Seven decades is a long time, and that's
exactly how long it's been since Fort Hood put it's roots down in central
Texas.
It's a landmark anniversary for Fort Hood and
for everyone around it.
In its first year, its population more than
tripled.
Now, the post is home to about 85 thousand
soldiers, family members and civilians.
So it's been quite a transformation, and one
woman has been there every step of the way.
89-year old Juanita Faucett was there
on September 18, 1942, when Fort Hood opened.
It was a day she will never forget, though
she didn't quite realize the significance right away.
"If I had had any idea it would be like this,
I would have paid attention. I would have watched what was going on, but you
know I'd never been around Army in my life, and I thought, this is just a
fleeting passing thing, and when the war's over, it will all be gone," she
said.
Hers was among 300 hundred farming and
ranching families forced to sell their land at bottomed out,
pot-depression prices, only to find that property surrounding the post had
become more expensive.
Many were forced to sell their livestock, and the
increased supply meant they didn't get much money for them, but there was a
bigger problem brewing overseas.
WWII was in full swing, and so was Germany's
lethal Blitzkrieg warfare era.
Camp Hood's ability to train in tank destroyers
and live fire on its newly acquired 108 thousand acres would prove
critical.
Fort Hood Commanding General LTG Don Campbell
spoke at the anniversary celebration on post Tuesday.
He said, "By the end of WWII, the methodology
of the Blitzkrieg had been largely debunked. German Tanks along with the threat
they symbolized were strewn across the scrap heaps of Europe. The US Army had
risen to the threat and defeated it."
Jump ahead to the 70's when now retired
Army colonel Ralph Gower was stationed at Fort Hood.
He remembers what he calls history in the making.
Ralph said, "If you think of the changes that
occurred over these last 30 years, they have been enormous, they are the reason
Fort Hood succeeds."
And despite Juantita's earlier doubts, succeed it
did, calming fears Fort Hood would fold, taking the economic security of
surrounding communities with it.
"But Fort Hood did not fold," said
Juanita, "Fort Hood kept going, and is still going, and I'm proud of
it."
Reporter: Sophia Stamas sstamas@kcentv.com
Photographer: Chris Buford cbuford@kcentv.com
