Editing Fort Riley (section)

===World War II===
[[Image:75mm-howitzer-ft-riley-kansas-194204-3.jpg|thumb|A soldier sighting an [[M116 howitzer]] during artillery practice at Fort Riley in 1942.]]
Increasing conflict in Europe and Asia during the late 1930s caused some military planners to prepare for possible U. S. involvement. This led to several important developments at Fort Riley. The first was the rebuilding of Camp Funston and the stationing of the 2nd Cavalry Division there in December 1940. Barracks were built in the area known as Republican Flats and renamed Camp Forsyth. In addition, 32,000 acres (13,000&nbsp;ha) were added to the post for training purposes. These efforts were brought into sharp focus with America's entry into World War II. Over the next four years, approximately 125,000 soldiers were trained at these facilities. Notable trainees included heavyweight boxing champion, [[Joe Louis]], Indy car driver [[Walt Faulkner]], and motion picture stars such as [[Mickey Rooney]]. The post also received a presidential visit by Franklin Roosevelt on Easter Sunday 1943.<ref name="History" />

The [[9th Armored Division (United States)|9th Armored Division]] was organized here in July 1942, and after its deployment, Camp Funston was used as a German prisoner of war camp. Fort Riley had branch POW camps, a large branch Camp Phillips in [[Salina, Kansas|Salina]], and 12 smaller branch camps in Kansas and Missouri: [[Council Grove, Kansas|Council Grove]], [[El Dorado, Kansas|El Dorado]], [[Eskridge, Kansas|Eskridge]], [[Hutchinson, Kansas|Hutchinson]], [[Lawrence, Kansas|Lawrence]], [[Neodesha, Kansas|Neodesha]], [[Ottawa, Kansas|Ottawa]], [[Peabody, Kansas|Peabody]], [[Wadsworth, Kansas|Wadsworth]], [[Grand Pass, Missouri|Grand Pass]], [[Lexington, Missouri|Lexington]], and [[Liberty, Missouri|Liberty]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=List of Prisoner Of War (POW) Camps in Kansas |url=http://www.gentracer.org/powcampsKS.html |access-date=February 16, 2013 |publisher=Gentracer.org |archive-date=November 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113141954/http://www.gentracer.org/powcampsKS.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The arrival of victory in Europe and Japan during the spring and summer of 1945 were joyous occasions, but they also spelled new realities and directions for the Army and Fort Riley.<ref name="History" />