Geocache is located near the Montgomery County Freedom Rock in the Historic Fountain Square Park. Please DO NOT go beyond the black rope fence that is around the rock. You will be able to access the Geocache from the sidewalk around the rock. Please obey the park hours.
Freedom Rock history:
Painted is a member of the 168th Infantry Regiment (Compaines F of Villisca and M of Red Oak) of the 34th Infantry Division, furing WWII. Nicknamed the "Red Bull", the 34th was made up of National Guardsmen of Iowa, Minneota and the Dakotas. The men of the 34th were among the first to join with the Allied Forces from Britain, Canada and Australia to fight back against the Axis Powers.
SS Red Oak Victory is a U.S. military Victory ship of the Boulder Victory-class cargo ship used in the Second World War. She was named after Red Oak, Iowa, which suffered a disproportionate number of casualties in early World War II battles. Montgomery County ranked third among Iowa counties in World War II casualties per capita. The Red Oak was preserved to serve as a museum ship in Richmond, California, and is part of the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park. She was one of 534 Victories built during World War II, but one of only a few of these ships to be transferred from the Merchant Marine to the United States Navy. The ship was active during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
The Red Oak Depot is featured with a troop train rolling by, in the foreground is a tractor and plow to represent those farmers who stayed home to grow food for the war effort and since we are such an agricultural state. Between December 1941 and June 1945 U.S. railroads carried almost 44 million armed services personnel. As there were not enough cars and coaches available to meet the massive need for troop transit created by World War II, in late 1943 the U.S. Office of Defense Transportation contracted with the Pullman Company to build 2,400 troop sleepers, and with American Car and Foundry to build 440 troop kitchen cars. This new rolling stock was either converted from existing boxcars or built from scratch based on Association of American Railroads standard 50'-6" single-sheathed steel boxcar designs and were constructed entirely out of steel with heavily reinforced ends. In some instances, baggage cars were converted into temporary kitchen cars before ACF could complete its order.
Over the top is a large American Flag billowing over the top and side of the rock in honor of all our Veterans throughout the eras.
