The Fort Hood Sentinel (Temple, Tex.), Vol. 54, No. 70, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 25, 1996 Page: 4 of 42
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A4
Jan. 251996 Fort Hood Sentinel
By Wayne E. Hair
TEXCOM Public Affairs
For most little or no thought is given
to the historical significance of the name
“Hood.”
However to retired Col. John Hodes
who served on the Museum Commission
at Fort Hood that studied the establish-
ment of a post museum the “why Hood?”
was critical to any historical endeavor.
His research and understanding of the
historical significance has led him to
spread the word throughout the State of
Texas.
TEXCOM officers study facts
military life of John Bell Hood
the legions of soldiers that have
been stationed at Fort Hood over the past
50-some years Camp Hood and Fort
Hood is simply an Army base in Texas.
John Bell Hood was the topic of an Of-
ficer Professional Development presenta-
tion Hodes gave to military and civilian
members of Fort Hood’sTest and Experi-
mentation Command at West Fort Hood
in December.
Hodes is a distinguished alumni of
TEXCOM having served two tours with
the test organization with his final Army
assignment as Chief of Staff.
Hodes a West Point graduate and com-
bat veteran of Korea and Vietnam ex-
plained how he launched into a research
project on Confederate General John Bell
Hood.
The question Hodes sought to answer
was “Why back in 1942 was this par-
ticular general selected to name the camp
that was to become home to the Tank De-
stroyer Forces?”
He pointed out that when looking back
in history one must first try to understand
the atmosphere of the time (early 1940s)
and the people involved.
W
ith the Tank Destroyer Training
Center the whole concept of anti-tank was
new to the American soldier in 1942-1943.
The German Blitzkrieg in Europe with
modem armor came as a surprise and the
American Army had to quickly develop
counter-measures.
Say Again...
by Michael Rodriguez
U.S. Naval Institute
Tlearn
he U.S. Naval Institute
is sponsoring its third
annual Colin L. Powell
Joint Warfighting Essay
Contest to what profession-
als have to say about combat op-
erations of the future.
All aspects of warfighting in-
cluding doctrine tactics hardware
training and mental preparation are
potential essay topics.
Entry in this contest is not lim-
ited to active-duty or military writ-
ers.
The Naval Institute will award
cash prizes of $2500 $2000 and
$1000 to the authors of the three
best essays entered.
I if a a
fan Have iftcen S
Those responsible for the design and
development of tactics and weapons to
counter the German armor soon realized
that it would require special and daring
soldiers soldiers with boldness dash and
courage.
Soldiers who would face a German Ti-
ger tank with nothing but a bottle full of
gasoline with a cloth wick.
Soldiers who would lay in shallow holes
and let the enemy tank roll over the top
before attacking the volunerable rear.
New weapons were coming into the in-
ventory but they were still no match for
the German armor Hodes pointed out.
Half-tracks with 37mm guns gave the tank
destroyers maneuverability but with “pee-
shooter” firepower.
Therefore tank destroyer soldiers had
to develop and learn tactics that would get
them into the rear of German armor for-
mations to do the most damage not a job
for ordinary soldiers.
A
according to a Tank Destroyer of
ficial history completed in 1946 “Camp
Hood was named in honor of Confederate
general John Bell Hood commander of the
Texas Brigade” on Jan. 30 1942.
“This name was selected because it had
the advantages of being short and easily
remembered ofappeal to the Texans in
whose midst the camp was located and of
association with a historic American com-
mander” states the historical study.
Hodes believes that short historical
study statement only scratches the surface
of why Hood was selected to be honored.
There is little doubt that Col. (later Maj.
Gen.) Andrew D. Bruce the recognized
Father of the Tank Destroyer concept and
driving force to establishment of Camp
Hood recognized the need for a name that
complimented the Tank Destroyer motto
“Seek Strike Destroy.”
What Hodes imparted to the TEXCOM
officers and civilians were the facts about
the military life of John Bell Hood.
From Hood’s young officer days on the
Texas-Mexico frontier to his valiant lead-
ership and exploits in nine major battles
and campaigns of the Civil War the leg-
endary feats of Hood’s Brigade became
lo s*
Ta ohP l*
Essay contest open to everyone
People who don’t think they
have 3000 words can try a 1000
to 1500 word opinion piece or pro-
fessional note.
Essay Contest Rules:
1. Essays must be original and
no longer than 3000 words.
2. Entries must be postmarked
by April 1.
3. Letters notifying the three
award winners will be mailed on
or about June 30.
4. All essays should be type-
written double-spaced on 8 1/2”
by 11” paper.
Please include address phone
number biographical sketch and
social security number with entries.
5. The winning essays will be
published in “Proceedings.”
Some entries not awarded cash
prizes may also be selected for
publication.
Interested people can mail their
entries to:
Editor-In-Chief Proceedings
Colin L. Powell Joint Warfighting
Essay Contest
U.S. Naval Institute
118 Maryland Avenue
Annapolis MD 21402-5035
Installation named after distinguished general
Lt. Gen. John Bell Hood
evident.
Always out front the brigade broke
records for forced marches and then sur-
prised Union forces with the ferocity of
their attacks.
.odes explained how Hood and his
brigade were mainly responsible for the
defeat of Union forces at Manassas in Au-
gust 1862.
A month later at Antietam with 2000
effective troops Hood led his brigade in a
vicious attack against a numerically su-
perior Union force.
For the third time that summer Hood
had played a crucial role in a major battle.
The fight had been extremely close and
costly to both sides but Hood and his sol-
diers had saved the Confederates from a
Editor’s note: One of our readers had
a comment about a Fort Hood TV Town
Hall response. The exact question and an-
swer given are reprinted here for the read-
ers followed by the letter.
Question: Do they put out pamphlets
or leaflets when you move into quarters
from TECOM saying that they can call
and make appointments regarding quar-
ters maintenance?
Answer: The seasonal maintenance pro-
cedures are as follows. One seasonal main-
tenance check is made per quarters each
year and filters are changed every 90 days.
If the occupant is not at home for the
first visit to the quarters no flier is left.
A second visit is then made to the quar-
ters and if the occupant is not home a flier
requesting the occupant call and make an
appointment is left at the quarters.
If there is no response from the occu-
pant a third visit is made to the quarters
The authors of these pieces will
be compensated at regular rates.
6. The essays will be screened
by a panel composed of officers
from the five armed services who
will recommend six essays to the
Naval Institute’s Editorial Board
which will award the prizes.
ort ood
S
en tin
Post Commander:
Lt. Gen.ThomasA. Schwartz
Public Affairs Off icer:
Lt. Col. Randy Schoel
Managing Editor: Kay Pennington
Editor: CpI. Julia Bobick
Homefront Editor: Spc. Sharon Mulligan
Leisure Editor: Spc. Willliam P. Bradner
Sport! Editor: Pfc. Michael Brock
Staff Writer: Spc. Amy Koehler
Editorial Office: III Corps Public Affairs
Office: Fort Hood Texas 76544.
Telephone (817) 287-2436/0107 or DSN
737-2436/0107. Fax (817) 288-2750.
Advertising Office: P.O. Box 6114
Temple Texas 76540.
Telephone (817) 778-4444 or 634-6666.
Printer: Frank W. Mayborn Enterprises.
Advertising Manager: Robert Smith
Representatives: John Alvey Linda
Sanchez Laurel Hess Donna Elrod.
Trading Post: 287-0101.
Printed circulation: 22500
On-post distribution is free.
Off-post subscriptions: $22 a year.
significant defeat.
Gen. Robert E. Lee thought highly of
Hood’s Brigade. In a letter to a Texas
member of the Confederate Congress urg-
ing that more troops be raised in Texas
he wrote:.
“I rely on those we have in all tight
places and fear that I have to call on them
too often.
“They have fought grandly nobly and
we must have more of them.... With a few
more such regiments which Hood now has
as an example of daring and bravery I
could feel much more confident of the re-
sults of the campaign.”
It was pointed out by Hodes that Hood
lost the use of his left arm from a shell
fragment at Gettysburg in July 1863.
Hodes related an example of how
Hood’s troops felt about their commander
and if no one is home another flier is left.
If the occupant does not respond to the
second flier the quarters number is turned
over to the Housing Office which proceeds
to request command support to obtain co-
operation from the occupant.
Occupants are free to call the family
housing maintenance checks at any time
during the year.
Dear Editor
This may be policy with TECOM but
it (the flier) was not at our apartment.
We had not even been here a week and
TECOM workers had the audacity to put
one of their yellow fliers on our door.
The yellow flier saying we were not at
home when in truth my husband had just
returned from work and I was in the pro-
cess of preparing dinner was stuck into
our door handle while the TECOM van
was still parked in the street right outside
our apartment.
The doorbell had not rung nor had there
Courtesy of the National Archives
The Fort Hood Sentinel is an authorized
publication for members the U.S. Army.
Contents of the Fort Hood Sentinel are not
necessarily official views of or endorsed by.
the U.S. Government Department of Defense
Department of the Army or III Corps and Fort
Hood. It is published every Thursday by the
III Corps Public Affairs Office.
Everything advertised in this publication
shall be made available for purchase use or
patronage without regard to race color
religion sex national origin age marital
status physical handicap political affiliation
or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser
user or patron. If a violation or rejection of
this opportunity policy by an advertiser is
confirmed the printer shall refuse to print
advertising from that source until the
A
E
it
wetter
To
and his loyalty to the troops.
Hood was convalescing
in a Richmond hospital
from his arm wound when
his former troops passed
through town headed for
Chickamauga.
The soldiers recognized
their beloved commander
waving to them.
Hood
66
Hood
Hood” was the chant that
went up and down the col-
umns of soldiers explained
Hodes.
The warrior could not
resist the call. With his arm
in a sling he mounted up
and joined his Texas Bri-
gade to again lead them into
battle.
Hodes said Hood was
given back command of his
division plus several addi-
tional brigades for the up-
coming battle.
With the traditional dash
and daring of the Texans
Hood led his troops in an at-
tack through Union lines
and then began rolling up
the flanks a tactic the tank
destroyers were destined to
use 128-years later.
But Hood was wounded
again. He was struck in his
right leg by a bullet just as
he was reaching for the flag of his first
command the 4th Texas during the
height of battle.
This time his wound resulted in the am-
putation of his right leg. Hood’s last or-
der to the Texas Brigade was in the spirit
of the proud command “Go ahead and
stay ahead of everything.”
.ccording to Hodes these exem
plary battle exploits of Hood in the Civil
War far outweigh the “short and easily re-
membered” name reason given in the offi-
cial history.
And the 50-plus year history of battle-
field exploits and courage by soldiers from
Fort Hood has consistently been in keep-
ing with the real reason the Texas instal-
lation was honored with the name “Hood.”
been a knock at the door. If not for us hav-
ing to go out that evening the flier would
not have even been detected until the next
morning.
This apartment was unoccupied until
we moved in last week.
If TECOM came by when no one lived
here then it is their error in not keeping
accurate records. But to shift the blame
onto new occupants is not in the least hon-
orable.
It is degrading to have someone be sub-
jected to a policy that is not entirely car-
ried out in the format in which it is sup-
posed to be.
I do not mind seasonal maintenance. I
agree with it completely.
But I do mind getting reprimanded for
something I had no control over.
In the future it would be wise to have
TECOM keep their records updated so that
they know which housing is in use and
which isn’t.
violation is corrected.
All editorial Content of the Fort Hood
Sentinel is prepared edited provided and
approved by the III Corps and Fort Hood
Public Affairs Office.
The Fort Hood Sentinel is printed by Frank
W. Maybom Enterprises Inc. a private firm in
no way connected with the Department of the
Army under exclusive written contract with
III Corps and Fort Hood.
The civilian printer is responsible for
commercial advertising.
The appearance advertising in this
publication including inserts or supplements
does not constitute endorsement by the
department of the Army or Frank Maybom •$
Enterprises Inc. of the products or services
advertised. .. ... 1
he
E
ditor
The Fort Hood Senf/ne/welcomes letters from readers. Letters can be
El mailed to: Editor Fort Hood Sentinel III Corps Public Affairs Office Fort
Hood Texas 76544.
El faxed to: Fort Hood Sentinel (817) 288-2750 or DSN 738-2750.
E3 or e-mailed to: sentinelfh hood-03.army.mil.
We reserve the right to edit for content and style condense or reject any
letters we deem inappropriate. The Fort Hood Sentinel can withhold the
reader’s name upon request.
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Bobick, Cpl. Julia. The Fort Hood Sentinel (Temple, Tex.), Vol. 54, No. 70, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 25, 1996, newspaper, January 25, 1996; Fort Hood, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth310100/m1/4/?q=california+crossing: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Casey Memorial Library.