Fort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in

San Antonio ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , subdivision_t ...

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

. "Fort Sam Houston, TX • About Fort Sam Houston" (overview), US Army, 2007, webpage
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. Known colloquially as "Fort Sam," it is named for the U.S. Senator from Texas, U.S. Representative from Tennessee, Tennessee and Texas governor, and first president of the

Republic of Texas The Republic of Texas ( es, República de Tejas) was a sovereign state in North America that existed from March 2, 1836, to February 19, 1846, that bordered Mexico, the Republic of the Rio Grande in 1840 (another breakaway republic from Mex ...

Sam Houston Samuel Houston (, ; March 2, 1793 – July 26, 1863) was an American general and statesman who played an important role in the Texas Revolution. He served as the first and third president of the Republic of Texas and was one of the first two i ...

. The installation's missions include serving as the command headquarters for the Fourth United States Army, United States Army North (formerly the Fifth United States Army), United States Army South, the Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) headquarters, the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Center and School, the Fifth Recruiting Brigade, Navy Regional Recruiting, the San Antonio Military Entrance and Processing Station, and the

Medical Education and Training Campus The Medical Education and Training Campus (METC) is a United States Department of Defense (DoD) integrated campus under a single university-style administration, with nearly 50 programs of study available to U.S. military enlisted students and a ...

(METC). On October 1, 2010, Fort Sam Houston joined Lackland Air Force Base and Randolph Air Force Base to create Joint Base San Antonio, under Air Force administration.

Hosted units

U. S. Department of Defense (DoD) Elements :* Medical Education and Training Campus (METC) : United States Military Entrance Processing Command (USMEPCOM) Elements :*MEPS San Antonio U. S. Army Elements : U.S. Army North (ARNORTH) Elements :* HQ, U.S. Army North (Fifth US Army) :*

323rd Army Band The 323rd Army Band "Fort Sam's Own" is a United States Army military band currently based at Fort Sam Houston/Joint Base San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas. It is attached to United States Army North of which it is the primary ensemble. It is desi ...

: U. S. Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM) Elements :* HQ, U.S. Army IMCOM
IMCOM West

: U. S. Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) Elements :* HQ, U.S. Army MEDCOM :* U.S. Army Veterinary Command (VETCOM) :* U.S. Army Dental Command (DENCOM)
Southern Regional Medical Command (SRMC)
:** Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) :***Troop Command, Brooke Army Medical Center, HHC & companies A–D :***

Warrior Transition Battalion The Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) is the official U.S. Army program that assists and advocates for severely wounded, ill or injured Soldiers, Veterans, and their Families and Caregivers, wherever they are located, regardless of military stat ...

, Brooke Army Medical Center
U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research (ISR)

U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School Health Readiness Center of Excellence (AMEDDC&S HRCoE)
:
Academy of Health Sciences
:** 32nd Medical Brigade :***187th Medical Battalion, HHD & companies A–D :***232rd Medical Battalion, HHD & companies A–H :***264th Medical Battalion, HHD & companies A–F :***Training Support Company (TSC) :***U.S. Army Medical Department Student Detachment :
Non-Commissioned Officer Academy
:
Defense Medical Readiness Training Institute (DMRTI)

US Army Medical Information and Technology Center (USAMITC)
: U.S. Army South (ARSOUTH) Elements :* HQ, U.S. Army South (Sixth US Army) : U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) Elements
5501st US Army Hospital

418th Medical Logistics Company
:*591st Medical Logistics Company
470th Blood Detachment

: U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) Elements :*U.S. Army Fifth Recruiting Brigade :*5th Brigade, U.S. Army Cadet Command :'
Army Contracting Command Elements
'' :*410th Contracting Support Brigade :'
Mission and Installation Contracting Command
'' :*412th Contracting Support Brigade : U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command :*6th Region CID Ft. Sam Houston :*25th Military Police Detachment : U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) Elements
470th Military Intelligence Brigade, HHC & companies A–B
:'
U.S. Army Network Enterprise & Technology Command
''
106th Signal Brigade
:'

'' U. S. Air Force Elements :* HQ, 502nd Air Base Wing :*502nd Mission Support Group (replaced the garrison command) :* Camp Bullis

Senior Command

Line up for chow in camp at Fort Sam Houston

United States Army North is the senior command and responsible for all Army activities on Fort Sam Houston, but not for the post itself. Commanded by Lt. Gen. John R. Evans Jr., Army North's primary missions are land-based Homeland Defense, Defense Support of Civil Authorities and Theater Security Cooperation with the Bahamas, Canada and Mexico. Because Fort Sam Houston is part of Joint Base San Antonio, the installation commander is the commander of the 502d Air Base Wing.

Military Medicine

Fort Sam Houston is known as the "Home of Army Medicine" and "Home of the Combat Medic." At the end of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

, the Army decided to make Fort Sam Houston the principal medical training facility."Visit Fort Sam Houston" (description), VisitMilitaryBases.com, 2007, webpage
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. In conjunction with this decision came the determination to develop

Brooke General Hospital Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) is the United States Army's premier medical institution. Located on Fort Sam Houston, BAMC, a 425-bed Academic Medical Center, is the Department of Defense's largest facility and only Level 1 Trauma Center. BAMC ...

into one of the Army's premier medical centers. This combined the capabilities of Wilford Hall Medical Center located at nearby Lackland Air Force Base to create the largest medical treatment facility and teaching hospital in the Department of Defense. Construction associated with this transition increased the square footage of the hospital by 50%, including a much larger, variable capacity emergency department, additional surgical suites and recovery facilities, as well as teaching facilities and bed space. Despite the installation transitioning to Air Force control, the command and control of the facility will remain with the Army. The command and other key positions will rotate between the Army and Air Force. Staffing consist of members of both services, as well as a large number of civilians. As of 2011, Fort Sam Houston is the largest and most important military medical training facility in the world."Installation Fact Sheet" (Fort Sam Houston), 2007, PDF webpage
MilCityUSA-FortSH-PDF
: states: "Fort Sam Houston is the largest and most important military medical training facility in the world." Military Medical Training is provided by numerous elements, including METC, AMEDD Center and School, Brooke Army Medical Center, US Army Institute of Surgical Research, The Center for Battlefield Health and Trauma, Defense Medical Readiness Training Institute, as well as many smaller organizations. Quadrangle Plaza, Fort Sam Houston

Known as the brain trust for the Army Medical Department, the Army Medical Department Center and School annually trains more than 25,000 students attending 170 officer, NCO and enlisted courses in 14 medical specialties. The command maintains several academic affiliations for bachelor's and master's degree programs with major universities such as Baylor University, University of Texas Health Science Centers at Houston and San Antonio, and University of Nebraska. As a result of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) 2005 recommendations, all military medical training has been consolidated at Fort Sam Houston. This consolidation concluded with the opening of the Military Education and Training Campus (METC) in 2011. The Navy moved its medical training from San Diego, California; Great Lakes, Illinois; and

Portsmouth, Virginia Portsmouth is an independent city in southeast Virginia and across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk. As of the 2020 census, the population was 97,915. It is part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. The Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Naval M ...

. The Air Force moved its medical training from Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas. This increased the average student load and required additional support staff. The expansion in training has required construction approaching one billion dollars, a windfall of federal investment in Texas.

Historic buildings

Construction at Fort Sam Houston began in the middle 1870s under the supervision of the military commander of the Department of Texas,

Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

Edward Ord, a

West Point The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known Metonymy, metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a f ...

-trained army engineer. Today, as one of the Army's oldest installations, and with more than 900 buildings in its historic districts, Fort Sam Houston boasts one of the largest collection of historic military post structures. The significant contributions of Fort Sam Houston to the United States were recognized in 1975 when the post was designated as a

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...

. The Sundry Civil Service Bill of 3 March 1873, included a $100,000 allotment for a new army post in San Antonio, on 93 acres of land deeded by the city on Government Hill.Cagle, E. Jr., 2003, Fort Sam: The Story of Fort Sam Houston, Texas, San Antonio: Maverick Publishing Co., Edward Braden Construction Co. won the contract to build the post on 7 June 1876, for $83,900. Included on the Quadrangle was a combination 87 foot watch tower and 6,400 gallon water tank designed by General Montgomery C. Meigs, based on one he had seen in Europe, and which he called "his work of art". On 19 Feb. 1877, the new train station on Austin Street opened, connecting San Antonio to Galveston. The quartermasters soon moved their depot supplies from the Alamo to the Quadrangle, and the headquarters of the "Post at San Antonio" moved in on 22 Dec. 1879. In 1880, fifteen officers' quarters were designed by architect

Alfred Giles Alfred Giles may refer to: * Alfred Giles (architect) (1853–1920), Texas architect * Alfred Giles (civil engineer) (1816–1895), British civil engineer and politician * Alfred Giles (explorer) (1846–1931), South Australian bushman, drover and ...

, west of the Quadrangle, and bordering a parade ground. This included the Commanding General's home, constructed in 1881, now known as the

Pershing House Pershing House has been the residence of the commanding officers of Fort Sam Houston since 1881. Located in Bexar County, San Antonio, Texas, the military post is currently part of Joint Base San Antonio. The house was added to the National ...

, and first occupied by Brig. Gen.

Christopher Augur Christopher Columbus Augur (July 10, 1821 – January 16, 1898) was an American military officer, most noted for his role in the American Civil War. Although less well known than other Union commanders, he was nonetheless considered an able battl ...

Pershing House, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas

Between 1885 and 1893, 60 additional buildings were built on 43 acres, Upper post or Infantry Post, purchased by the army east of the Quadrangle, including the 1893 Band Barracks overlooking another parade ground. The hospital, now known as Sam Houston House, was built in 1886. The post was formally named Fort Sam Houston on September 11, 1890. The Fort Sam Houston Quadrangle, built by

George Henry Griebel George Henry Griebel (13 August 1846 – March 1933) was a prominent Berlin-born and trained architect who resided in New York City. He designed numerous public and private buildings, many of which are still standing in New York City, Phil ...

, is the oldest structure at Fort Sam Houston. It was originally a supply depot. During that time, it housed the Apache war chief Geronimo and warriors captured with him, while the Federal government decided whether to treat them as prisoners of war or common criminals. Legend has it that the deer in the Quadrangle were there because Geronimo refused to eat food he did not hunt. The deer pre-date Geronimo in the Quadrangle. It is unknown why the deer (and peacocks/penhens) were introduced into the confined courtyard of the Quadrangle. The Quadrangle is now an office complex housing the commanding general and staff of U.S. Army North as well as the Fort Sam Houston Museum. The base has maintained the historical integrity of the post's different sections, which represent different eras of construction, and reflect various Army concepts in planning and design. Careful preservation of these areas allows the post to live with its history, surrounded by the traditions established when the first soldier arrived here in 1845. United States Government Tower at Fort Sam Houston

United States Government Tower at Fort Sam Houston

The Gift Chapel was dedicated by President William Taft on 17–18 Oct. 1909. During

space at the fort was made available for up to 1,000 German POWs. This took place on 15 Sept. 1942 while POW camps could be built.

Notable postings

Several famous figures have served at the fort, including Arthur MacArthur Jr., Leonard Wood, Benjamin Foulois, Frederick Funston, and John J. Pershing. Maj. Gen. John Wilson Ruckman, Commander of the Southern Department, was based at Fort Sam just after the Houston Riot of 1917. Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell was posted there after being demoted to

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge ...

for disobeying orders. Dwight D. Eisenhower was posted to Fort Sam Houston twice during his career, as was Walter Krueger. During Eisenhower's first posting from 1915 to 1917, he met and married Mamie Doud. He was posted at the fort when the

attack on Pearl Harbor The attack on Pearl HarborAlso known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Territory of Hawa ...

occurred in 1941. Their first home is one of the buildings preserved as an historic monument. Gen. Wainwright took command of the Fourth United States Army here in 1946.

Community connections

Throughout its existence, a close and harmonious relationship has prevailed between Fort Sam Houston and the City of San Antonio. The two have grown and matured together. The city often has been called the "mother-in-law of the Army" because so many soldiers including Dwight D. Eisenhower, met their future spouses there. After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, in 2003 the Army decided to close New Braunfels Avenue to through traffic. Until the 2003 closure, New Braunfels had been a major north–south thoroughfare used by soldiers and San Antonio citizens alike; this had the result of closing many businesses near the north and south entrances from New Braunfels Avenue. More than 27,000 military and civilian personnel work at the post, with an annual payroll and operating budget of $1.9 billion. Local purchases made by installation activities total almost $105 million annually. Funding for construction projects on post average $30 million annually. Fort Sam Houston has also initiated public–private partnerships to renovate and adaptively reuse significant historic buildings. In June 2006, the ''

San Antonio Express-News The ''San Antonio Express-News'' is a daily newspaper in San Antonio, Texas. It is owned by the Hearst Corporation and has offices in San Antonio and Austin, Texas. The ''Express-News'' is the third largest newspaper in the state of Texas, with ...

'' reported that Fort Sam Houston received utility disconnection notices due to budget constraints. Fort Sam Houston is one of three military facilities in Texas (all in the San Antonio area) to have its own school district, the Fort Sam Houston Independent School District. The United States Postal Service operates the Fort Sam Houston Post Office at 1804 Stanley Road.Post Office Location – FORT SAM HOUSTON
" '' United States Postal Service''. Retrieved on April 16, 2009.

References

External links

*
Fort Sam Houston Museum
* * *Illustrated postcards depicting Fort Sam Houston at th
University of Houston Digital LibraryFort Sam Houston
Texas, United States of America * {{Authority control 1876 establishments in Texas Buildings and structures in San Antonio

Historic American Engineering Record in Texas Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Texas Joint Base San Antonio Military installations in Texas Military headquarters in the United States National Historic Landmarks in Texas National Register of Historic Places in San Antonio Sam Houston United States Army medical installations