Editing Fort Riley (section)

===Cold War===
The uneasy truce that settled on the Korean peninsula after 1953 was indicative of a cold war that had come to characterize relations between the United States and the Soviet Union. This would affect Fort Riley.<ref name="History" />

In 1955, the fort's utilization changed from training and educational center to that of being the home base for a major infantry division. In that year, the 10th Division rotated to Germany as part of [[Operation Gyroscope]] and was replaced by the 1st Infantry Division. Elements of the Big Red One began arriving in July 1955, and over the next four years the remaining units arrived, the last being the 2nd Battle Group, 8th Infantry, in December 1959. The initial units occupied barracks located in Camp Funston, until new barracks were built on Custer Hill. Ultimately, the 1st Battle Group, 5th Infantry, would be stationed at Funston, with the other units of the division divided between Custer Hill, Forsythe, and Main Post.<ref name="History" />

The influx of troops and dependents placed new demands on the fort's infrastructure. Work began on Custer Hill, where new quarters, barracks, and work areas were constructed. A new hospital, named in honor of Major General B. J. D. Irwin, was constructed to provide medical care.<ref name="History" />

In the decade following, 1st Infantry Division units trained to respond to any threat that might arise in Europe or other parts of the world. Construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 and the Cuban Missile Crisis the following year witnessed heightened alert for soldiers stationed at Fort Riley.<ref name="History" />

An additional 50,000 acres (20,000&nbsp;ha) were also acquired in 1966, which enabled the Army to have an adequate training area for the division's two brigades.<ref name="History" />

====Operation Long Thrust====
Consistent with President Kennedy's August 1961 directive to augment the U.S. Berlin Brigade, in 1962–1963 1st Infantry Division rotated four Infantry Battle Group Task Forces (reinforced by Big Red One Artillery and Transportation units) from Fort Riley to West Germany, from where they motor marched through communist East Germany to surround West Berlin. 1st Division units involved were 2nd Battle Group, 12th Infantry; 1st Battle Group, 13th Infantry; 1st Battle Group, 28th Infantry; & 2nd Battle Group, 26th Infantry. 2/12th was in Berlin during the Cuban Missile Crisis. 1/28th greeted President Kennedy on June 26, 1963, the day of his memorable "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech.<ref name="Society of 1st">{{cite web |title=History |website=Society of the 1st Infantry Division |url=https://www.1stid.org/history |access-date=September 21, 2024 |archive-date=September 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921070319/https://www.1stid.org/history |url-status=live }}</ref>