Posted on 05/31/2011 8:01:39 AM PDT by darrellmaurina
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (May 30, 2011) — A barrier designed to keep dangerous vehicles out of Fort Leonard Wood wasn’t ready earlier this month when a man raced through the West Gate and led police on a two-county chase out the front gate and down Interstate 44 into Rolla at speeds up to 120 mph while shooting his AK-47 at pursing law enforcement personnel. It’s not clear it would have been used since the only problem with driver Cody Willcoxson at first appeared to be an improper license, and he fled the post at speeds so fast that he was gone within minutes and became a problem for civilian law enforcement. However, anyone who tries to get into Fort Leonard Wood’s west gate will now deal with guards who have the ability to activate a system designed to prevent unauthorized access.
(Excerpt) Read more at pulaskicountydaily.com ...
And typically what happens with these is some Col or General doesn’t stop and their car gets totaled.
Then the guard gets in trouble, and the devices can’t be used without approval from the Commander from then on.
“some Col or General “
More likely their wife or daughter who feels they don’t need to stop
Cars are tough. Better to stop ‘em, then hose ‘em down.
Cheaper and easier, too, but see post #2.
Seems like the guy was not army personnel nor related to army personnel. He left the base at 8:30 am. The story is really incomplete...what was the guy dong there? Did they chase him because he ‘sped’ through the gate? What was he dong with an AK-47? He must have either a mental health history or a criminal history.
We were at Ft. Wood for 2 years. It was a great place, beautiful setting, nice little town of Waynesville nearby. It was a pleasant stay.
I recall they didn’t get ammo, even those on the alert pad during winter at Minot AFB, ND. Some preferred the brig and had enough of the “Only the Bet Come North” motto.
Good questions — in large measure the answers are incomplete and will come out as the investigation proceeds or at trial. Our county prosecutor is newly elected, he’s a major in the Missouri National Guard’s JAG Corps who used to be stationed at Fort Leonard Wood when he was on active duty, and he’s quite mad as well as quite willing to pursue this aggressively.
The gate-runner had a criminal history, including jail escapes, in another state. It’s not at all clear why he was trying to get on Fort Leonard Wood or why he had an AK-47. Initial reports indicate he got lost, was “spooked” when he got stopped by the gate guards for further inspection because his paperwork wasn’t in order, and tried to make a run for it. It’s possible — at the time this happened, there was heavy construction on I44. He wouldn’t be the first person to take the wrong road and end up at the West Gate when he was trying to go someplace else.
However, if he didn’t know anything about the area, how was he able to know the fastest possible way to get off post? Many questions are still waiting for an answer.
BTW, glad you enjoyed your time at Fort Leonard Wood. I’m well aware of the way things used to be in the “old days” — my father was here in the 1950s — but for people who were here long ago they’re often shocked at how much the post has grown and how much the community has improved.
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