Fort Hood Memorial 1983

CAMP HOOD: (1942) Camp Hood is located in southwestern Bell and southeastern Coryell counties in Central Texas. Most of the 218,000 acres owned by the United States Army is located in Coryell County. On January 14, 1942, at the beginning of United States involvement in World War II it was announced that a TANK DESTROYER TACTICAL and FIRING CENTER would be established near Killeen, Texas. Gen. Andrew D. Bruce was selected as the first commander. The first major unit, the 893d Tank Destroyer Battalion, arrived from Fort Meade, Maryland, on April 2, 1942. As other troops began arriving, some 300 farming and ranching families were required, on very short notice, to give up their land. Camp Hood was officially opened on September 18, 1942, and has been continuously used for armored training ever since. The installation was named in honor of Gen. John Bell Hood The mission at Camp Hood was almost immediately expanded to include a Replacement and Basic Training Center at North Camp Hood. At times as many as 100,000 soldiers were being trained for the war effort. During the later part of the war some 4,000 German prisoners of War were interned at Camp Hood.

ARE WE PROUD

Tank Destroyer Forces veterans and their ladies had a dream fulfilled at Fort Hood when “their” War Memorial was officially dedicated, ending the second national reunion1 The Tank Destroyer Forces Veterans represented members from 69 Battalions, 7 TD Groups, 1 TD Brigade plus the TD Replacement Training Center and TD Schools with the main purpose being to witness the permanent granite monument to their valorous service in time of war. The more than 600 members and guests overflowed the monument site requiring the closure to traffic of Hood Road (Main Entrance) during the period of the dedication Saturday morning October 22, 1983.

The dedication successfully concluded more than a year’s work by the TDA to make this primary goal a reality. The idea started as a dream of the TDA founder Marshall B. flanks that quickly turned into a realistic goal because of overwhelming support from over twelve thousand veteran TD men and their families throughout the country. The rugged nine foot tall & six foot in diameter monument is located at the corner of Tank Destroyer Boulevard and Hood Road.

The 4 Tank Destroyers below are adjacent to this old
Second Armored Division Museum


M36B1 Tank Destroyer, 90mm Gun	M10 Tank Destroyer, 3-inch Gun


M18 Tank Destroyer, 76mm Gun	M18 Tank Destroyer, 76mm Gun