What is Fort Sam Houston?

Information about Fort Sam Houston

Fort Sam Houston
(U.S. National Historic Landmark)
Clock tower built in 1870 inside the Quadrangle on Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Clock tower built in 1870 inside the Quadrangle on Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Location:	San Antonio, Texas
Built/Founded:	1876
Added to NRHP:	May 15, 1975
NRHP Reference#:	75001950 ^[1]
Governing body:	United States Army

Fort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas. ^[2] Known colloquially as "Fort Sam", it is named for the first President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston. Its approximate location is 29Â°26'56.69"N 98Â°26'56.04"W .

The installation's missions include being the command headquarters for the Fifth U.S. Army (which became U.S. Army North as of October 2006), United States Army South, the Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) headquarters, the AMEDD Center and School, the Fifth Recruiting Brigade, 12th ROTC Brigade, U.S. Navy Regional Recruiting, the San Antonio Military Entrance and Processing Station, and the U.S. Naval School of Health Sciences, Bethesda Detachment.

Military medicine

Fort Sam Houston is known as the "Home of Army Medicine" and "Home of the Combat Medic". At the end of the Second World War, the Army decided to make Fort Sam Houston the principal medical training facility. ^[3] In conjunction with this decision, came the determination to develop Brooke General Hospital into one of the Army's premier medical centers.^[3] As of 2007, Fort Sam Houston is the largest and most important military medical training facility in the world. ^[2]^[3] ^[4]

Known as the brain trust for the Army Medical Department (AMEDD), 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 and masters degree programs with major universities such as Baylor University, University of Texas Health Science Centers at Houston and San Antonio, and University of Nebraska.

Also located at Fort Sam Houston are Brooke Army Medical Center, the Great Plains Regional Medical Command, Headquarters Dental Command, Headquarters Veterinary Command, the Institute for Surgical Research (trauma/burn center), the Defense Medical Readiness Training Institute, and the Army Medical Department NCO Academy.

Historic buildings

Fort Sam Houston was constructed in the late 1870s under the supervision of the military commander of the Department of Texas, Maj. Gen. Edward Ord, a West Point-trained army engineer. As one of the Army's oldest installations, and with more than 900 buildings, 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 Fort Sam Houston Quadrangle is the oldest building on Fort Sam Houston. It was originally used as a supply depot, but in 1886 it served as a prison for Apache Indian Geronimo and his warriors. It currently contains deer, rabbits, chickens, geese and ducks, which are said to have been added because Geronimo refused to eat food he did not hunt.

Even more consequential than the number of buildings is the historical integrity of the post's different sections, which represent different eras of construction, and reflect 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.

Notable postings

Several famous figures have served at the fort. Maj. Gen. John Wilson Ruckman, Commander of the Southern Department, was based at Fort Sam just after the infamous Houston Riot of 1917. Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell was posted there after being demoted to Colonel for disobeying orders. Dwight D. Eisenhower was posted to Fort Sam Houston twice during his career. During Eisenhower's first post, from 1915 to 1917, he met and married Mamie Dowd, and was again posted at the fort when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred in 1941.

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 here.

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.^[5]

Notes

1. ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
2. ^ "Fort Sam Houston, TX • About Fort Sam Houston" (overview), US Army, 2007, webpage: SH-Army.
3. ^ "Visit Fort Sam Houston" (description), VisitMilitaryBases.com, 2007, webpage: VisitMil-163.
4. ^ "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."
5. ^ Christenson, Sig. "CPS hits Fort Sam with 1,300 cutoff notices for unpaid bills", San Antonio Express-News, 2006-06-15. Retrieved on 2007-08-09.

External links

	San Antonio, Texas
Attractions	The Alamo Arneson River Theater Fiesta San Antonio HemisFair '68 Institute of Texan Cultures Japanese Tea Gardens San Antonio Missions National Historical Park The River Walk San Antonio Zoo Texas Transportation Museum Tower of the Americas San Antonio Botanical Garden
Entertainment	Alamodome AT&T Center Fiesta Noche del Rio Freeman Coliseum Nelson W. Wolff Stadium San Antonio Missions (Baseball) San Antonio Rampage San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo San Antonio Spurs SeaWorld Fiesta Texas Splashtown
Companies	AT&T Clear Channel Frost Bank H-E-B San Antonio Express-News Tesoro USAA Valero Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas CSRHC
Military	Brooks City-Base BAMC Fort Sam Houston Lackland Air Force Base Randolph Air Force Base
Research & Education	San Antonio Public Library South Texas Medical Center St. Mary's University Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research Southwest Research Institute Trinity University UTSA UT Health Science Center UIW OLLU SAC CTRC Texas A&M University–San Antonio CCRI TNI University Hospital
Other	Bexar County Courthouse North Star Mall Pearl Brewery Rivercenter San Antonio Convention Center San Antonio International Airport San Antonio Springs The Shops at La Cantera VIA

Coordinates:

Motto
"In God We Trust" (since 1956)
"E Pluribus Unum" ("From Many, One"; Latin, traditional)
Anthem
..... Read more.

National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, site, structure, or object, almost always within the United States, officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance.
..... Read more.

City of San Antonio

Flag
Seal
Nickname: Alamo City; River City; SA-Town; Countdown City (based on the "210" area code)
Location in the state of Texas
Coordinates:
..... Read more.

National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects worthy of preservation. The National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) established the National Register and the process for adding properties
..... Read more.

May 15 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining.

Events

1252 - Pope Innocent IV issues the papal bull ad exstirpanda

..... Read more.

19th century - 20th century - 21st century
1940s 1950s 1960s - 1970s - 1980s 1990s 2000s
1972 1973 1974 - 1975 - 1976 1977 1978

Year 1975 (MCMLXXV
..... Read more.

The United States Army is the largest and oldest branch of the armed forces of the United States. Like all armies, it has the primary responsibility for land-based military operations.
..... Read more.

City of San Antonio

Flag
Seal
Nickname: Alamo City; River City; SA-Town; Countdown City (based on the "210" area code)
Location in the state of Texas
Coordinates:
..... Read more.

Republic of Texas was a sovereign state in North America between the United States and Mexico that existed from 1836 to 1845. Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico as a result of the Texas Revolution, the nation claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of
..... Read more.

Samuel Houston (March 2, 1793–July 26, 1863) was a 19th century American statesman, politician, and soldier. Born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley, Houston was a key figure in the history of Texas, including periods as President of the Republic of
..... Read more.

Fifth United States Army was a field army of the United States Army. It is now known as United States Army North.

History

The Fifth United States Army was one of the principal formations of the U.S. Army in the Mediterranean during World War II.
..... Read more.

United States Army South is the Army's service component command of United States Southern Command. It is headquartered at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. U.S. Army South is one of five components of U.S. Southern Command, and is in charge of all U.S.
..... Read more.

U.S. Army Medical Command, known as MEDCOM, is a major command of the U.S. Army that provides command and control of the Army's fixed-facility medical, dental, and veterinary treatment facilities, providing preventive care, medical research, development and training
..... Read more.

Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio is part of the United States Army Health Services Command. It is a University of Texas Health Science Center and USUHS teaching hospital and contains the Army Burn Center.
..... Read more.

The Army Medical Department of the U.S. Army, known as the AMEDD, comprises the six medical Special Branches of the Army. It is not a command of the U.S. Army but was established in June 1775 to coordinate the medical care required by the Continental Army.
..... Read more.

Baylor University is a private, Baptist-affiliated research university located in Waco, Texas. It is the largest Baptist university in the world by enrollment. Founded in 1845, Baylor is the oldest university in Texas operating under its original name.
..... Read more.

The University of Texas at Austin (often referred to as The University of Texas, UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a doctoral/research university located in Austin, Texas.
..... Read more.

For the 17th century Cromwellian regime see Rule of the Major-Generals

Major General or Major-General is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of Sergeant Major General.
..... Read more.

Edward Otho Cresap Ord (October 18 1818 – July 22 1883) was the designer of Fort Sam Houston, and a U.S. Army officer who saw action in the Seminole War, the Indian Wars, and the American Civil War.
..... Read more.

United States Military Academy (also known as USMA, West Point or, for collegiate athletic purposes, Army) is a United States Army post and service academy. West Point was first a military post that was briefly under the command of Benedict Arnold^[1].
..... Read more.

John Wilson Ruckman (1858-1921), was born at Deers, Illinois, a flag-station just southeast of the University of Illinois. Biographies, however, usually list his place of birth as Sidney, Illinois (Champaign County). His parents, Thomas and Mary O'Brien Ruckman, were farmers.
..... Read more.

The Houston Riot of 1917 was a mutiny by one hundred and fifty black soldiers of the Third Battalion of the (black) Twenty-fourth United States Infantry. It lasted one afternoon, and resulted in the deaths of four soldiers and fifteen civilians.
..... Read more.

Brigadier General is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually just above colonel and just below major general.

Brigadier general can trace its origins to the militaries of Europe where a brigadier general, or simply a brigadier, would command a brigade
..... Read more.

William Lendrum "Billy" Mitchell (December 28, 1879 – February 19, 1936) was an American general who is regarded as one of the most famous and most controversial figures in American airpower history. He is regarded as the father of the U.S. Air Force.
..... Read more.

Colonel (IPA: /ˈkɜrnəl/) is a military rank of a commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every country in the world.
..... Read more.

Dwight David Eisenhower (October 14 1890 – March 28 1969), nicknamed "Ike", was a five-star General in the United States Army and U.S. politician, who served as the thirty-fourth President of the United States (1953–1961).
..... Read more.

Mamie Geneva Doud Eisenhower (November 14, 1896 – November 1, 1979) was the wife of General and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and First Lady of the United States from 1953 to 1961.
..... Read more.

E-mail | Favorites | Print | Facebook | More