As a Footprint Project, the Historical & Archeological Society of Fort Riley helps maintain a list of monuments and memorials that can be found on Fort Riley, KS, to honor and remember the fallen and served.
This monument is dedicated in memory of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and civilians who lost their lives serving with the 1st Infantry Division in Iraq and Afghanistan. The monument was first dedicated on June 6, 2005, in Wuerzburg, Germany at the Division’s former headquarters on Leighton Barracks. The original monument consists of a bronze sculpture with bronze plates memorializing those who lost their lives during divisional unit deployment to Iraq from 2003 – 2005. Following the Division’s relocation to Fort Riley in 2006, the monument was placed in the Division’s Victory Park and is rededicated annually. Since the move to Fort Riley, granite stones have been placed along a walkway to memorialize additional deaths. All 1st Infantry Division service members who lost their lives in theater, or as a result of injury or illness in theater, are memorialized with stones.
This monument was dedicated on March 13, 2012, at its original location on Fort Knox, KY. The monument memorializes the contributions of “Duke” Soldiers who fought with the brigade in Iraq and Afghanistan. This monument’s presence on Fort Riley captures the turbulence that this unit endured in just over a decade. Based in Germany with the 1st Infantry Division, the “Duke” Brigade first deployed to Iraq in 2003. Over the next 11 years, the brigade would return to Germany, inactivate, reactivate at Fort Hood, TX, deploy to Afghanistan in 2008, redeploy to Fort Hood, relocate to Fort Knox, KY in 2009, and deploy two more times in Afghanistan before inactivating on May 21, 2014. This monument was relocated to Fort Riley following the brigade’s inactivation and serves as a reminder of the ever-changing nature of our Army.
This monument stands in tribute to the Soldiers of the 16th Infantry Regiment who fought in Vietnam. Located on the east side of Fort Riley’s Cavalry Parade Field, this monument was dedicated on May 1, 2015, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the 1st Infantry Division’s deployment to South Vietnam. In 1965, the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, then part of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, became the first element of the regiment to deploy to South Vietnam. This monument specifically recognizes soldiers of the regiment who earned two Medals of Honor, 10 Distinguished Service Crosses, and 11 campaign streamers.
Fort Riley’s GWOT Memorial is located on the northeast end of Cavalry Parade Field on Sheridan Avenue.
This monument was dedicated on October 2, 2004, and stands in memory of all service members who deployed from Fort Riley and lost their lives in the Global War on Terror. The granite pentagon base and black marble towers of the monument symbolize the sacrifice made by those lost on 9-11. This is an active monument and names may be added in the future.