Louisiana Maneuvers: Louisiana Goes To War, Twice

In 1940 and ’41, American soldiers trained in the Louisiana Maneuvers, which was some big ol’ war games where we tested weapons, soldiers and senior officers in 300,000 acres of crazy Louisiana terrain. In 1940, 70,000 o’ them soldiers fought for 12 whole days, half of which was spent marchin’ 550 miles from Georgia to Louisiana! That 1941 Maneuver was “The Big One” where ‘bout 400,000 soldiers fought like hell for six weeks.

The Louisiana Maneuvers taught us the art of battle and how to endure the stresses of wartime living. Louisiana’s unmarked roads, swamps, and changing elevations were perfect simulations of what the Army would face in World War II.