Fort Chaffee, Ark., sits on the western edge of the state with many of the buildings of the Army post decaying in the winds that rustle the tall grasses now growing along once-neat streets and sidewalks. Built during the years leading up to World War II when the writing was on the wall that the U.S. would enter the conflict sooner rather than later, the post has seen a multitude of units and people pass through it's gates including a young Elvis Presley on his way to Fort Hood, Texas, and Basic Combat Training.
The post is largely quiet these days. Still in use, though largely as a training installation with no units permanently stationed there. Units come for a few weeks at a stretch and then leave to head back to wherever their home station is. But, the post's halcyon days can still be seen if you look with the right eyes.
Many of the World War II-era buildings sit vacant with glassless windows looking into darkened hallways and barracks containing 65-plus years worth of Soldiers' stories, dust and memories. The sidewalks brush with ghosts from the units that were housed in those buildings. Floating along on the wind rushing through the silent streets one can almost hear the sounds of Soldiers from long ago shouting to get in formation. Or see Soldiers walking down the sidewalk, or hanging out outside of now-empty barracks. Jeeps can almost be heard rumbling down the same streets that now see no traffic.
The dun-colored paint is flaking and peeling from many of the buildings and there are just as many mysteries that peel away and shuffle past. What unit was quartered here? What happened to the folks who went to the field house for that pick up game of basketball that sultry summer night in July 1943?
The installation was in heavy use from the 1940s through the 1970s before being turned into a training base with no permanent units. During World War II, in addition to providing a training facility for U.S. soldiers, Fort Chaffee served as a POW camp and housed some 3000 German prisoners of war. Thirty years later, Vietnamese refugees were housed at Fort Chaffee following the fall of Saigon in 1975 and then many Cuban refugees following the Mariel Boatlift of 1980. Though there have been new buildings constructed over the years and many World War II-era buildings are still in use, the post seems to be throwback to days long since past.
At the old guard shack marking the main entrance to the post one almost expects a World War II Soldier to step from it to ask for identification, the architectural flourishes of the tiny structure hint of another time. Though, no such person is present and the modern security checkpoint down the road has an institutionally modern, sterile feel to it. No style. No finesse, and the overweight security contractor checks I.D.s with only half-hearted enthusiasm as the paint continues to peel from the old buildings and float along the passing breeze.
The post is largely quiet these days. Still in use, though largely as a training installation with no units permanently stationed there. Units come for a few weeks at a stretch and then leave to head back to wherever their home station is. But, the post's halcyon days can still be seen if you look with the right eyes.
Many of the World War II-era buildings sit vacant with glassless windows looking into darkened hallways and barracks containing 65-plus years worth of Soldiers' stories, dust and memories. The sidewalks brush with ghosts from the units that were housed in those buildings. Floating along on the wind rushing through the silent streets one can almost hear the sounds of Soldiers from long ago shouting to get in formation. Or see Soldiers walking down the sidewalk, or hanging out outside of now-empty barracks. Jeeps can almost be heard rumbling down the same streets that now see no traffic.
The dun-colored paint is flaking and peeling from many of the buildings and there are just as many mysteries that peel away and shuffle past. What unit was quartered here? What happened to the folks who went to the field house for that pick up game of basketball that sultry summer night in July 1943?
The installation was in heavy use from the 1940s through the 1970s before being turned into a training base with no permanent units. During World War II, in addition to providing a training facility for U.S. soldiers, Fort Chaffee served as a POW camp and housed some 3000 German prisoners of war. Thirty years later, Vietnamese refugees were housed at Fort Chaffee following the fall of Saigon in 1975 and then many Cuban refugees following the Mariel Boatlift of 1980. Though there have been new buildings constructed over the years and many World War II-era buildings are still in use, the post seems to be throwback to days long since past.
At the old guard shack marking the main entrance to the post one almost expects a World War II Soldier to step from it to ask for identification, the architectural flourishes of the tiny structure hint of another time. Though, no such person is present and the modern security checkpoint down the road has an institutionally modern, sterile feel to it. No style. No finesse, and the overweight security contractor checks I.D.s with only half-hearted enthusiasm as the paint continues to peel from the old buildings and float along the passing breeze.
