History of Fort Hood

1942

During World War II, there developed a need for a military post to train soldiers in tank destroyer tactics. The area west and north of Killeen was selected as the site for Camp Hood. The initial Army installation covered 108,000 acres and was expanded to 160,000 acres in January 1943.

1946

Fort Hood became the permanent home of the 2nd Armored Division.

1947

Killeen Air Force Base was constructed for strategic bombers and atomic weapons capabilities. In 1963, it was turned over to the Army and subsequently renamed Robert Gray Army Airfi eld – the current site of the Joint Use Killeen-Fort Hood Regional Airport.

1950

The Department of the Army declared the Killeen military installation as a permanent post and it automatically became Fort Hood. Things started to boom for the area.

1954

III Corps Headquarters relocates to Fort Hood from California.

1954

In accordance with the Flood Control Act of 1946, Belton Lake is constructed. In 1962, construction began on Lampasas Lake which was completed in 1968 and subsequently renamed Stillhouse Hollow Lake.

1967

Fort Hood was offi cially designated a two-division post with the 1st and 2nd Armored Divisions assigned. In 1971, the 1st Cavalry Division redeployed from Vietnam to Fort Hood, replacing the 1st Armored Division.

1995

The 4th Infantry Division was designated as the Army’s Experimental Force (EXFOR) for the Task Force XXI Digitization experiments and the 4ID replaced 2nd Armored Division at Fort Hood.