This Month in Fort McCoy History — October 2022

By Kaleen HollidayOctober 27, 2022

Fort McCoy History
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Two Soldiers stand with fishing poles near a railroad bridge in late 1927 that still stands on South Post at then-Camp McCoy, Wis. Camp McCoy, now Fort McCoy, was established in 1909. (U.S. Army Historical Photo) (Photo Credit: Courtesy) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort McCoy History
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Students and instructors with the Regional Training Site (RTS)-Maintenance Tracked-Vehicle Recovery Course participate in training with an M88A1 Medium-Tracked Recovery Vehicle on a driving course on North Post as part of course training Oct. 20, 2017, at Fort McCoy, Wis. The course, which began in early October 2017, is a new course at RTS-Maintenance that focuses specifically on the recovery of tracked Army vehicles. RTS-Maintenance at Fort McCoy trains Soldiers from both active- and reserve-component forces. (U.S. Army Photo by Scott T. Sturkol, Public Affairs Office, Fort McCoy, Wis.) (Photo Credit: Scott Sturkol) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort McCoy History
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – An instructor and a student with the Regional Training Site (RTS)-Maintenance Tracked-Vehicle Recovery Course drive an M88A1 Medium-Tracked Recovery Vehicle on a driving course on North Post as part of course training Oct. 20, 2017, at Fort McCoy, Wis. The course, which began in early October 2017, is a new course at RTS-Maintenance that focuses specifically on the recovery of tracked Army vehicles. RTS-Maintenance at Fort McCoy trains Soldiers from both active- and reserve-component forces. (U.S. Army Photo by Scott T. Sturkol, Public Affairs Office, Fort McCoy, Wis.) (Photo Credit: Scott Sturkol) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort McCoy History
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – An instructor and a student with the Regional Training Site (RTS)-Maintenance Tracked-Vehicle Recovery Course drive an M88A1 Medium-Tracked Recovery Vehicle on a driving course on North Post as part of course training Oct. 20, 2017, at Fort McCoy, Wis. The course, which began in early October 2017, is a new course at RTS-Maintenance that focuses specifically on the recovery of tracked Army vehicles. RTS-Maintenance at Fort McCoy trains Soldiers from both active- and reserve-component forces. (U.S. Army Photo by Scott T. Sturkol, Public Affairs Office, Fort McCoy, Wis.) (Photo Credit: Scott Sturkol) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort McCoy History
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A parachute drop is held in October 1989 on South Post at Fort McCoy, Wis. Fort McCoy’s motto is to be the “Total Force Training Center.” Located in the heart of the upper Midwest, Fort McCoy is the only U.S. Army installation in Wisconsin. The installation has provided support and facilities for the field and classroom training of more than 100,000 military personnel from all services nearly every year since 1984. (U.S. Army Historical Photo) (Photo Credit: Courtesy) VIEW ORIGINAL

Fort McCoy, Wis., was founded in 1909. Here’s a look back at its history from October 2022 and back.

80 years ago ― Oct. 9, 1942

When several hundred members of the 100th Infantry visited Madison, Wis., to attend the thrilling 7-7 Wisconsin-Notre Dame football game at Camp Randall stadium, a group of those from the Hawaiian Islands were also at the downtown Y.M.C.A.

According to Miss Betty Class, State Journal columnist who devoted considerable space to the men from McCoy, the Soldiers enjoyed “quite a feast,” and showed their appreciation by gathering around a piano singing Hawaiian melodies.

30 years ago — Oct. 23, 1992

Twelve M1 improved product tanks were delivered to Fort McCoy on Oct. 8, 1992, and an additional seven tanks are scheduled to be delivered by rail shipment by the end of October.

The Transportation Office of the Directorate of Logistics arranged the shipment from the Anniston Army Depot in Alabama. Members of the Material Field Team–CONUS, an active-duty Army unit from Fort Carson, Colo., helped coordinate the rail shipment.

The most challenging part of the delivery process was coordinating for the westward movement of the tanks during times of heavy eastbound rail traffic. The M1 series of tank was approximately 12 years old in 1992, and replaced the 25-year-old M60 series.

25 Years Ago ― Oct. 24, 1997

Motorists traveling through Fort McCoy on Highway 21 can now drive 55 mph throughout the stretch of highway located inside Fort McCoy boundaries.

The speed limit on Highway 21 has changed several times in the past.

“Throughout the years in Wisconsin, the speed limit in rural areas has been 55 mph, Hwy. 21 through Fort McCoy is similar to those highways,” said Bob Olson, a civil engineer with the Directorate of Public Works. “It seems to be a good to address this issue with the Hwy. 21 project nearing completion.

Fort McCoy was established in 1909 and its motto is to be the “Total Force Training Center.”

Located in the heart of the upper Midwest, Fort McCoy is the only U.S. Army installation in Wisconsin.

The installation has provided support and facilities for the field and classroom training of more than 100,000 military personnel from all services nearly every year since 1984.

Learn more about Fort McCoy online at https://home.army.mil/mccoy, on the Defense Visual Information Distribution System at https://www.dvidshub.net/fmpao, on Facebook by searching “ftmccoy,” and on Twitter by searching “usagmccoy.”

Also try downloading the Digital Garrison app to your smartphone and set “Fort McCoy” or another installation as your preferred base.