The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 67, July 1963 - April, 1964 Page: 10
672 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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zo Southwestern Historical Quarterly
were soon over the southern part of the county. Then came Pearl
Harbor.
On January 14, 1942, the Gatesville Chamber of Commerce
received two wires, the first from Senator Tom Connally and the
second from Congressman Bob Poage, both announcing that "A
Tank Destroyer Tactical and Firing Center to train fifty battalions
of between 9oo and 1,ooo men each is to be located in Coryell
and Bell counties. Headquarters to be moved from Camp Meade
Maryland to Killeen, effective Jan. 15."
Taking into consideration all the factors involved, the speed
with which Fort Hood was built was incredible. The Tank De-
stroyer was a new thing, supposed to be tough, fast moving, of-
fensive equipment, not to be confused with the anti-tank units.
The tank destroyers were supposed to strike quickly and then
move away, and the average officer knew little or nothing about
the tactics to be used in their operation. Officers, therefore, had
to be trained before the troops were trained, but before anyone
could be trained, the definite boundaries of the camp had to be
established, the land appraised and valued, and the residents
moved out of the area. The speed and efficiency with which the
United States can act in an emergency is shown by the dates of
the most important phases of the installation of the camp.
On February 6, 1942, a survey of housing in the Gatesville area
was made to locate accommodations for incoming appraisers and
engineers. Owners of every home having spare bedrooms were
asked to rent them. On the same date, engineers went to work.
On March 6, 1942, the boundaries of the camp were definitely
established and the camp site located. Further housing surveys
were made in Temple, Belton, and Killeen to take care of the con-
struction workers.
On April 2, 1942, at about 5:3o A.M., four special trains ar-
rived at the Cotton Belt Depot in Gatesville. The troops compos-
ing the 893rd Battalion had come from Fort Meade, Maryland,
under the command of Colonel T. H. Mayberry and were the
first Tank Destroyer Battalion in Coryell County and the first
one organized in the nation. The battalion consisted of goo men.
At 9:20 A.M., the first tank destroyer was driven off the flat car
on to Coryell County soil. The driver was F. C. Ward of Bethle-
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 67, July 1963 - April, 1964, periodical, 1964; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101197/m1/28/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.