Fort Cavazos (Killeen, Texas)

Killeen · Texas · World War II

Quick BriefAnnounced on January 14, 1942, at the start of U.S. involvement in World War II, this installation was established as a Tank Destroyer Tactical and Firing Center near Killeen, Texas. Camp Hood officially opened on September 18, 1942, and was officially renamed Fort Hood on April 15, 1950. Today it serves as one of the Army's largest armored training centers.

Active base today

History & Significance

Established to meet the need for wide-open space to test and train World War II tank destroyers, the War Department announced the location in January 1942, with initial completion set for August. Andrew Davis (A.D.)

Bruce was assigned to organize the new center and chose Killeen, Texas. An initial acquisition of 180,000 acres was made at an estimated cost of $22.8 million, with completion targeted for August 15, 1942.

About 300 families were required to relocate from their homes, and the communities of Clear Creek, Elijah, and Antelope were demolished to facilitate construction. Original facilities provided housing and training for nearly 38,000 troops.

During its World War II peak, Camp Hood reached a population of almost 95,000 troops in late June 1943. Additional acreage purchased in 1943 established North Camp Hood, which housed nearly 40,000 troops and 4,000 prisoners of war and served as home to the southern branch of the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks. Retained postwar as an armored training center, the installation was officially redesignated Fort Hood in 1950 and received III Corps headquarters in mid-1954, supervising combat training across Fourth Army stations.