Fort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas.[3] 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, 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, the Army decided to make Fort Sam Houston the principal medical training facility.[4]
In conjunction with this decision came the determination to develop Brooke General Hospital into one of the Army's premier medical centers.[4] 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.[5]
As of 2011, Fort Sam Houston is the largest and most important military medical training facility in the world.[3][4][6]
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 (postcard, circa 1890–1924)
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. 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,[7] a windfall of federal investment in Texas.
Historic buildings
Illustration from a postcard of the Quadrangle at Fort Sam Houston
Construction at Fort Sam Houston began in the middle 1870s under the supervision of the military commander of the Department of Texas, Major GeneralEdward Ord, a West Point-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.
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.[8]: 13–15 Edward Braden Construction Co. won the contract to build the post on 7 June 1876, for $83,900.[8]: 15 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".[8]: 15, 18
On 19 Feb. 1877, the new train station on Austin Street opened, connecting San Antonio to Galveston.[8]: 15 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.[8]: 17, 18
In 1880, fifteen officers' quarters were designed by architect Alfred Giles, 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, and first occupied by Brig. Gen. Christopher Augur.[8]: 18–20 [9]
Pershing House
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.[8]: 20–22 The hospital, now known as Sam Houston House, was built in 1886.[8]: 20 The post was formally named Fort Sam Houston on September 11, 1890.[8]: 29
The Fort Sam Houston Quadrangle, built by George Henry Griebel, is the oldest structure at Fort Sam Houston. It was originally a supply depot. During that time, it housed the Apache war chiefGeronimo 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.[10] The deer pre-date Geronimo in the Quadrangle.[11] It is unknown why the deer (and peacocks/penhens) were introduced into the confined courtyard of the Quadrangle.[10]
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, Fort Sam Houston, (postcard, circa 1906)
The Gift Chapel was dedicated by President William Taft on 17–18 Oct. 1909.[8]: 36
During World War II 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.[12]
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.[13]
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 reported that Fort Sam Houston received utility disconnection notices due to budget constraints.[14]
^"Fort Sam Houston". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2009-01-21. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
^"Installation Fact Sheet" (Fort Sam Houston), 2007, PDF webpage: MilCityUSA-FortSH-PDFArchived 2007-11-29 at the Wayback Machine: states: "Fort Sam Houston is the largest and most important military medical training facility in the world."
