This military post in Kansas was a brief interlude in our trek across the United States.  Fort Riley was my last duty station on active duty with the US Army.  I just wanted to check it out, to see if it was still as I remembered it.  It wasn’t.  The highway between Junction City and Manhattan used to go right through the fort.  Now, post 9/11 security concerns, only those with proper authorization are allowed.  I finally got permission to drive through, but not to stop.  And the small, friendly shopping areas adjacent to the fort in Junction City?  Gone.  Replaced by huge used car lots, shopping malls and, of all things, a Wal-mart.   

The fort has a long and colorful history.  It was established in 1853 to protect the pioneers on their westward movement across the United States.  In 1855 it housed the capital building where the State Legislators met for four days to decide on whether the state would be slave or free and where the permanent capital should be situated.  It soon became a training post for US Army cavalry tactics.  General George Custer was one who trained here.  Not a very good recommendation, eh?   The famous all-black 9^th and 10^th Cavalry Regiments—the “Buffalo Soldiers” were stationed here and later the fort became the home to the “Big Red One” of World War II fame.