Fort Irwin Box Tour: It's Even Weirder (and More Fascinating) Than You Imagined

[@bharn253]

I spent a year at Ft Irwin and 10 years at Ft Polk in the army doing what you saw. After I retired from the army I spent 15 years at Ft Polk as a Roleplayer so I got to spend 35 years of my life playing army war games. I'm an old man and I never had to grow up.

[@Movieman1965]

I trained at Ft. Irwin for war games back in 1985-86 while in the US Army. Fun times! We were camped out in the Mojave. At night you could still hear the Wolfman Jack show and Dick Clark Show on the small portable radio I took with me out there. Crazy thing, I'm from Miami. So, when we first arrived by military trucks the evening was clear and I could see all the stars and meteors shooting above. Well, I decided I would sleep under the stars! I set up my metal cot and lay on top of my sleeping bag. Sometime during my sleep I woke up to a freezing cold temperature! Man, I grabbed my bag jumped in the truck to get out of that cold night! My first lesson that the desert can get pretty cold at night.

[@kennithnieman9130]

Haha yeah for sure I grew up stomping those grounds, lucky you didn't wake up to new friends with you.

[@Gigicola312465]

You made me laugh aloud! I was expecting you to awaken with a tarantula crawling up to your face!

[@dobees8183]

Thank you for your service!

[@jamiedarnell1]

When I spent time training there, we worried about some inexperienced tank crew driving through our campsite at night.

[@andreweppink4498]

It sure can. I've lived in the Hi Desert (Lake Los Angeles, CA) for years. Like a piece of Cu. Hotter 'n he__ in Summer, colder'n a welI diggers a$$ in Winter!

[@davidtaylor6895]

Sarah Jane, thank you for the tour of Fort Irvin with the 11th Armored cavalry regiment. I served with this unit during the Vietnam war in 1969 and 1970. Is one of the most celebrated regiments in US Army history. I have always wanted to visit Fort Irwin as a veteran of this unit, but never took the opportunity. Thank you so much. The vehicle which you went into was not a tank, but an armored personnel carrier. I appreciate the view from inside this vehicle as it has totally changed from the M113 vehicle that we use during the war. I have followed you for years and your videos and interviews are the best. Your interview with the squadron commander shows me that you are considered a special lady by the Lt Colonel. Thank you again

[@hestheMaster]

Thank you for your service to our country sir!

[@indycharlie]

Hey , what's up brother . I left the FRG in early 70 from where the 11ACR went to after they di di'd from RVN . I was in lll Corp as well , with a Med Det at Tay Ninh , and ended up with the 25th I.D. I won't lie . I was glad that I wasn't assigned to a ACR in Nam and had to drive a 113 . Bad duty . We saw you guys all over RVN and the bode . Stay strong brother , there are less of us by the day . BTW , I left Hersfeld going to RVN via Lewis . doc 68-71

[@georgegray4891]

I served with the 14th and 11th cav during the Cold War in Bad Hersfeld W GE 72-74

[@indycharlie]

@@georgegray4891 Wow , that's crazy . I have run across a couple of guys who were in Fulda , but never ran across anybody who was at BH . So , I guess you were 14th one day and 11 ACR the next ? I never thought about it . But did most of the 14th guys stay and slapped on Black Horse patches the next day ? Did the 11th just take over the 14th's equipment ? I have heard that the 11th was allowed to have beer in the barracks . Not in the 14th while I was there . I was HQ Troop and my room looked down on " Old Bill " from the 2nd floor . We didn't have far to stumble to our rooms from the Snack Bar . But it was a long way down from the EM club though . Man ! All those cold nights on the border or at the OP without a shower . Hell , almost any place not in the bush in RVN , we had a way to shower . I personally hated the FRG , and I 10-49 out to go to RVN . I was sick of room inspections , AGI and CMMI , border , graf and flicken , KP , guard and alerts and white walls . Am glad , and sad I went to RVN . Have a good one brother ..

[@davidphillips7321]

Make sure you Thank OUR Veteran's and Service Men and Women...God Bless, Stay Safe...Thanks, Sarah...

[@dieterkoch6563]

Notwithstanding her childhood, I always am amazed how WH adapts to her surroundings and people. She is a natural Interviewer!

[@Jeff-jg7jh]

With a dash of extrovert.

[@skyepilotte11]

Great experience at Ft Irwin...thx Sarah

[@todddavid3695]

Who doesn't love Wonderhussy and a good adventure? ❤

[@pigdroppings]

WH and Burning Man????..... Burning Man bought a building in San Francisco in 2016 for $62 Million BM just sold that building for only $6 Million...A massive loss. Is Burning Man going under???? Bidenomics at work???

[@REMONSTER]

Other KZbinrs? 🤓

[@jeffhodges7504]

I used to work for a moving company in Barstow we was at ft Irwin everyday my dad worked at goldstone that’s a pretty neat place also Barstow was my 2nd home Oklahoma was my 1st home I was back and fourth my whole life kinda miss all my friends in barstow

[@mrkeiths48]

Go Army! Thank You for your service! Kudos to you, Wonderhussy for shining the light on these badass warriors.

[@jamiedarnell1]

As a member of the National Guard, I had to endure five 2 week summer camps at Ft. Irwin from 1969 to 1975. We used to describe it as one valley over from Death Valley. Extremely hot hanging out in an Armor Personnel Carrier. I was in a Scout Platoon and we got to cruise all over that place. My god that was 50 years ago. When you go back to the museum, see if you can get someone to take you to Cave Springs. It's one of the coolest places on Ft. Erwin and really out in the sticks. There were actual springs that were in caves that were dug out by the miners. There used to be loads of old mining shacks in that area. Probably gone now.

[@janblake9468]

I have been to Cave Springs but as a civilian in the early1990's. It had been a primitive gas station and way stop when that was the main road from Barstow to Death Valley before WWII. The wood shacks are gone but stacked stone walls of other ruins still exist. I have old photos of the wood shacks.

[@Kurtwaldheim2]

Was out there in 1965 for desert strike

[@jimmcgee3111]

I was also in the Army National Guard and went there a few times in the late 70’s and early 80’s. The base was a few older barracks and very few base housing. It had a small PX.

[@janblake9468]

@@jimmcgee3111 Originally Camp Irwin was an anti-aircraft gun firing range during WWII.

[@jimmcgee3111]

@@janblake9468 The type of unit I was in, short range air defense, also Calle anti-air raft.

[@dondavis1203]

Thanks for the tour. I was stationed there way back in the fall of 1968, there were only a couple hundred soldiers. The training back then was self-propelled artillery howitzers capable of shooting a tactical nuclear round 7 miles. I was guarding the guns with live rounds in my trusty M-14 rifle...think ancient history. I remember the long drive from the main gate to the central fort, and that being just barracks, a mess hall, storage areas and maintenance buildings.

[@davidjames513]

Was there in August’73 for my two week commitment in the active reserves. Went with a NG Armored unit out of Kearney Mesa. They didn’t know what to do with me so I pulled KP for a day then drove an APC and chauffeured a Captain around in a Jeep all over the desert during the training exercises. Quite an experience, but was hot as hell.

[@stephaniepersin4222]

My brother served 2 years at Fort Irwin from 1988 to 91/92. When he came back to Pennsylvania he said “does the sun ever come out here” when he came to visit from the desert one Christmas time as he was use to constant sunshine.

[@michaelterrell]

He would have felt totally lost at Ft. Greely, during the winter. The shortest day was just 15 minutes of sunlight, I went to lunch in the mess hall, in the dark, and it was already dark when I left, 20 minutes later. On the longest day, there was 23 hours & 45 minutes of sunlight.

[@stephaniepersin4222]

@@michaelterrell Barrow, AK is like that in the winter, constant darkness. Would need some UV light and supplements to survive it.

[@michaelterrell]

@@stephaniepersin4222 I was at Ft. Greely, in the early '70s. I was th e engineer at the AFRTS TV and AM Radio station on base. I also pulled duty as one of the operators at the TV station, so I put in very long days, an average of 70 hours a week. I worked too far from the mess hall to use it while on duty, and the base commissary had very little to choose from after the dependents and retirees hit it as soon as a truck was unloaded so my diet was horrible. I put on 50 pounds, and developed symptoms of Diabetics, but the Army only did health screening for people going overseas so I have no proof. Those retirees would fill a pickup truck and a trailer every week, then resell the food at trading posts n small villages which I consider theft from those on duty. I had one screaming at me that he 'needed' the tray of 24 cans of Mountain Dew in cans, then added that he 'served it' because he served before I did. I told him to back off, because I was fed up with his crap. Then he found out that I had nocked down multiple fficers, without getting into trouble. The 'friends' that he was threatening me with were among them. :)

[@milesmayhem5440]

NTC / Fort Irwin is a magical, special place. I had the honor of participating with OPFOR in terrorizing the Army in the late 90’s, using guerrilla warfare tactics, mixed with anti armor.

[@susana301301]

For the military, practice makes perfect. The training is helpful. As a National Guard soldier I found the train-up I got prior to deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan and then back to Iraq to be very helpful. This vlog brings back memories for me, thanks!

[@leethebee1560]

My son was trained there before Desert Storm, 2 Infinite Justice, after 9-11. We visited him there. He called it the kitty litter box.

[@robertl.johnston5666]

Great Video, nice to see support for our troops.

[@bonniewight911]

Thanks!

[@georgeb1364]

Great tour, maybe I can get out there sometime. Loved the MREs. When I was in Vietnam we ate C-rations dated from WWII. MRE's looked like a holiday meal in comparison.

[@larrywheeler9797]

Sweet vlog young lady! Always very entertaining no matter what the subject is! Bravo! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@goldiecaulfield3266]

Much admiration to the guys who live in the tank. Dedication to duty! MRE's, some are very tasty. Thanks WH for an awesome adventure.

[@michaelwilder9231]

"Lob it at the enemy',spoken like a true soldier at heart. ❤

[@brucesahroian1482]

Thanks Wonderhussy!! The tour was really the best!!!! (in the middle of nowhere!!)

[@karnubawax]

I always loved the joke by Korean-American comic Henry Cho... "I always hated playing cowboys & indians... cuz I was always the cook!"

[@jimp.7286]

Awesome. They used to hold armed forces day at the local military base and put on displays, blew up things and made awesome food for visitors. Great memories for a kid,....even though it was right as the Vietnam war was just getting started. I realized soon enough,...many of those young people wouldn't be coming home. 😕We attended a few funerals. Hats off to those who serve! Another good one here. Cheers. 👍

[@drkskyes]

In the 1970s I help build exercises at Camp Irwin before NTC. Then just a few years ago I was back supporting the Army's logistics system. Thank you, Sara for doing this. I have tried to tell many folks about the villages and how they are used to help save our soldier's lives. You're the bomb!

[@SuperChicken666]

As much as I love dirt and rocks and rusted out mine machinery and abandoned cabins, I must say this change of pace episode is now my favorite.😊❤❤❤

[@jeffhodges7504]

I used to work for a moving company in Barstow we were at ft Irwin almost everyday my dad worked at goldstone a neat place to visit also my first home is in Oklahoma my second home is Barstow I kinda miss all my friends in Barstow had the time of my life in Barstow very good people there

[@67charger67]

20 months as a LRRP recon scout for HHC 1-63 AT Irwin 88-89. Proudest and most rewarding and years of my life. I miss it!

[@MrYord52]

I’m a life long California resident and I was fortunate to take the Box Tour 2 separate times the last few years. Definitely would recommend taking the tour also! I’m glad you were finally able to take the tour!

[@mrdjdog2008]

My dad train at Fort Irwin when he was in the Marine Corps in 1990-94 right after desert storm

[@ImsunaSong-gw2gs]

That was great! For a moment I felt like you were in a different country.

[@annmariesikorski]

Fabulous Wonderhussy! You knocked it out of the park with this one! Thank You and our great military‼️

[@RobertEstes-jk3py]

I have been in fort Irwin California twice once in 88 and once in 89

[@jaygun-dl3hh]

Thank you for highlighting our military. Without them we would not exist. Thank you to our service men and women, active and retired.

[@2023Red]

I flew many times over that area when in Air Force fighters. You did an outstanding job in this short video. You did everyone a super service especially the troops assigned there. They are good people. Not the jerks you read about from UC Berkeley.

[@proteusnz99]

Thank you for the views inside the tank (M2 Bradley Infantry Combat Vehicle?), I build models, and being able to see the colours was useful. Good tour of an interesting place. ❤😊👍👍

[@Gigicola312465]

I really enjoyed this video. Thank you for sharing your tour of Fort Irwin. I'd love to do this myself!

[@jongibson4075]

Thank you, Sarah for the walk down memory lane. I actually endured that post for 3 years (91-94). Great video, as usual.

[@robertf4540]

What an awesome video! That was badass Sarah! Going through that village with those actors was bizarre! Wow! That would be a lot of fun to do someday. Thanks for letting us come along with you and your Sis. Safe travels.

[@wilburcase3766]

Thanks for the tour my younger brother finished his military career at Fort Irwin I never knew what he did there but sometimes there are things you just don't ask. He retired in the early 80 s

[@johnrogers6291]

What a great video, Thanks Sarah. Always nice to see your Sister interacting with your fine self.😊

[@TerraFirmaX]

In the 80's I was in the California Army National Gaurd, we used to train there on the weekends and some times on our two week summer training. Fast forward to the 2000's and as a trucker I hauled military equipment to Fort Irwin for units that would go there for training. I've been on just about every base moving military equipment.

[@anitahamlin2411]

You are having too much fun! Love your approach to life!

[@jewlsthefaithful6139]

Thank you for showing a small fraction of what some of our troops deal with. Would love to see more of this! ❤️

[@kamaka07]

I was born and raised in Barstow and I appreciate the videos you post sharing the history of the Mohave desert communities. Ft Irwin is essential to the nations security and has provided employment for thousands in that area. Thank you!

[@SingleTrackMined]

I don't know how you keep outdoing yourself......but you do! Amazing. Thank you for your hard work.

[@LesMorrisracing]

Hi Sarah I spent 20 years in the Navy been in three wars in the gulf I was an aircraft mechanic Jet engine

[@stevewest5395]

Ah I’m stationed at Irwin now. I was on the other side of the box that day. Your first Irwin video got me started on your channel.

[@timw6596]

May look and sound like fun and games but what they learn is life saving when your surrounded by bad guys wanting to hurt you ! Thank you Hussy for the videos and a BIG THANK YOU to our military and Veterans .......................

[@Green_Leaf]

Awesome 👏 W.H. I trained there in the 90’s , right before our tour in the East.

[@cookemike]

From an Air Force brat to an Army brat, enjoyed your video.

[@grunttk]

The rabbit hole led me here. I've trained there a few times and it's great training. The squadron commander is being very humble here. Those guys work their tail off. They live in the desert away from family for two weeks out of every month. When they're not in the box they're maintaining their normal qualifications and their own readiness.

[@garlandstyle5797]

Holy Crap! That looks SO dang cool! :) Thank you so much.

[@rickdozier3609]

Our military needs to do more of this at all bases!! That looked like hecka fun!!

[@Three_Random_Words]

This episode was among your best ever, imo!

[@glennk.7348]

What a fantastic adventure!!! Thanks for taking us along. 😃

[@TheBayoutransplant]

Fort Polk in Louisiana was the training base for troops heading to Viet Nam. Had hamlets, etc along with fire ranges where gunships did fire support.

[@markwilliford5319]

Fort Irwin..great job!

[@johnsimko4920]

We love thiS '

[@electric69]

Wow! That was great! Please do it again someday, so that we can see some more.

[@sco3592]

Bless you for the respect you had for those soldiers!

[@Mike-o4s8s]

Man, I wish I was in better health and able to travel like this!! I absolutely would be living that life lol.. I stumbled on this channel and it’s pretty interesting and entertaining.. gives good travel ideas for those who wish to do so 😬👍

[@Bobh4504]

You do such a wonderful thing! Thank you

[@jimschnurr3512]

This one was one of the best adventures yet.

[@johnrudy9404]

Thanks WH. Thank you to all military service men and women. THANK YOU VETERANS!!!

[@frankmatrka1687]

Thanks. Another enjoyable video. Very interesting.

[@Retiredmom2]

I could feel my pulse quicken when you were firing those guns. Reason enough right there to take the tour. Thank you Sara, I enjoyed the heck out of this video.

[@P-M-869]

Walking through the crowd was interesting. Training to navigate a combat area and being distracted by all the locals and noise.

[@FlamingRobzilla]

Very different from most of your videos, Sarah. I loved it. Thanks.

[@mfitzgerald130]

Fantastic ms Wonderhussy, the lieutenant in opening clip a true blue American well done 👍🎉✨⚡💕

[@dennissorensen167]

The Box... Great memories! You got the best MRE there is!

[@KB6YAF]

That was way beyond cool. Thanks Sarah for posting this video. ......Russell D.

[@flatworm00]

Trained at Fort Irwin years ago. Looks like it hasn't changed much.

[@mitchellowens6365]

what an excellent and interesting video

[@davidclinton425]

ONE OF YOUR BEST

[@almusur1781]

That was absolutely spectacular. You really have a talent for story telling. I found this to be fascinating and I was sorry when it ended. I saw your video about the painted rocks. I would really love to know what the real story is about them. I love your work. Thank you very much.

[@rickhale6396]

Very good video. Mater of fact it was great.

[@1949ala]

Worked in radio in Barstow, no tours then...always wondered about ft Irwin, great video incidentally I spent 4 years in the Navy

[@danofiremano]

What an awesome tour! In my state there's a place near Lexington, Nebraska that's a military museum and they have a full size M-3 Abrams tank you can crawl in & on.

[@digitalcamera3237]

Wow wonderhussy! Thanks for doing this video as well as all your videos! That was totally interesting!!!

[@richwhitaker1506]

Great tour. Thanks Wonderhussy. Lots packed into a day. Just be careful signing any official looking papers while there. We would hate to lose our Hussy to a multi-year commitment. Although I bet you'd kick ass. Especially if they got you some carne asada MRE .Stay well Sarah. ❤❤❤

[@banditjones3632]

In 1976-1979 I trained on Ft. Irwin. Thanks for the new video of it, big changes of course.

[@trackman174]

I went to Ft. Irwin in 1965 to qualify on the main gun of M60 tank. It was my first time in a desert and I was amazed how the temperature swings between night and day.

[@July4.1776]

The Great Military Industrial Complex!

[@DocNo27]

Worlds biggest game of laser tag - the live fire range out there is insane too. Got to see it in action in the 90's - pretty incredible training!

[@sarahh7024]

What a cool opportunity and video. Looks like wonderhussy had a great time.

[@richspillman4191]

I got a ticket at Fort Irwin in 1989. That long long road, there were two tanks flying down the slope next to the road, a 50 mph zone, I was doing 55, the tanks just a little faster as they peeled away. Way up in the distance I saw a flashing red light coming at me so I pulled over and stopped. The MPs did a big sliding u turn and asked "Do you know why we stopped you?" The tanks were...didn't mater, got a ticket for 5 mph over, cost a whopping $8.00, that's like $100.00 today. Then I had a customer named Walden Structures that make the units to make the cities they use at Ft Irwin, small world.

[@JamesWachsman-ot4zc]

Your best work yet... Please don’t give up....

[@MikeJohnson-ld9rn]

Another great episode, Sarah! Certainly one of the most interesting and informative about a base that I knew nothing about before !

[@pasqualepicariello4648]

Wow! Great trip. Patton Memorial on hwy 10 has tanks.

[@ramblin660]

Another very interesting and educational video! Thanks for sharing your adventure!

[@tommartin9612]

That was an amazing video! I must say one of your best, Thank You

[@donaldpowell3469]

Love your videos, interesting, funny, informative. I'm always waiting for the next one. I know its' a lot of time and work, thank you. Thanks for sharing.

[@JohnF-i7z]

The best is yet to come

[@thaiwaters]

I was born there 1959

[@dnjones3685]

Cool. Thank you

[@frostbite9039]

I'm actually stationed in fort irwin as the opfor. Things we do here is actually fun. We train the force

[@davidandrews9670]

like Olvera Street(in L.A.) on a Tuesday!

[@jumpinjack1156]

That was one of your finest adventures Hussy ! Thanks for the fascinating tour !

[@justvisiting-ts6xm]

thank to all of you of you keep us safe and free

[@margaretwolak9849]

Reminds me when I was a "Civil War" Ren-actor(1860's to 1865)