On january 14, 1942, at the beginning of united states involvement in world war ii, it was announced that a tank destroyer tactical and firing center would be established near killeen, texas. Soon regions of texas would be claimed by both royal france and imperial spain, both of which. With the arrival of the first spanish conquistadors in the region now known as texas in 1519, it was already populated by numerous native american tribes, whose ancestors had been there for thousands of years. This action was done to realign the historical designations of units to their. Defense base closure and realignment commission and was provided to unt digital library by the unt libraries government documents department. Corps elements are stationed at forts hood, riley, carson and other posts. On june 15, 1963, killeen base was turned over to the army. Killeen is a city in bell county, texas, united states. Fort hood is a military base that was named after the confederate general john bell hood and is located just on the edge of the city of killeen in the state of texas. Anthony sills, right, comforts his wife as they wait outside the fort hood, texas, army base where their young son was in daycare.
A new chapter in its long history began as its soldiers were given the mission to. Army officer goes on a shooting rampage at fort hood in central texas. However, the post became a host to the second armored division, army reserve units, and the texas national guard. In 2003, tragedy struck fort hood when a gunman killed people on the army base. Texas is a state and a nation for a time that has a rich military history. Today, fort hood is one of the largest active army bases in the entire world. For more housing information regarding on post rental application visit the fort hood army housing online user services.
It also meets the training and support requirements for many smaller units and organizations, thus maintaining a vital defense force for the usa. Roy benavidez, a mexican american who received the medal of honor in a hellish vietnam battle, should instead grace the name of fort hood, the league of united latin american citizens said. Naval air station fort worth joint reserve at carswell is the closest military base to dallas. Fort hoods home page with news stories and photos of things happening on fort hood and with its deployed.
General information and demographics of fort hood army base in killeen, tx. Most of the 218,000 acres owned by the united states army is located in coryell county. Mills boulevard,761st tank battalion avenuecoc 25428725062520 the iii corps headquarters is on fort hood. Fort hood officials announced tuesday night that changes are now in place when it comes to. See historic and abandoned military bases, forts and air.
Fort hood warrior way commissary bldg 85020 warrior way, fort hood, tx 765445056, united states. Fort hood the handbook of texas online texas state. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. The division was headed for summer encampment at fort hood, texas, in 1950 when pres. Around 100,000 acres were originally planned for the base and texas was an ideal place for all the open space needed for the tanks. Nas jrb fort worth is about an hour drive from dallas and was commissioned in 1994 as the united states first joint reserve base. The fort hood army base in texas is the largest military post in the country. According to the 2010 census, its population was 127,921, making it the 21stmost populous city in texas and the largest of the three principal cities of bell county. The 4th infantry division mechanized was designated the armys experimental force on dec. This hardback book is entitled 2nd us army missile command medium fort hood, texas 195859. Nidal hasan is charged in the 2009 shooting rampage at fort hood that left dead and more than 30 others wounded. The base was a strategic result of the need to have a base for testing tank destroyers. The base derives its name from general john bell hood. Know of a contact that should be included in this base directory.
Fort hood was announced as a location for the training of world war ii tank destroyers by the war department in 1942. It is among the largest united states military installations worldwide and is home to many units, such as the 1st cavalry division, 4th infantry division. The corps has joint and expeditionary capabilities, prepared for full spectrum operations in support of joint, combined and interagency missions. Base visit book army fort hood texas page 3 of 159. Today, fort hood is the only army installation to house two maneuver divisions, currently the 4th infantry division and the 1st cavalry division. A significant portion of the combatready air and ground forces of. Fort hood also captures the attention of the entertainment industry and is the frequent host of celebrities, entertainers and theatrical shows from national dance teams. The service member can apply at the fort hood family housing website. Major army units stationed at one time or another at fort hood included the first, second, and fourth armored divisions.
The primary mission of fort hood is to maintain a state of readiness for combat missions, and the dominant activity is the training of iii corps. Aer assistance procedures for soldiers, retirees, family members and survivors. Fort hood is located in killeen, texas between austin and waco. Basic training yearbook of company c 2nd battalion 46th infantry 6 december 1965 10 february 1966.
The shootings at fort hood fort hood remains in mourning as the community looks for answers to why an army psychiatrist allegedly opened fired on his fellow soldiers. Fort hood, tx history fort hood was announced as a location for the training of world war ii tank destroyers by the war department in 1942. Gray air force base was designated as robert gray army airfield. Portraits of 1st battalion 1966 22nd infantry regiment. Fort hood, located between austin and dallas, texas, is one of the largest military bases by area in the world. For over two hundred years, various groups fought over access to or control over the region that is now texas. There are also many opportunities to enjoy the central texas atmosphere at fort hood, as local talent is frequently performing at fort hood clubs. The rolling, semiarid terrain is ideal for multifaceted training and testing of military units. Fort hood is located in southwestern bell and southeastern coryell counties in central texas. Fort hood could not have foreseen 2014 gun attack, army says.
When army psychiatrist nidal hasan walked into the fort hood soldier. Army major kills people in fort hood shooting spree. A 214,968acre installation, fort hood is the only post in the united states capable of stationing and training two armored divisions. Killeen, texas home of fort hood covering a total of. Today, the only remnant of its secret mission is tunnels honeycombed under west fort hood. It can be said that this is one of the us military bases that was. Fort hood should be renamed for roy benavidez, medal of. The rolling, semiarid terrain is ideal for multifaceted training and testing of military units and troops. The forts of texas include a number of historical and operational military installations.
A 214,968 acre installation, fort hood is the only post in the united states capable of stationing and training two armored divisions. The fort hood massacre north texas crime and criminal justice series porterfield, anita belles, porterfield, john on. It is among the largest united states military installations worldwide and is home to many units, such as the 1st cavalry division, 4th infantry division, command iii corps, 504th military intelligence brigade, 21st cavalry. But now that a second mass shooting at the texas military base has been linked to. Possession of the region was claimed and disputed by the european powers of spain and france, and the continental countries of mexico, the united states, the republic of texas, and the confederate. Fort hood makes changes to post access jacob brooks herald staff writer. Officials at the base in central texas could not have predicted a shooting rampage last year in part because the troubled soldier. The largest number of oklahomans served in the famed fortyfifth infantry thunderbirds division, which was reorganized after world war ii as an alloklahoma national guard unit. Fort hood is one of the largest military installations in the world. The guide to military installations, stackpole books, harrisburg, 1983. To request a new contact, email us with the full contact details.
Here, you can learn the history and fate of the regions most historic bases, stations and forts that are no longer. The fort hood massacre north texas crime and criminal. It is located halfway between austin and waco, about 60 miles 97 km from each, within the u. Fort hood warrior way commissary, texas military bases. History of fort hood greater killeen chamber of commerce. It is the principal city of the killeentemplefort hood metropolitan statistical area. You are now exiting an army mwr naffunded website and linking to a commercial advertisers website. A 214,968 acre installation, fort hood is the only post in the united states capable of stationing and training two.
March and april were busy months at the central texas army post with the 4 th id returning from iraq and the soldiers of the 1 st. Even before thursdays deadly shooting rampage there, military officials were. Should fort hood, named for a confederate general, get a. According to the faulks book, fort hood, the first fifty years, mayborn also had to be a.
During the 1970s, fort hood became known as the place for the introduction of new equipment, tactics, and organizations in the army. Army officer kills 12 in shooting at fort hood army base wsj. The base is located 60 miles north of austin, the capital of texas. Applications are also accepted at the housing office, located at the copeland services center, building 18010 t. Fort hood was named for the commander of the texas brigade during the. Fort hood is the biggest active duty base of the us armed forces and currently houses the 1st cavalry division and the 4th infantry division. Fort hood, tx texas fort hood is a military post located in killeen texas. Death on base is an indepth look at the events surrounding the tragic mass murder that took place on november 5, 2009, and an investigation into the. In 1942, while world war ii raged, the united states army developed 108,000 acres of central texas farm land into camp hood, later fort hood.
On april, 1950, the announcement came fromwashington, d. The base supports multiple units, a corps headquarters and a mobilization mission. An army officer opened fire at texass fort hood, killing 12 people and injuring at least 31, in one of the worst cases of soldieronsoldier violence in u. Army major kills people in fort hood shooting spree history. The fort hood massacre north texas crime and criminal justice series. In october 1969, killeen base was designated as west fort hood and the airfields name was designated as robert gray army airfield. Fort hood is named in the honour of confederate general john bell hood. Fort hood is the armys premier installation to train and deploy heavy forces. Should fort hood, named for a confederate general, get a new name. The post is named after confederate general john bell hood who is best known for commanding the texas brigade against the u. When army psychiatrist nidal hasan walked into the fort hood soldier readiness processing center and opened fire on soldiers within, he perpetrated the worst mass shooting on a united states military base in our countrys history. In october 1969, killeen base was designated as west fort hood and the.
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