FReeper Canteen ~ Road Trip: Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington ~ 20 APR 2010

Serving The Best Troops And Veterans In The World! | The Canteen Crew

[laurenmarlowe]

 

 

~The FReeper Canteen Presents~

Road Trip: Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

Joint Base Lewis-McChord, (JBLM), formerly Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base, is a joint United States military installation in Pierce County and Thurston County, Washington, United States. The post is named after Army Captain Meriwether Lewis and Army Air Corps Colonel William Caldwell McChord. The principal Fort Lewis maneuver units are U.S. I Corps, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Brigade and 4th Brigade 2nd Infantry Division; all of which are constituted as Stryker brigades.

 It is also home to 17th Fires Brigade, the 62nd Medical Brigade, the 593rd Sustainment Brigade, the 555th Engineer Brigade, the 42nd Military Police Brigade, the 201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, the 11th Signal Brigade, the I Corps NCO Academy, Headquarters, the Western Region Cadet Command, the 1st Personnel Support Group, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), 2d Ranger Battalion, the 75th Ranger Regiment, and Headquarters, 5th Army (West).

As early as 1902, Tacoma businessmen had tried to interest the U.S. War Department in establishing a federal military post in the American Lake-Nisqually Plain area. At the time, however, the Army was more interested in a site in the Spokane Valley.

Major General Arthur Murray and a party of Army officers visited the prairies and timberland south of Tacoma in 1912 and recommended the area favorably as a potential military reservation. General Murray said, "There is no finer Army post site anywhere in the U.S. In this area there is every physical condition desirable for Army training and maneuvers."

In October 1916, Major General J. Franklin Bell, Commander of the Western Department of the U.S. Army, sent Captain Richard Park to investigate possible sites for a military post in the Pacific Northwest. The American Lake-Nisqually Plain area was not on Captain Park's itinerary. A Tacoma businessman's committee headed by Stephen Appleby contacted Captain Park and asked him to visit Nisqually Plain. Captain Park, escorted by the committee, visited the area and found it acceptable. General Bell then inspected the site and was favorably impressed: "...the most magnificent field I have ever seen for military maneuvers."

Learn More About The History Of Fort Lewis HERE!

On Feb. 1, 2010, Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base became Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) -- one of 12 joint bases worldwide. On that day, JBLM reached its initial operational capability, meaning the installation support functions at Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base began a phased consolidation to Army management under the Joint Base Garrison. The process will be complete on Oct. 1, 2010, when JBLM reaches its full operational capability and all installation support functions have transferred.

JBLM has more than 25,000 soldiers and civilian workers. The post supports over 120,000 military retirees and more than 29,000 family members living both on and off post. Fort Lewis proper contains 86,000 acres; the Yakima Training Center covers 324,000 acres. JBLM Main & North have abundant high-quality, close-in training areas, including 115 live fire ranges. Additional training space is available at the Yakima Training Center in eastern Washington, including maneuver areas and additional live fire ranges.

In 2009, the former Fort Lewis Regional Correction Facility was remodeled and renamed the Northwest Joint Regional Correctional Facility (NWJRCF). The facility houses minimum and medium security prisoners from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. During the summer months (June, July, August), JBLM North hosts the Leader Development and Assessment Course, a capstone program for the U.S. Army's ROTC program. Also adjacent to the post is Camp Murray (Washington National Guard).

Learn More About Joint Base Lewis-McChord HERE!

The Fort Lewis Military Museum collects, preserves, displays and interprets artifacts relevant to the history of Fort Lewis and the units which have served there. The Museum also strives to foster an appreciation for the role that the United States Army played in the exploration, settlement and defense of the Pacific Northwest.

The Museum features an outstanding collection of uniforms, weapons, military art and memorabilia associated with Fort Lewis and the United States Army.

Visit The Fort Lewis Military Museum HERE!

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT~Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allies military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before. 

Please remember: The Canteen is a place to honor and entertain our troops. The Canteen is family friendly. Let's have fun!

We pray for your continued strength, to be strong in the face of adversity.

We pray for your safety, that you will return to your families and friends soon.

We pray that your hope, courage, and dignity remain unbroken, so that you may show others the way.

God Bless You All ~ Today, Tomorrow and Always

 

 

[eyedigress]

I have had a wonderful week on the ferry system. A calm comes over me that is unmatched in my own place. Thanks for asking.

[PROCON]

The day is good.

That's it, that's all you have to say?

You are definately a woman of few words. I wish more women were like that!

[mylife]

Yessem

[hoagy62]

Kathy, THANK YOU!!

My sis got time off from work and flew down to Killeen to see him come home. With all the changes that were being made because of that stupid volcano, she wasn't sure she would be able to stay to see him arrive. Thankfully, she did.

I watched him come home via an Internet broadcast that Ft. Hood and the 1st Cav does for each arriving group of soldiers, no matter what time they happen to arrive. This is so family and friends who can't make the trip can see their soldier come home.

I have to tell you, I was JACKED while I watched it. A cheer arose as the buses came into view. They parked nose-to-tail and close enough that you couldn't really see behind them. The buses pulled away, and there across the street was a formation of soldiers in their desert camos, with a Cav color guard in front. As they started marching forward, the PA system belted out AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck”. It was awesome!!

After a prayer, the sergeant-in-charge reported all present and accounted for, then after about a 30-second speech, the announcer said “OK, families...CHAAAARGE!!!!” (Hey...this IS the Cav!) All the families rushed forward to greet their soldiers. My sis and my nephew made a special appearance in front of the camera and sent us a special message.

He is getting settled in to his barracks and spending some time with his mom before she has to leave tomorrow.

Thank God...he is HOME.

[oldteen]

Uh huh...I see.

[AZamericonnie]

A very good evening to you Taz...a good shift? *Hugs*

[ConorMacNessa]

REST IN PEACE, GEFALLENEN BRUDER!



Major Jörn Radloff, Deutsche Bundeswehr, Gefallen in Afghanistan 15APR2010



Ich habe einen guten Kampf gekämpft,
ich habe den Lauf vollendet,
ich habe Glauben gehalten.
2 Timotheus 4:7

Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott



ICH HATT EINEN KAMERADEN
Ich hatt einen Kameraden,
Einen bessern findst du nit.
Die Trommel schlug zum Streite,
Er ging an meiner Seite
Im gleichen Schritt und Tritt.

Eine Kugel kam geflogen:
Gilt sie mir oder gilt sie dir?
Ihn hat es weggerissen,
Er liegt mir vor den Füßen
Als wär's ein Stück von mir

Will mir die Hand noch reichen,
Derweil ich eben lad'.
"Kann dir die Hand nicht geben,
Bleib du im ew'gen Leben
Mein guter Kamerad!"




German Military Cemetary, La Cambe

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[PROCON]

I have had a wonderful week on the ferry system.

Unless you're talking about sexual preferences.... my wife and I used to take a ferry every morning, (20 minute ride), and evening to get to work off of Whidbey Island, Washington, quite an experience, it was very restful, but we had to get up real early to get to work.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, lauren, for our National Anthem...singing along.

[oldteen]

What a glorious feeling that must have been for the family. Congratulations and please, thank him for his service to this Country! :)

[hoagy62]

Oh, and thank YOU Lauren for the Road Trip to JBLM. It’s the military base in Tacoma’s back yard.

I served at Lewis from ‘85 to ‘86 in the 3/5 Cav.

And...we here in the PNW are STILL getting used to calling it by it’s new name!

[AZamericonnie]

Thank you Lauren for this evenings thread! *hugs*

We could take your computer out back & unlease some frustrations on it?!;-}

*Click*

[oldteen]

Evenin’ LUVVY! I didn’t see you arrive :(...sorry! *hugs*

[mylife]

A10 Wart Hog! THunddah.....

[TASMANIANRED]

Believe this.. Hubster complains because I am too quiet.

[eyedigress]

My family was kind enough to end up with an Edmonds/Bainbridge route. The Mountains were terrific!

[TASMANIANRED]

Intermittently busy.. Staffing is good tonight.

Rare water Moccasin bite.

[oldteen]

Staffing is good tonight

That must be a relief.

[mylife]

What a **** kite

[eyedigress]

Do you have Commander Cody... standing by? :^)