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Fort Hood Celebrates 75 years as "The Great Place"

September 18, 2017

FORT HOOD — Community leaders, state representatives and retired Army generals joined senior leaders of Fort Hood as the nation's premier military installation celebrated 75 years Monday.

Originally Camp Hood, the post opened Sept. 18, 1942, as a tank destroyer training camp in response to the German tanks of World War II. Three-quarters of a century later, the post is the only Army installation capable of hosting two armored divisions and is home to the III Armored Corps.

Guest speakers for the event at Club Hood were state Rep. Hugh Shine, R-Temple, and Maj. Gen. Eric C. Peterson, First Army Division West commander. Peterson was joined by Command Sgt. Maj. Maurice Jackson, deputy Fort Hood garrison commander Keith M. Gogas and Sgt. Maj. Ronald G. Patterson to cut a ceremonial cake in honor of the occasion

Although deployed to the Middle East, III Corps and Fort Hood commander Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk II sent a message to the troops, families, civilians and communities that make Fort Hood "The Great Place."

"As one of the largest U.S. military installations in the world, it would be easy to imbue awe by citing several massive statistics such as the fact that 60,000 soldiers, families and Army civilians live and work on Fort Hood and that Fort Hood contributes more than $35 billion annually to the local economy," Funk's message read in part.

"However, the real explanation goes much deeper than these impressive numbers. The reason Fort Hood is The Great Place is because of its remarkable people, its long and storied history and its bright future."

U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R–Austin, took to the House floor last week to honor Fort Hood on its 75th Anniversary.

"Representing Fort Hood — one of the largest military bases in the world — is the greatest honor I have as the representative of Texas' 25th Congressional District," Williams said. "Known as ‘The Great Place,' it is the gold standard for the U.S. Army. It is composed of some of the bravest and most selfless people we have in this country."

U.S. Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, also represents Fort Hood as the installation also covers part of his Texas 31st Congressional District.

"For 75 years, Fort Hood has stood strong in defense of our nation. To Central Texans, the men and women of the Great Place are more than just soldiers, they are our family, friends and neighbors," Carter said. "On this 75th Anniversary, we celebrate, honor and remember the service and sacrifice of our Fort Hood Heroes, past and present."

"I was commissioned a second lieutenant after graduation from college, went to Fort Knox (Kentucky), then to Fort Rucker, Alabama, for aviation training and immediately deployed overseas," Shine said. "When I came back from overseas, Fort Hood was my assignment, the 6th Air Cavalry Combat Brigade, which was located on Hood Army Airfield."

U.S. Highway 190/Interstate 14 was only a two-lane road across the railroad tracks when he first came to Fort Hood and the troops were still using World War II wooden buildings, he said.

"Modernization didn't really begin until maybe the early '80s," Shine said. "Then we started seeing housing, new facilities for the troops. ... All those things started happening in that time frame."

Shine said he foresees Fort Hood will continue to be the most important military installation for the United States in the future.

"It has a long-standing influence, training two divisions as well as additional units," he said. "I cannot imagine the infrastructure here not supporting even more contingencies of soldiers."