National Mounted Warrior Museum now open

By LYNETTE SOWELL 

Cove Leader-Press 

The doors are now open at the National Mounted Warrior Museum, located behind the Marvin Leath Visitor Center just outside the main gates of Fort Cavazos. 

A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Wednesday morning, hosted by Retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk, President of the National Mounted Warfare Foundation, and Brig. Gen. Geoff R. Van Epps, deputy commanding general of III Armored Corps.

In his remarks, Gen. Funk shared about what seeing the museum come to life means to him and to the rest of the community. 

“It’s about the soldiers. We’re talking a tactical level. They do the fighting and almost all the dying,” said Funk. “That’s why I think this is really important for those great mounted warriors of the past and of the future.”

He thanked the multiple donors over the years, who believed in the museum from the very beginning through today. 

“We’ve got more to raise, folks. We have to build the classrooms to get all the young kids in here and teach civics lessons,” he said. 

Funk was grateful to the area cities who also gave to the cause, such as Copperas Cove, Killeen, and Harker Heights.” 

He likewise thanked the companies who had a hand in the building, such as Stewart Concrete and the Stewart family. 

“Their concrete company did the finishing in here. Great, great folks. Brad has twice given us this tent. His folks come in, set it up, tear it down. That would have cost us a lot of money. That’s the generosity of Brad Stewart and the Stewart family.”

He called Bob Crouch, Copperas Cove resident and vice president of the National Mounted Warfare Foundation, a “stalwart” in the journey. 

“He is almost everywhere. He also, by the way, picked up his doctorate from a Florida institution on the way, and he’s been a Rotary Governor. This is a guy who’s been very, very active in our community, selflessly supports his church. So just thank Bob today, when you talk to him. Certainly, I want to tell him how much I appreciate him.”

Funk then got to the heart of the matter, the soldiers whose stories the museum will tell. 

“Twice I’ve been able to command US forces in combat. The first was in Vietnam, the great Apache troop, A troop, First squadron, 9th Cavalry. Tremendous guys. We’re going to a reunion here in about two weeks for the troop but what a privilege that was. We lost too many of those kids, by the way, in that senseless war. 

“And then the third Armored Division, the Spearhead Division, which out of the force structure, almost as soon as we finished that war, nobody has fought like those young people did. The only guy that really recognized it was General Israel Tal of the Israeli army, who said in an article, ‘you guys haven’t seen how the U.S. Army executes mounted maneuver warfare.’ And you know what? The Iraqis had no sense of it either, and it wasn’t they were so bad, folks, just that our kids were so good, so relentless, so skilled. 

“What a privilege it was to command that division in that war. And that was with George H.W. Bush as President, and he did it the way you ought to do it. General Powell led the effort. ‘Hit ‘em with everything you got. Yeah, was it overkill? Maybe. Bring them, almost all of them, home. Damn straight. 

“So, ladies and gentlemen, that’s what this museum is about.”

Funk spoke to the anticipated impact the museum will have on the area. 

“This is ours. And I know nobody at Fort Cavazos will be offended by this – It is not just Fort Cavazos. This an entire mounted force, and it’s for this community, the people in this community.

“A couple of studies have been done, the latest from Texas A & M Central Texas. 377,000 visitors the first year is what the prediction is, 70 percent of them will be from out of town. They’re going to be buying gas, they’re going to be buying hot dogs, might even buy a hamburger or two, and they’re going to be staying in our hotels. It’s going to be an economic boom.”

After the speeches came the ribbon cutting to officially open the museum. Visitors then were able to enter inside and explore the facility. 

Bob Crouch stood by the front doors so he could see visitors’ faces as they entered the museum’s doors for the first time. 

He called the experience of watching the museum develop from a vision to a reality “an amazing experience.”

“It’s been a long road, but it’s really rewarding to see that it’s complete. This is the American citizens’ museum,” Crouch said. 

Visitors walked through the many interactive multimedia exhibits which highlight the evolution of the Army’s mounted warfare, the accomplishments of the men and women who have served in the United States Army and III Armored Corps.

One photo display is devoted to the Coryell and Bell County communities which are now part of history, due to the creation of Camp Hood. 

Bill Kliewer, NMWF board chair, shared about the journey until now, and what lies ahead. 

“(Gen. Funk) and I have worked on this day one, when we first started talking about it. That’s been a good, good exercise. This is far above and beyond anything that I think any of us dreamed this part of it could be,” Kliewer said. “And we’re ready to open up the second phase, open up the classrooms over there. Ultimately, we want to put an amphitheater outside that goes back toward the horse platoon, so people can sit out there and watch. There are a lot of things that will happen over the years. It’s just going to take some time. We need to raise more money; that’s where it all comes from.”

The NMWF has held its “Homecoming for Heroes” for eight years, which is the largest annual fundraiser for the foundation.

The NMWF broke ground for the museum in November 2020, with construction completed in November 2021. In January 2022, the building was gifted to the United States Army. The U.S. Army owns and operates the museum. Phase one has more than 12,000 square feet of permanent gallery space, more than 1,000 square feet of temporary exhibit space, and a 4,900 square foot entry rotunda. The museum occupies 17 acres near the Bernie Beck Gate and is adjacent to the 1st Cavalry horse detachment. The museum is open to the public, admission is free, and visitors are not required to obtain a pass to access the museum.

The NMWM officially opened to the public starting Thursday, Sept. 19. Museum hours are from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.