Fort Leonard Wood (military base)
Encyclopedia
Fort Leonard Wood is a United States Army
installation located in the Missouri
Ozarks
. The main gate is located on the southern boundary of St. Robert
. The post was created in December 1940 and named in honor of General Leonard Wood
, former Chief of Staff
, in January 1941. Originally intended to train infantry
troops, in 1941 it became an engineer
training post with the creation of the Engineer Replacement Training Center.
In 1984, as part of the Base Realignment and Closure
process, most of the US Army Engineer School's operations were consolidated at Fort Leonard Wood. Before that, officer training was conducted at Fort Belvoir
Virginia.
In 1999, again as part of the Base Realignment and Closure
process, Fort McClellan
Alabama was closed, and the US Army Chemical Corps and Military Police Corps schools were transferred to Fort Leonard Wood, which was concurrently redesignated the US Army Maneuver Support Center.
In 2009, the U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center was redesignated the U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence
(MSCoE); the "center of excellence" designation was placed on almost all US Army training institutions.
The current commanding general is Major General David E. Quantock and the command sergeant major is Command Sergeant Major Corbly L. Elsbury.
, troops from Camp Leonard Wood held two "experimental motorized force" camps at The Wheatfield (July 31) and Pardee Field (May 27-8). The installation has historically had a training role as a TRADOC (Training and Doctrine Command) rather than a FORSCOM (Forces Command) role dating back to its origins in World War II as an engineer replacement training post. During the Gulf War
, the 5th Engineer Battalion from the fort saw action.
After the beginning of the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the 94th Engineer Battalion was restationed from Germany to Fort Leonard Wood, as were the 92nd Military Police Battalion, 193rd Brigade Support Battalion, and 94th Signal Company (part of the 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
). The 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
was activated at the fort on October 2, 2008.
(31B & 31E). All training is gender integrated as in Fort Jackson, with the exception of combat engineers (i.e. MOS 12B is closed to women).
Newly commissioned Second Lieutenants in the CBRN, Engineer, and Military Police branches also attend the Basic Officer Leader Course Phase B at the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence.
The CBRN, Engineer, and Military Police schools provide Professional Military Education and functional courses for soldiers, Non-commissioned Officers, Warrant Officers, and Commissioned Officers, including but not limited to the Captains Career Course and the Battalion and Brigade Pre-Command Courses.
serves the community with air service; even though it's on Fort Leonard Wood, it is jointly run by the cities of Waynesville
and St. Robert
and is available for civilian use by private pilots and scheduled commercial passenger service.
The major east-west route is
Interstate 44; before that, the main highway was 
U.S. Route 66, which still exists as a scenic route through the area and passes through Devil's Elbow, St. Robert
, Waynesville
, Buckhorn
, and Hazelgreen
. Names for U.S. Route 66
vary - at different places, it's called Teardrop Road, Highway Z, Old Route 66, Historic Route 66, and
Route 17. State-posted signs mark most of the alignment of the road.
Major north-south routes include:
Major attractions along U.S. Route 66
include the Old Stagecoach Stop in downtown Waynesville
, which is now a museum but began as a tavern and boarding house and is the oldest standing structure in the county. It was used as a Civil War hospital for Union troops who were garrisoned above the city in Fort Wayne, which was demolished after the war. The Old Courthouse Museum in downtown Waynesville
is near the Old Stagecoach Stop. Three bridges cross the Big Piney River at Devil's Elbow -- the modern Interstate 44
bridge, the later U.S. Route 66
alignment on Highway Z that was made possible by the Hooker Cut through a steep hillside, and the original U.S. Route 66
alignment on Teardrop Road that includes a historic bridge that's in the process of renovation. The Elbow Inn is a biker bar that's a frequent stop on the original U.S. Route 66
alignment.
Fort Leonard Wood also has its own post utility railway connecting to the national railway system. The rail system is operated by a contractor, Base Services, Inc., primarily carrying heavy equipment in support of the training center. Consisting of 27 miles of track, 18 of which connect the post with BNSF Railway at Bundy Junction, its operations are conducted from Monday through Friday, 0800 to 1600. The system uses two EMD GP10 locomotives numbered USA 4606 and USA 4607 and one GP40-2 numbered USA 4654. Previous motive power consisted of USA 2002 and USA 2024, EMD SW8 locomotives built in 1951 that had been used by Army railway operating battalions in Korea during the war. The post also had two GE 80-ton centercab locomotives for on-post switching.
Most of the main line between the post and Bundy Junction has a grade 1.5% grade, and in some places it reaches 3%. The grade is so steep that only 20 cars can be pulled at a time up or down the mainline. The line has four sidings used for storing rail cars. At one time the line had CTC signals, but today the signals and CTC equipment are long gone.
At one time, Fort Leonard Wood featured a busy rail operation. Not only did it receive vehicles and containers by rail, but also boxcars full of goods and equipment, coal for the base power plant, propane for various functions around post, and even diesel fuel for vehicles.
Today all that remains are half a dozen tracks with loading ramps on the ends, located in a warehouse area. In addition, there is a small staging yard next to the warehouses, an engine house and a small wye. The engine house was extended so that both locomotives can fit inside.
and a high percentage of military personnel live off post in surrounding communities, especially St. Robert
and Waynesville
but also the farther-out cities of Richland
, Crocker
, and Dixon
, and the unincorporated communities of Laquey
, Swedeborg
and Devil's Elbow, all of which have a lower housing cost than nearer housing in St. Robert
and Waynesville
. Military personnel assigned to training areas on the south end of the post sometimes choose to live in the unincorporated areas of Big Piney
and Palace in Pulaski County
, or the northern Texas County
communities of Plato
and Roby
.
The area has one daily and three weekly print newspapers, as well as an online internet daily newspaper. The county also has two internet discussion sites, the Pulaski County Web and Pulaski County Insider.
KFBD-FM
and its AM sister station, KJPW
, are the dominant news radio providers in the Pulaski County
area, which includes Fort Leonard Wood, Waynesville
, and St. Robert
. These stations compete with the only other station broadcasting from Pulaski County, KFLW Radio, owned by the Lebanon Daily Record http://www.lebanondailyrecord.com/ and working locally from the St. Robert
offices of the Pulaski County Mirror http://www.pulaskicountymirror.com/ weekly newspaper.
The content of the weekly Fort Leonard Wood Guidon http://www.myguidon.com is produced under the auspices of Army Public Affairs at Fort Leonard Wood but printed under contract by the Springfield News-Leader,http://www.news-leader.com a Gannett-owned http://www.gannett.com/ newspaper which produces and sells advertisements in the Fort Leonard Wood Guidon.
The Daily Guide, commonly known as the Waynesville Daily Guide http://www.waynesvilledailyguide.com/ but based in St. Robert
and serving the entire county, is owned by Gatehouse Media http://www.gatehousemedia.com/ and is the central printing plant for three other Gatehouse newspapers in nearby counties, the daily Lake Sun, based in Camdenton, http://www.lakesunleader.com/ and Rolla Daily News http://www.therolladailynews.com/ as well as the weekly St. James Leader-Journal.http://www.leaderjournal.com/
The weekly Pulaski County Mirror http://www.pulaskicountymirror.com/ is owned by the Lebanon Daily Record, http://www.lebanondailyrecord.com/ a family owned newspaper in an adjoining county. The paper is a merger of the Richland Mirror and Pulaski County Democrat in St. Robert, which were separate weekly papers owned by the Lebanon Daily Record until their owner merged them in 2009.
The weekly Dixon Pilot http://www.dixonpilot.com/ is privately owned by a resident of Dixon http://www.dixonpilot.com/.
The Pulaski County Daily News http://www.pulaskicountydaily.com/ internet newspaper is privately owned by a St. Robert
resident.
The Pulaski County Insider http://www.pulaskicountyinsider.com/ is run by a group of St. Robert
and Waynesville
residents and maintained and hosted by a Potosi
resident.
The Pulaski County Web http://www.pulaskicountyweb.com/ is run and maintained by a Devil's Elbow resident and former St. Robert
businessman.
, not counting two small districts which are mostly within other counties and only have only a few dozen residents within Pulaski County
. All seven school districts have a high percentage of Fort Leonard Wood military dependents, and over two-thirds of Waynesville
students fall into that category.
The cities of Waynesville
and St. Robert
and the Fort Leonard Wood army installation, along with their surrounding rural areas running east to Devil's Elbow, are served by the Waynesville R-VI School District
http://waynesville.k12.mo.us/ which is by far the largest in the county.
The cites of Richland
, Crocker
, and Dixon
, along with their surrounding rural areas, are served by the Richland R-IV School Disrrict,http://www.bear.k12.mo.us/ the Crocker R-II School District http://www.crocker.k12.mo.us/ and the Dixon R-I School District.http://www.dixonr1.yhti.net/ The Richland and Dixon districts both extend into rural parts of adjacent counties.
The unincorporated communities of Laquey
and Swedeborg
are served by the Laquey R-V School District http://laquey.k12.mo.us/ and the Swedeborg R-III School District.http://swedeborg.k12.mo.us Swedeborg is the county's last remaining K-8 district and most of its high school students attend Richland High School though some attend Crocker High School or Waynesville High School; all others serve students running from kindergarten through high school.
The areas south of Fort Leonard Wood, including the unincorporated Pulaski County
communities of Big Piney
and Palace, is served by the Plato R-V School District,http://www.plato.k12.mo.us/ which is based in the northern Texas County
village of Plato
but also includes parts of Pulaski
, Laclede
and Wright
counties.
had touched down near the army base's training and cantonment area (east side of the base). It caused damage to many houses, government buildings, and even an old house built during the World War 2 Era. The most damage was in the North Piney Hills Housing Area. There were only minor injuries.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
installation located in the Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
Ozarks
The Ozarks
The Ozarks are a physiographic and geologic highland region of the central United States. It covers much of the southern half of Missouri and an extensive portion of northwestern and north central Arkansas...
. The main gate is located on the southern boundary of St. Robert
St. Robert, Missouri
St. Robert is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,760 at the 2000 census. It is a gateway community to the United States Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Fort Leonard Wood. It is named after the local Catholic parish, whose patron saint was an...
. The post was created in December 1940 and named in honor of General Leonard Wood
Leonard Wood
Leonard Wood was a physician who served as the Chief of Staff of the United States Army, Military Governor of Cuba and Governor General of the Philippines. Early in his military career, he received the Medal of Honor. Wood also holds officer service #2 in the Regular Army...
, former Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
, in January 1941. Originally intended to train infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
troops, in 1941 it became an engineer
Military engineer
In military science, engineering refers to the practice of designing, building, maintaining and dismantling military works, including offensive, defensive and logistical structures, to shape the physical operating environment in war...
training post with the creation of the Engineer Replacement Training Center.
In 1984, as part of the Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the Armed Forces, used by the United States Department of Defense and Congress to close excess military installations and realign the total asset inventory to reduce...
process, most of the US Army Engineer School's operations were consolidated at Fort Leonard Wood. Before that, officer training was conducted at Fort Belvoir
Fort Belvoir
Fort Belvoir is a United States Army installation and a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Originally, it was the site of the Belvoir plantation. Today, Fort Belvoir is home to a number of important United States military organizations...
Virginia.
In 1999, again as part of the Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the Armed Forces, used by the United States Department of Defense and Congress to close excess military installations and realign the total asset inventory to reduce...
process, Fort McClellan
Fort McClellan
Fort McClellan, originally Camp McClellan, was a United States Army post located adjacent to the city of Anniston, Alabama. During World War II, it was one of the largest U.S. Army installations, training an estimated half-million troops...
Alabama was closed, and the US Army Chemical Corps and Military Police Corps schools were transferred to Fort Leonard Wood, which was concurrently redesignated the US Army Maneuver Support Center.
In 2009, the U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center was redesignated the U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence
U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence
The U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence is located at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.The current commanding general is Major General David E. Quantock and the command sergeant major is Command Sergeant Major Corbly L. Elsbury.-Priorities:...
(MSCoE); the "center of excellence" designation was placed on almost all US Army training institutions.
The current commanding general is Major General David E. Quantock and the command sergeant major is Command Sergeant Major Corbly L. Elsbury.
Nickname
The post is commonly referred to as "Fort Lost in the Woods of Misery" amongst soldiers and visitors due to its remoteness and distance from a major metropolitan center. Its location in the Ozark Mountains provides for field training in rugged terrain with extremes of heat, cold, wet, and dry by the season.History
In 1928 on the Gettysburg BattlefieldGettysburg Battlefield
The Gettysburg Battlefield is the area of the July 1–3, 1863, military engagements of the Battle of Gettysburg within and around the borough of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Locations of military engagements extend from the 4 acre site of the first shot & at on the west of the borough, to East...
, troops from Camp Leonard Wood held two "experimental motorized force" camps at The Wheatfield (July 31) and Pardee Field (May 27-8). The installation has historically had a training role as a TRADOC (Training and Doctrine Command) rather than a FORSCOM (Forces Command) role dating back to its origins in World War II as an engineer replacement training post. During the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, the 5th Engineer Battalion from the fort saw action.
After the beginning of the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the 94th Engineer Battalion was restationed from Germany to Fort Leonard Wood, as were the 92nd Military Police Battalion, 193rd Brigade Support Battalion, and 94th Signal Company (part of the 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
The 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade is a United States Army brigade located at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, subordinate to the 1st Infantry Division. The 4th MEB is one of three active duty Maneuver Enhancement Brigades. The Brigade is tasked to improve the movement capabilities and rear area...
). The 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
The 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade is a United States Army brigade located at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, subordinate to the 1st Infantry Division. The 4th MEB is one of three active duty Maneuver Enhancement Brigades. The Brigade is tasked to improve the movement capabilities and rear area...
was activated at the fort on October 2, 2008.
Initial Entry Training
The Maneuver Support Center of Excellence offers Basic Combat Training for most non-combat arms soldiers; and AIT for MOS 88M (motor transport operator) also for MOS 74D (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear specialists). Non-combat engineer MOSes and OSUT training for combat engineers and bridging engineers (MOS 12B and 12C), and military policeMilitary police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
(31B & 31E). All training is gender integrated as in Fort Jackson, with the exception of combat engineers (i.e. MOS 12B is closed to women).
Newly commissioned Second Lieutenants in the CBRN, Engineer, and Military Police branches also attend the Basic Officer Leader Course Phase B at the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence.
Continuing Education
The Maneuver Support Center of Excellence NCO Academy conducts the Senior and Advanced Leader Courses for the Chemical, Engineer, and Military Police branches, the Advanced Leader Course for Ordnance NCOs in MOS 62B, and the Warrior Leader Course for all Army NCO MOSs.The CBRN, Engineer, and Military Police schools provide Professional Military Education and functional courses for soldiers, Non-commissioned Officers, Warrant Officers, and Commissioned Officers, including but not limited to the Captains Career Course and the Battalion and Brigade Pre-Command Courses.
Transportation
Waynesville Regional Airport at Forney FieldWaynesville Regional Airport at Forney Field
Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport , also known as Forney Field, is a public and military use airport located at Fort Leonard Wood in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The airport's passenger terminal is operated under the control of the U.S. Army and general aviation is under the...
serves the community with air service; even though it's on Fort Leonard Wood, it is jointly run by the cities of Waynesville
Waynesville, Missouri
-Registered historic places:* Old Stagecoach Stop * Pulaski County Courthouse-Transportation:Waynesville Regional Airport at Forney Field serves the community with air service; even though it's on Fort Leonard Wood, it is jointly run by the cities of Waynesville and St...
and St. Robert
St. Robert, Missouri
St. Robert is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,760 at the 2000 census. It is a gateway community to the United States Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Fort Leonard Wood. It is named after the local Catholic parish, whose patron saint was an...
and is available for civilian use by private pilots and scheduled commercial passenger service.
The major east-west route is
Interstate 44; before that, the main highway was U.S. Route 66, which still exists as a scenic route through the area and passes through Devil's Elbow, St. RobertSt. Robert, Missouri
St. Robert is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,760 at the 2000 census. It is a gateway community to the United States Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Fort Leonard Wood. It is named after the local Catholic parish, whose patron saint was an...
, Waynesville
Waynesville, Missouri
-Registered historic places:* Old Stagecoach Stop * Pulaski County Courthouse-Transportation:Waynesville Regional Airport at Forney Field serves the community with air service; even though it's on Fort Leonard Wood, it is jointly run by the cities of Waynesville and St...
, Buckhorn
Buckhorn, Missouri
Buckhorn, Missouri is a former community on Route 17 at its junction with Interstate 44 in Pulaski County. It is also on historic U.S. Route 66. In 2003, it was annexed by nearby Waynesville...
, and Hazelgreen
Hazelgreen, Missouri
Hazelgreen is an unincorporated community in eastern Laclede County, Missouri, United States. It lies along historic U.S. Route 66, now an outer road of Interstate 44. The town is split by I-44, just west of the 145 exit...
. Names for U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
vary - at different places, it's called Teardrop Road, Highway Z, Old Route 66, Historic Route 66, and
Route 17. State-posted signs mark most of the alignment of the road.Major north-south routes include:
-
Route 133 runs north from Interstate 44Interstate 44Interstate 44 is a major highway in the central United States. Its western terminus is in Wichita Falls, Texas at a concurrency with US 277, US 281 and US 287; its eastern terminus is at the Illinois state line on the Poplar Street Bridge over the Mississippi River in St...
exit 145 about two miles east of HazelgreenHazelgreen, MissouriHazelgreen is an unincorporated community in eastern Laclede County, Missouri, United States. It lies along historic U.S. Route 66, now an outer road of Interstate 44. The town is split by I-44, just west of the 145 exit...
to RichlandRichland, MissouriRichland is a city in Camden, Laclede, and Pulaski counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 1,805 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Richland is located at ....
, SwedeborgSwedeborg, MissouriSwedeborg is an unincorporated community in northwestern Pulaski County, Missouri. It is about five miles northeast of Richland on Route 133.Swedeborg was a Swedish immigrant settlement on the railroad road between Crocker and Richland...
, CrockerCrocker, MissouriCrocker is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,433 at the 2006 census.-Geography:Crocker is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, and about two miles west of DixonDixon, MissouriDixon is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,570 at the 2000 census. Dixon, MO is the hometown of NBA Basketball Player John Brown and State Representative David A...
, then north out of the county.
-
Route 7 runs north from Interstate 44Interstate 44Interstate 44 is a major highway in the central United States. Its western terminus is in Wichita Falls, Texas at a concurrency with US 277, US 281 and US 287; its eastern terminus is at the Illinois state line on the Poplar Street Bridge over the Mississippi River in St...
exit 150 about three miles west of BuckhornBuckhorn, MissouriBuckhorn, Missouri is a former community on Route 17 at its junction with Interstate 44 in Pulaski County. It is also on historic U.S. Route 66. In 2003, it was annexed by nearby Waynesville...
to RichlandRichland, MissouriRichland is a city in Camden, Laclede, and Pulaski counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 1,805 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Richland is located at ....
, then north out of the county toward the Lake of the Ozarks region.
- Route 17 crosses Interstate 44Interstate 44Interstate 44 is a major highway in the central United States. Its western terminus is in Wichita Falls, Texas at a concurrency with US 277, US 281 and US 287; its eastern terminus is at the Illinois state line on the Poplar Street Bridge over the Mississippi River in St...
at exit 153 at BuckhornBuckhorn, MissouriBuckhorn, Missouri is a former community on Route 17 at its junction with Interstate 44 in Pulaski County. It is also on historic U.S. Route 66. In 2003, it was annexed by nearby Waynesville...
, runs east through WaynesvilleWaynesville, Missouri-Registered historic places:* Old Stagecoach Stop * Pulaski County Courthouse-Transportation:Waynesville Regional Airport at Forney Field serves the community with air service; even though it's on Fort Leonard Wood, it is jointly run by the cities of Waynesville and St...
, turns north to CrockerCrocker, MissouriCrocker is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,433 at the 2006 census.-Geography:Crocker is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, and then runs north out of the county to Iberia. South of Interstate 44Interstate 44Interstate 44 is a major highway in the central United States. Its western terminus is in Wichita Falls, Texas at a concurrency with US 277, US 281 and US 287; its eastern terminus is at the Illinois state line on the Poplar Street Bridge over the Mississippi River in St...
, Highway 17 hugs the western edge of Fort Leonard Wood, passes near LaqueyLaquey, MissouriLaquey is an unincorporated community in Pulaski County, Missouri. It is about six miles southwest of Waynesville. It was founded in 1900 and named for the Laquey family.The community has a school, post office and zip code...
, and circles south of the post until it runs out of the county and eventually joins Highway 32 in RobyRoby, MissouriRoby is an unincorporated community in northwestern Texas County, Missouri, United States. It is located about sixteen miles northwest of Houston and ten miles south of Fort Leonard Wood at the northern junction of Routes 17 and 32...
.
-
Highway T runs north from Highway 17 at WaynesvilleWaynesville, Missouri-Registered historic places:* Old Stagecoach Stop * Pulaski County Courthouse-Transportation:Waynesville Regional Airport at Forney Field serves the community with air service; even though it's on Fort Leonard Wood, it is jointly run by the cities of Waynesville and St...
to SwedeborgSwedeborg, MissouriSwedeborg is an unincorporated community in northwestern Pulaski County, Missouri. It is about five miles northeast of Richland on Route 133.Swedeborg was a Swedish immigrant settlement on the railroad road between Crocker and Richland...
, where it meets and ends at Highway 133 about halfway between RichlandRichland, MissouriRichland is a city in Camden, Laclede, and Pulaski counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 1,805 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Richland is located at ....
and CrockerCrocker, MissouriCrocker is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,433 at the 2006 census.-Geography:Crocker is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
.
-
Route 28 crosses Interstate 44Interstate 44Interstate 44 is a major highway in the central United States. Its western terminus is in Wichita Falls, Texas at a concurrency with US 277, US 281 and US 287; its eastern terminus is at the Illinois state line on the Poplar Street Bridge over the Mississippi River in St...
at exit 163 at the eastern edge of St. RobertSt. Robert, MissouriSt. Robert is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,760 at the 2000 census. It is a gateway community to the United States Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Fort Leonard Wood. It is named after the local Catholic parish, whose patron saint was an...
, runs north through DixonDixon, MissouriDixon is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,570 at the 2000 census. Dixon, MO is the hometown of NBA Basketball Player John Brown and State Representative David A...
, and then runs north out of the county.
- A secondary road parallels Highway 28, beginning as
Highway Y at exit 161 of Interstate 44Interstate 44Interstate 44 is a major highway in the central United States. Its western terminus is in Wichita Falls, Texas at a concurrency with US 277, US 281 and US 287; its eastern terminus is at the Illinois state line on the Poplar Street Bridge over the Mississippi River in St...
in St. RobertSt. Robert, MissouriSt. Robert is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,760 at the 2000 census. It is a gateway community to the United States Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Fort Leonard Wood. It is named after the local Catholic parish, whose patron saint was an...
, running north to the Gasconade River bridge where it becomes the county-maintained Cave Road and turning north as
Highway O until it meets Highway 28 a few miles south of DixonDixon, MissouriDixon is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,570 at the 2000 census. Dixon, MO is the hometown of NBA Basketball Player John Brown and State Representative David A...
.
Major attractions along U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
include the Old Stagecoach Stop in downtown Waynesville
Waynesville, Missouri
-Registered historic places:* Old Stagecoach Stop * Pulaski County Courthouse-Transportation:Waynesville Regional Airport at Forney Field serves the community with air service; even though it's on Fort Leonard Wood, it is jointly run by the cities of Waynesville and St...
, which is now a museum but began as a tavern and boarding house and is the oldest standing structure in the county. It was used as a Civil War hospital for Union troops who were garrisoned above the city in Fort Wayne, which was demolished after the war. The Old Courthouse Museum in downtown Waynesville
Waynesville, Missouri
-Registered historic places:* Old Stagecoach Stop * Pulaski County Courthouse-Transportation:Waynesville Regional Airport at Forney Field serves the community with air service; even though it's on Fort Leonard Wood, it is jointly run by the cities of Waynesville and St...
is near the Old Stagecoach Stop. Three bridges cross the Big Piney River at Devil's Elbow -- the modern Interstate 44
Interstate 44
Interstate 44 is a major highway in the central United States. Its western terminus is in Wichita Falls, Texas at a concurrency with US 277, US 281 and US 287; its eastern terminus is at the Illinois state line on the Poplar Street Bridge over the Mississippi River in St...
bridge, the later U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
alignment on Highway Z that was made possible by the Hooker Cut through a steep hillside, and the original U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
alignment on Teardrop Road that includes a historic bridge that's in the process of renovation. The Elbow Inn is a biker bar that's a frequent stop on the original U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
alignment.
Fort Leonard Wood also has its own post utility railway connecting to the national railway system. The rail system is operated by a contractor, Base Services, Inc., primarily carrying heavy equipment in support of the training center. Consisting of 27 miles of track, 18 of which connect the post with BNSF Railway at Bundy Junction, its operations are conducted from Monday through Friday, 0800 to 1600. The system uses two EMD GP10 locomotives numbered USA 4606 and USA 4607 and one GP40-2 numbered USA 4654. Previous motive power consisted of USA 2002 and USA 2024, EMD SW8 locomotives built in 1951 that had been used by Army railway operating battalions in Korea during the war. The post also had two GE 80-ton centercab locomotives for on-post switching.
Most of the main line between the post and Bundy Junction has a grade 1.5% grade, and in some places it reaches 3%. The grade is so steep that only 20 cars can be pulled at a time up or down the mainline. The line has four sidings used for storing rail cars. At one time the line had CTC signals, but today the signals and CTC equipment are long gone.
At one time, Fort Leonard Wood featured a busy rail operation. Not only did it receive vehicles and containers by rail, but also boxcars full of goods and equipment, coal for the base power plant, propane for various functions around post, and even diesel fuel for vehicles.
Today all that remains are half a dozen tracks with loading ramps on the ends, located in a warehouse area. In addition, there is a small staging yard next to the warehouses, an engine house and a small wye. The engine house was extended so that both locomotives can fit inside.
Media
Fort Leonard Wood is in Pulaski CountyPulaski County, Missouri
Pulaski County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. The county was organized in 1833 and named for Kazimierz Pułaski, Polish patriot who died fighting in the American Revolution. As of 2010, the population was 52,274, an increase of 27% from the 2000 Census count of 41,165. Its...
and a high percentage of military personnel live off post in surrounding communities, especially St. Robert
St. Robert, Missouri
St. Robert is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,760 at the 2000 census. It is a gateway community to the United States Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Fort Leonard Wood. It is named after the local Catholic parish, whose patron saint was an...
and Waynesville
Waynesville, Missouri
-Registered historic places:* Old Stagecoach Stop * Pulaski County Courthouse-Transportation:Waynesville Regional Airport at Forney Field serves the community with air service; even though it's on Fort Leonard Wood, it is jointly run by the cities of Waynesville and St...
but also the farther-out cities of Richland
Richland, Missouri
Richland is a city in Camden, Laclede, and Pulaski counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 1,805 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Richland is located at ....
, Crocker
Crocker, Missouri
Crocker is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,433 at the 2006 census.-Geography:Crocker is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, and Dixon
Dixon, Missouri
Dixon is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,570 at the 2000 census. Dixon, MO is the hometown of NBA Basketball Player John Brown and State Representative David A...
, and the unincorporated communities of Laquey
Laquey, Missouri
Laquey is an unincorporated community in Pulaski County, Missouri. It is about six miles southwest of Waynesville. It was founded in 1900 and named for the Laquey family.The community has a school, post office and zip code...
, Swedeborg
Swedeborg, Missouri
Swedeborg is an unincorporated community in northwestern Pulaski County, Missouri. It is about five miles northeast of Richland on Route 133.Swedeborg was a Swedish immigrant settlement on the railroad road between Crocker and Richland...
and Devil's Elbow, all of which have a lower housing cost than nearer housing in St. Robert
St. Robert, Missouri
St. Robert is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,760 at the 2000 census. It is a gateway community to the United States Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Fort Leonard Wood. It is named after the local Catholic parish, whose patron saint was an...
and Waynesville
Waynesville, Missouri
-Registered historic places:* Old Stagecoach Stop * Pulaski County Courthouse-Transportation:Waynesville Regional Airport at Forney Field serves the community with air service; even though it's on Fort Leonard Wood, it is jointly run by the cities of Waynesville and St...
. Military personnel assigned to training areas on the south end of the post sometimes choose to live in the unincorporated areas of Big Piney
Big Piney, Missouri
Big Piney is an unincorporated community in Pulaski County, Missouri on the southeastern edge of Fort Leonard Wood and sixteen miles northwest of Licking...
and Palace in Pulaski County
Pulaski County, Missouri
Pulaski County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. The county was organized in 1833 and named for Kazimierz Pułaski, Polish patriot who died fighting in the American Revolution. As of 2010, the population was 52,274, an increase of 27% from the 2000 Census count of 41,165. Its...
, or the northern Texas County
Texas County, Missouri
Texas County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the county's population was 26,008. It's county seat is Houston. The county was organized in 1843 as Ashley County, changing its name in 1845 to Texas, after the Republic of Texas. The 2010 U.S...
communities of Plato
Plato, Missouri
Plato is an incorporated village in northwestern Texas County, Missouri, United States. It is located about twenty miles northwest of Houston, Missouri and ten miles south of Fort Leonard Wood on Route 32. Plato had an estimated population of 1,430 in 2000....
and Roby
Roby, Missouri
Roby is an unincorporated community in northwestern Texas County, Missouri, United States. It is located about sixteen miles northwest of Houston and ten miles south of Fort Leonard Wood at the northern junction of Routes 17 and 32...
.
The area has one daily and three weekly print newspapers, as well as an online internet daily newspaper. The county also has two internet discussion sites, the Pulaski County Web and Pulaski County Insider.
KFBD-FM
KFBD-FM
KFBD-FM is a radio station licensed to Waynesville, Missouri, USA. The station is currently owned by Waynesville/ Lebanon License Co, LLC....
and its AM sister station, KJPW
KJPW
KJPW is a radio station broadcasting a news talk information format. Licensed to Waynesville, Missouri, USA, the station is currently owned by Waynesville/Lebanon License Co, LLC and features programing from Fox News Radio....
, are the dominant news radio providers in the Pulaski County
Pulaski County, Missouri
Pulaski County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. The county was organized in 1833 and named for Kazimierz Pułaski, Polish patriot who died fighting in the American Revolution. As of 2010, the population was 52,274, an increase of 27% from the 2000 Census count of 41,165. Its...
area, which includes Fort Leonard Wood, Waynesville
Waynesville, Missouri
-Registered historic places:* Old Stagecoach Stop * Pulaski County Courthouse-Transportation:Waynesville Regional Airport at Forney Field serves the community with air service; even though it's on Fort Leonard Wood, it is jointly run by the cities of Waynesville and St...
, and St. Robert
St. Robert, Missouri
St. Robert is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,760 at the 2000 census. It is a gateway community to the United States Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Fort Leonard Wood. It is named after the local Catholic parish, whose patron saint was an...
. These stations compete with the only other station broadcasting from Pulaski County, KFLW Radio, owned by the Lebanon Daily Record http://www.lebanondailyrecord.com/ and working locally from the St. Robert
St. Robert, Missouri
St. Robert is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,760 at the 2000 census. It is a gateway community to the United States Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Fort Leonard Wood. It is named after the local Catholic parish, whose patron saint was an...
offices of the Pulaski County Mirror http://www.pulaskicountymirror.com/ weekly newspaper.
The content of the weekly Fort Leonard Wood Guidon http://www.myguidon.com is produced under the auspices of Army Public Affairs at Fort Leonard Wood but printed under contract by the Springfield News-Leader,http://www.news-leader.com a Gannett-owned http://www.gannett.com/ newspaper which produces and sells advertisements in the Fort Leonard Wood Guidon.
The Daily Guide, commonly known as the Waynesville Daily Guide http://www.waynesvilledailyguide.com/ but based in St. Robert
St. Robert, Missouri
St. Robert is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,760 at the 2000 census. It is a gateway community to the United States Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Fort Leonard Wood. It is named after the local Catholic parish, whose patron saint was an...
and serving the entire county, is owned by Gatehouse Media http://www.gatehousemedia.com/ and is the central printing plant for three other Gatehouse newspapers in nearby counties, the daily Lake Sun, based in Camdenton, http://www.lakesunleader.com/ and Rolla Daily News http://www.therolladailynews.com/ as well as the weekly St. James Leader-Journal.http://www.leaderjournal.com/
The weekly Pulaski County Mirror http://www.pulaskicountymirror.com/ is owned by the Lebanon Daily Record, http://www.lebanondailyrecord.com/ a family owned newspaper in an adjoining county. The paper is a merger of the Richland Mirror and Pulaski County Democrat in St. Robert, which were separate weekly papers owned by the Lebanon Daily Record until their owner merged them in 2009.
The weekly Dixon Pilot http://www.dixonpilot.com/ is privately owned by a resident of Dixon http://www.dixonpilot.com/.
The Pulaski County Daily News http://www.pulaskicountydaily.com/ internet newspaper is privately owned by a St. Robert
St. Robert, Missouri
St. Robert is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,760 at the 2000 census. It is a gateway community to the United States Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Fort Leonard Wood. It is named after the local Catholic parish, whose patron saint was an...
resident.
The Pulaski County Insider http://www.pulaskicountyinsider.com/ is run by a group of St. Robert
St. Robert, Missouri
St. Robert is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,760 at the 2000 census. It is a gateway community to the United States Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Fort Leonard Wood. It is named after the local Catholic parish, whose patron saint was an...
and Waynesville
Waynesville, Missouri
-Registered historic places:* Old Stagecoach Stop * Pulaski County Courthouse-Transportation:Waynesville Regional Airport at Forney Field serves the community with air service; even though it's on Fort Leonard Wood, it is jointly run by the cities of Waynesville and St...
residents and maintained and hosted by a Potosi
Potosi, Missouri
Potosi is a city in Washington County, Missouri, United States. Potosi is about 10 miles north of Belgrade. The estimated population in July 2008 was 2,698. It was 2,662 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Washington County...
resident.
The Pulaski County Web http://www.pulaskicountyweb.com/ is run and maintained by a Devil's Elbow resident and former St. Robert
St. Robert, Missouri
St. Robert is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,760 at the 2000 census. It is a gateway community to the United States Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Fort Leonard Wood. It is named after the local Catholic parish, whose patron saint was an...
businessman.
School Districts
Seven main school districts are fully or partly within the borders of Pulaski CountyPulaski County, Missouri
Pulaski County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. The county was organized in 1833 and named for Kazimierz Pułaski, Polish patriot who died fighting in the American Revolution. As of 2010, the population was 52,274, an increase of 27% from the 2000 Census count of 41,165. Its...
, not counting two small districts which are mostly within other counties and only have only a few dozen residents within Pulaski County
Pulaski County, Missouri
Pulaski County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. The county was organized in 1833 and named for Kazimierz Pułaski, Polish patriot who died fighting in the American Revolution. As of 2010, the population was 52,274, an increase of 27% from the 2000 Census count of 41,165. Its...
. All seven school districts have a high percentage of Fort Leonard Wood military dependents, and over two-thirds of Waynesville
Waynesville School District
The Waynesville RVI Reorganized School District is a school district in the Missouri Ozarks and the largest school district in Pulaski County. The school district current provides education services to the communities of Fort Leonard Wood, St...
students fall into that category.
The cities of Waynesville
Waynesville, Missouri
-Registered historic places:* Old Stagecoach Stop * Pulaski County Courthouse-Transportation:Waynesville Regional Airport at Forney Field serves the community with air service; even though it's on Fort Leonard Wood, it is jointly run by the cities of Waynesville and St...
and St. Robert
St. Robert, Missouri
St. Robert is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,760 at the 2000 census. It is a gateway community to the United States Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Fort Leonard Wood. It is named after the local Catholic parish, whose patron saint was an...
and the Fort Leonard Wood army installation, along with their surrounding rural areas running east to Devil's Elbow, are served by the Waynesville R-VI School District
Waynesville School District
The Waynesville RVI Reorganized School District is a school district in the Missouri Ozarks and the largest school district in Pulaski County. The school district current provides education services to the communities of Fort Leonard Wood, St...
http://waynesville.k12.mo.us/ which is by far the largest in the county.
The cites of Richland
Richland, Missouri
Richland is a city in Camden, Laclede, and Pulaski counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 1,805 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Richland is located at ....
, Crocker
Crocker, Missouri
Crocker is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,433 at the 2006 census.-Geography:Crocker is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, and Dixon
Dixon, Missouri
Dixon is a city in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,570 at the 2000 census. Dixon, MO is the hometown of NBA Basketball Player John Brown and State Representative David A...
, along with their surrounding rural areas, are served by the Richland R-IV School Disrrict,http://www.bear.k12.mo.us/ the Crocker R-II School District http://www.crocker.k12.mo.us/ and the Dixon R-I School District.http://www.dixonr1.yhti.net/ The Richland and Dixon districts both extend into rural parts of adjacent counties.
The unincorporated communities of Laquey
Laquey, Missouri
Laquey is an unincorporated community in Pulaski County, Missouri. It is about six miles southwest of Waynesville. It was founded in 1900 and named for the Laquey family.The community has a school, post office and zip code...
and Swedeborg
Swedeborg, Missouri
Swedeborg is an unincorporated community in northwestern Pulaski County, Missouri. It is about five miles northeast of Richland on Route 133.Swedeborg was a Swedish immigrant settlement on the railroad road between Crocker and Richland...
are served by the Laquey R-V School District http://laquey.k12.mo.us/ and the Swedeborg R-III School District.http://swedeborg.k12.mo.us Swedeborg is the county's last remaining K-8 district and most of its high school students attend Richland High School though some attend Crocker High School or Waynesville High School; all others serve students running from kindergarten through high school.
The areas south of Fort Leonard Wood, including the unincorporated Pulaski County
Pulaski County, Missouri
Pulaski County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. The county was organized in 1833 and named for Kazimierz Pułaski, Polish patriot who died fighting in the American Revolution. As of 2010, the population was 52,274, an increase of 27% from the 2000 Census count of 41,165. Its...
communities of Big Piney
Big Piney, Missouri
Big Piney is an unincorporated community in Pulaski County, Missouri on the southeastern edge of Fort Leonard Wood and sixteen miles northwest of Licking...
and Palace, is served by the Plato R-V School District,http://www.plato.k12.mo.us/ which is based in the northern Texas County
Texas County, Missouri
Texas County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the county's population was 26,008. It's county seat is Houston. The county was organized in 1843 as Ashley County, changing its name in 1845 to Texas, after the Republic of Texas. The 2010 U.S...
village of Plato
Plato, Missouri
Plato is an incorporated village in northwestern Texas County, Missouri, United States. It is located about twenty miles northwest of Houston, Missouri and ten miles south of Fort Leonard Wood on Route 32. Plato had an estimated population of 1,430 in 2000....
but also includes parts of Pulaski
Pulaski County, Missouri
Pulaski County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. The county was organized in 1833 and named for Kazimierz Pułaski, Polish patriot who died fighting in the American Revolution. As of 2010, the population was 52,274, an increase of 27% from the 2000 Census count of 41,165. Its...
, Laclede
Laclede County, Missouri
Laclede County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2000, the population was 32,513. Its county seat is Lebanon. The county was organized February 24, 1849, and was named after Pierre Laclède, founder of St...
and Wright
Wright County, Missouri
Wright County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 18,815. Its county seat is Hartville. The county was officially organized on January 29, 1841, and is named after Silas Wright , a former Congressman, U.S...
counties.
New Years Eve tornado
On the morning hours of December 31, 2010, an EF3 tornado2010 New Year's Eve tornado outbreak
-December 30 event:-December 31 event:-January 1 event:-See also:*List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks*Tornadoes of 2010*Tornadoes of 2011...
had touched down near the army base's training and cantonment area (east side of the base). It caused damage to many houses, government buildings, and even an old house built during the World War 2 Era. The most damage was in the North Piney Hills Housing Area. There were only minor injuries.
See also
- Fort McClellanFort McClellanFort McClellan, originally Camp McClellan, was a United States Army post located adjacent to the city of Anniston, Alabama. During World War II, it was one of the largest U.S. Army installations, training an estimated half-million troops...
- U.S. Army Chemical Corps
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S. Army Military Police Corps
External links
- Fort Leonard Wood: official site