grasses are a perfect terrain for military 
maneuvers. In addition, the construction of a simulated combat center 
at the post brings the art of war from Kansas' prairie into the 
classroom. Soldiers are able to train in simulated Bradley fighting 
vehicles and Abrahms tanks to hone their combat skills.
  Today Ft. Riley continues to play an important role in the war on 
terror. In the past 6 months more than 14,000 soldiers and 1,750 rail 
cars, containing over 5,500 pieces of equipment, have been deployed 
from Ft. Riley, representing 35 trains that have shipped equipment to 
ports in Charleston, South Carolina, Jacksonville, Florida, Beaumont 
and Corpus Christi, Texas, and Savannah Georgia.
  Strategically located in the center of the country, Ft. Riley's 
soldiers can load 200 railcars in a 9-hour period, with the equipment 
arriving at the ports ahead of schedule. Ft. Riley has been able to 
transport equipment from Kansas to the coast faster than the Navy could 
get ships to those ports. Not once has Ft. Riley missed a port call. 
During Operation Desert Storm, it took 28 days to get equipment to the 
ports in the Gulf of Mexico. Now during the War on Terrorism, equipment 
was moved to the Gulf from Ft. Riley in 48 hours.
  Madam Speaker, this Saturday the community of Junction City and Ft. 
Riley will celebrate the post's 150th anniversary. As the United States 
continues to fight the War on Terror, I ask my colleagues and my fellow 
Americans to join me in recognizing the contributions and sacrifices 
soldiers from Ft. Riley have made to protect this Nation and defend our 
way of life. Ft. Riley has evolved during the past 150 years from a 
post to assist westward expansion to become ``America's Warfighting 
Center.''
  Ft. Riley is essential to Kansas, it is essential to the Army, and, 
most importantly, Madam Speaker, Ft. Riley is essential to the safety 
and security of the United States of America.
  Happy 150th anniversary, Ft. Riley, Kansas. Thank you for your 
service to our Nation.

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