Real Crime/Paranormal/Conspiracy Theories Book III

History of Fort Hood

Fort Hood is a United StatesArmy post located in Killeen, Texas. Named after Confederate GeneralJohn Bell Hood, it is located halfway between Austin and Waco, about60 miles (97 km) from each, within the U.S. state of Texas. The postis the headquarters of III Corps and First Army Division West and ishome to the 1st Cavalry Division and 3rd Cavalry Regiment, amongothers. It is one of ten U.S. Army bases named after formerConfederate generals.

Its origin was the need for wide-openspace to test and train with World War II tank destroyers. The WarDepartment announced the location in January 1942, and the initialcompletion was set for that August. As originally constructed, FortHood had an area of 158,706 acres (64,226 ha), with billeting for6,007 officers and 82,610 enlisted personnel. The main cantonment ofFort Hood had a total population of 53,416 as of the 2010 U.S.Census. Fort Hood is the most populous U.S. military installation inthe world. The main business area is in Bell County, with thetraining countryside area of the post in Coryell County. In April2014, the Fort Hood website lists 45,414 assigned soldiers and 8,900civilian employees with Fort Hood covering 214,000 acres (87,000 ha).

History

Foundation

During World War II, tank destroyerswere developed to counter German mobile armored units. These weremobile anti-tank guns on armored halftracks or specially developedtanks. Wide-open space was needed for the tank destroyer testing andtraining, which Texas had in abundance. Andrew Davis (A.D.) Bruce wasassigned to organize a new Tank Destroyer Tactical and Firing Center,and he chose Killeen, Texas for the new camp. The War Departmentannounced the selection on 15 January 1942. An initial acquisition of180,000 acres (730 km2) was made, and it was estimated that the campwould cost $22.8 million for the land, facilities, and development ofutilities. The date of completion was set for 15 August 1942.

About 300 families had to move fromtheir homes to make room for the camp area and the communities ofClear Creek, Elijah, and Antelope were demolished to facilitateconstruction of the base. The old Sugar Loaf community, historicallycalled the "Cradle of Killeen," provided the citywith many of its first citizens in 1882. All that remains of thecommunity is the mountain from which it took its name, located in theFort Hood area. To lessen the burden of moving, the Army agreed toallow land to be used for grazing for a nominal grazing fee. Thisgrazing arrangement still continues today.

In mid-August, the camp was occupiedand the official opening took place on 18 September 1942. Camp Hoodwas named in February for the Confederate General John Bell Hood, whocommanded Hood's Texas Brigade during the American Civil War, part ofa series of new training camps named for distinguished militaryleaders together with Camps Carson, Campbell and Atterbury.

The original facilities providedhousing and training sites for nearly 38,000 troops. In January 1943,an additional 16,000 acres (65 km2) in Bell County and 34,943 acres(141.41 km2) in Coryell County near Gatesville, Texas were purchased.The site near Gatesville was known as the sub-camp and later as NorthCamp Hood. During the war years, North Camp Hood housed nearly 40,000troops and 4,000 prisoners of war, and was the site for the southernbranch of the United States Disciplinary Barracks.

At the end of 1942, there were about45,000 troops living and training at Camp Hood and in late June 1943it peaked at almost 95,000 troops, which was maintained until early1944.