Fort Sam Houston
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Fort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas. Known colloquially as "Fort Sam", it is named for the first President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston.
During its history it has seen a number of famous figures within its boundaries. One was Major General John Wilson Ruckman, who served as Commander of the Southern Department (1917-1918), just after the infamous Houston Riot. Ruckman (West Point class of 1883) authored numerous technical articles on gunnery and invented many devices used in World War I. He also served as the first editor of the Journal of U.S. Artillery.
Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, one of the strongest advocates of the airpower in the US Army after World War I, was another. He was posted there after being demoted to Colonel for disobeying orders.
It also saw Dwight Eisenhower, who was posted to Fort Sam Houston twice during his career, as First Lieutenant Eisenhower in 1915–17 and again 1939–41. On 2 October 1915, Lieutenant Dwight D. Eisenhower was introduced to Mamie Dowd at the Officers' Mess in Fort Sam Houston. They were married in 1916 and lived there in 1916–17. During his time at Fort Sam Houston, Eisenhower was promoted to Captain. As Colonel Eisenhower, he returned to Fort Sam Houston in 1939 serving as Chief of Staff, 3rd Army. During this period he was promoted to Brigadier General and it was at Fort Sam Houston on a quiet December afternoon in 1941 that he learned of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. This event would not only change the course of American history but his personal history as well.
Currently, Fort Sam Houston serves as the home of the United States Army Medical Department (AMEDD), and is the training base for most army medical programs, including Combat Medical Specialist 91W10, most of the 91-series Military Occupation Specialties, and the officer and warrant officer training courses for the Army Medical Corps, Nurse Corps, Medical Services Corps and Medical Specialist Corps. The base also contains Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.
Recently Fort Sam Houston was cited by the Time magazine to have recieved utility disconnection notices due to budget constraints. [link]
External links
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