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1st Cavalry Division Museum - Fort Hood, Texas


fesm_ndt

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I got up bright eyed this morning to drive to the 1st Cavalry Division Museum located at Fort Hood in Texas.

 

Being 166 miles away and driving on the wrong side of the road was worrisome as was the majority of other motorists that seem to all drive 10 to 15mph faster than the limit.

 

Having left early I arrived at the Fort Hood Visitors centre at 1020. As per the website "you can receive a pass to the Museum. Proof of insurance and ID Card are required for the visitor pass. The Visitor Center will provide a map to the Museum". http://www.hood.army.mil/1stcavdiv/1CDmuseum/map.htm

 

You have to get one of those numbers from the machine and wait for your number. When called I handed over my Australian passport, drivers licence and vehicle insurance.

 

After this I was told "you (Australians) are on the list that can't come in"!

 

Not much you can say about that, just had to get back in the car and drive 3 hours back to Houston :argh:

 

I am still completely furious at the insult but the most annoying part is if foreigners or foreign tourists are not welcome, why is this not written on the website.

 

I did email them and told them rather pointedly to change their website so other visitors to the US with an MV interest dont waste their time attempting to visit.

 

I had hope to get some piccies and do a write up for the magazine.....sorry it didnt work

Edited by fesm_ndt
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How strange and what a disappointment. Did they give a reason as to why Australians cant come in?

 

just woke up :yawn:

 

No, I think the policy is if you are not a US citizen then you cannot visit. It is inside the base but what miffs me (very polite for this early in the morning is this could have been written on the website.

 

I go on US bases all the time in my line of work so not being able to visit a museum on one is crap. I have emailed them and suggested they change their website will be interesting if I get a reply but I am not holding my breath.

 

I was thinking of going to Fort Bliss anti aircraft museum also but I don't think it's worth it as likely to find another problem. My roving reporting will have to wait until I next visit other countries.

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What I did when I worked in Texas was to go to the vehicle licensing centre register and sat my Texas Driving Test for $16 (two left turns a right and a parking maneouvre later (in our rental car) after a computerised theory test) they sent me an insurance card/number and a driver license which I still use when I go over from time to time - luckily having a temp texas address was helpful too

 

Gary

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Incredible.

 

Perhaps they're sick of Crocodile Dundee or Skippy? I say it again:Incredible. Definite grounds for complaint and something we can give some voice to methinks. This is an international forum - we have no overt bias, so it would be nice to hear from the museum to see where this ruling comes from...though it sounds more like a State Department thing to me.

 

MB

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In the past Borden Ontario have been quite snippy with none Canadian passport holders-but it depended on who was on duty- the age old thing give some people temp. regiment police bands and they start behaving like Basil Faulty:shocked:.

 

The main problem with Fort Hood, Fort Sill and some of the Canadian collections is that they are in Military bases-although Baumholder in Germany is a normal museum, but it is attitude of mind I still have a letter from the Greek MOD inviting me to view their closed collections- on production of the letter-which is very nice:-).

 

I think representation to the U.S. Military Attache might be a place to start, after all the British and Australians are allies and the U.S. would be quite miffed if they were restricted in the UK.

 

Steve

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Up in Washington today at a defence conference (not a vehicle one, unfortunately), so far no response, but still early, 10am.

 

I still think my major issue is if it is only for US citizens then it should be stated on their website.

 

Hopefully will get to the Vietnam memorial today.

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Well lets hope my typing is ok as I been out all night binge drinking as one does at conferences..... :beer::beer::beer::beer:

 

got an email from said museum:

 

1. they are going to update their website

 

2. they invited me for an escorted tour. Which may be possible next saturday when I get back

 

So I guess they took my critique seriously which is a breath of fresh air as now days complaints are rarely answered

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Well, made it in today :D

 

Will post some piccies over the next few days but my favorites

 

[ATTACH]27073[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]27082[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]27080[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]27079[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]27078[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]27077[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]27076[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]27075[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]27074[/ATTACH]

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I never knew they made mini versions :cool:

 

I want, I want............ I WANT

 

[ATTACH]27081[/ATTACH]

 

Great visit today, very helpful staff. Now I got to figure out how to write it up and not sound like a numbnut

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I've read a lot of history and figured out that you probably didn't were allowed because all Australians are deported british criminals. You wouldn't like any criminals running around in your museum, would you? :-)

 

Glad you finally got in! And great photos! Wish I could name more of them!

 

Marty

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I've read a lot of history and figured out that you probably didn't were allowed because all Australians are deported british criminals. You wouldn't like any criminals running around in your museum, would you? :-)

 

Glad you finally got in! And great photos! Wish I could name more of them!

 

Marty

 

ahh thats propaganda they really deported the only people working at that point in time :D. Mind you I thought about pinching a bolt off the Abrams as Adrian would be able to restore the entire tank from a single bolt :cool2:

 

I got all the nameplates and details but was waiting for the experts to come in and debate.

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  • 1 year later...
I've read a lot of history and figured out that you probably didn't were allowed because all Australians are deported british criminals. You wouldn't like any criminals running around in your museum, would you? :-)

 

Glad you finally got in! And great photos! Wish I could name more of them!

 

Marty

 

They must have been shipping them back through the back door............ we have still got plenty.

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