Fort Cavazos Named for Legendary Soldier, Commander

Soldiers uncase new garrison flagKilleen ISD’s most important strategic partner the past 80 years has a new name – but it’s still “The Great Place.”

 

Beneath overcast skies Tuesday, invited guests sat beneath a tent in front of the III Corps Headquarters as a light breeze drifted across the parade ground and a moment of military history unfurled.

 

The military post that is home to America’s armored corps and neighbor to the Killeen area and all of Central Texas is renamed for a Texas native who grew up on the King Ranch in South Texas to become Gen. Richard E. Cavazos.

 

Following touching testimonials from two retired Army officers who served alongside Cavazos in the Korea and Vietnam eras, soldiers officially cased the Fort Hood garrison colors and uncased the Fort Cavazos colors, making the redesignation official.

 

Lt. Gen. Sean C. Bernabe, commanding general of the III Armored Corps called to the podium Cavazos family members who joined in a countdown, ending with the physical unveiling of the revised Main Gate sign, shown live on a pair of giant screens, prompting loud applause.

 

Remarks from Bernabe, Lt. Col. Retired James M. Tucker, Lt. Gen. Retired Randolph W. House and Under Secretary of the Army Gabe Camarillo painted a portrait of an intelligent officer known as a “soldier’s soldier,” committed to high-level training and deeply invested in every soul under his command.

 

After welcoming and recognizing 61 members of the Cavazos family in attendance, the commanding general painted a portrait of the installation for the large number of guests.

 

“We call our installation the Great Place in relation to its size and its importance to the Army,” he said.

 

Cavazos peer praises the late generalEight Decades of The Great Place

In the World War II era, in 1942, Camp Hood was established to provide a training ground for emerging technology like tanks to turn back any threat in the world. In 1950, the post became permanent, Fort Hood.

 

Today, it is one of largest military installations in the world, stretching across 218,000 acres. It is one of the few locations that can house and train two armored divisions simultaneously. Its military and civilian population is 58,000.

 

“For over eight decades, this piece of ground has been critical to Army readiness,” he said. “It is a power projection platform for lethal armored formations...For over eight decades, this installation has enjoyed the love and support of the Central Texas community, a community that is quick to welcome newcomers, quick to offer a helping hand and volunteer its services.”

 

A Proven Warrior and Soldier’s Soldier

“For our Army and our installation, I can think of no better namesake than Richard Cavazos,” he said. “I never knew Richard Cavazos, but I wish I had.”

 

The late retired general, the first person of Hispanic descent to rise to the level of general, is known throughout the Army as a battle-proven warrior, a soldier’s soldier, a master trainer, Bernabe said.

 

He was a fearless warrior and a military legend and a mentor and a humble servant leader. He earned the Distinguished Service Cross twice, the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.

 

One citation details Cavazos’ actions in 1953 in Korea. Under fire, Lt. Cavazos withdrew his company. Three times, he led his company into heavy barrage, successfully destroying equipment of the enemy.

III Corps commander

 

He remained on an exposed hill alone to search for missing men, and located five wounded soldiers, evacuating them one at a time. He moved into harm’s way again two more times to make sure the area was clear before looking after his own wounds.

 

Later in his 33-year career, as III Corps commander, Cavazos was credited with developing training for large-scale combat operations. “Many retired general officers here today reminisce about the first-class coaching, artful teaching and caring leadership they received personally from General Cavazos,” said Bernabe.

 

Retired Lt. Col. Tucker, now 90 years old, grew emotional as he recalled his battle buddy and the deep love he showed to soldiers.

 

To illustrate Cavazos’ reputation for caring for every soldier, Tucker brought to the podium the most junior-level soldier in Bernabe’s command in order to give him a hug.

Cavazos family

 

He also requested that the garrison commander allow his soldiers to be at ease during the rest of the hour-long ceremony, which he did.

 

Another personal friend of Cavazos, retired Lt. Gen. House, his aide-de-camp while commanding Fort Hood and continued faithful friend after that, spoke of the highly decorated general’s character.

 

“He was able to inspire and motivate like no other. He could make you laugh and cry in the same sentence,” he said.

 

“Training was his hallmark,” said House, explaining that Cavazos made it his personal quest to focus on training, leadership and taking care of soldiers.

 

“He did not mean coddling them. He meant training them to standard. He believed in tough love…He often said poor training led to soldiers dying who should not have died.”

 

He helped to author the Battle Command Training Program, aimed at bringing a higher level of intensity for training upper-level commanders.

 

Under Secretary of the Army Camarillo ended the official remarks, focusing on the effects of Fort Cavazos on the entire Army.

 

He also pointed out that as a native Texan from El Paso he was honored to share a similar heritage to the post’s new namesake.

 

“We want to recognize his impact on an institution as we continue to lay the groundwork for an Army that continues to succeed,” Camarillo said.

 

“Today’s change is a fitting one. In many ways, General Cavazos embodied what has always been great about the Army…enabled by the incredible talent of our soldiers.”

Countdown to Fort Cavazos

 

“Today his legacy lives on and continues to serve as a model for Army excellence…His family made clear he would have never wanted this recognition. He knew there were many other deserving heroes…This in many ways is who he was, selfless without condition, motivated by a deep love for his family, his soldiers and his country.”

 

Camarillo introduced Cavazos’ grandson, Army Spc Nicholas Cavazos. He went on to speak to the importance of drawing on America’s young talent scattered from large cities to small towns to sprawling ranches to make up the future of the Army.

 

Deep KISD Connections

Killeen ISD’s history is tightly intertwined with the Army post that makes up its western edge.

 

About 300 rural families sold their property to the government in the beginning days of Camp Hood and many of them moved to Killeen, a cotton and railroad town of less than 1,300 people at the time.

 

As a result, in two years during World War II, the Killeen school system doubled its size.

 

The Camp Hood Independent School District was born in 1946 to educate military children and to ease crowded conditions in the Killeen schools. The Fort Hood School grew rapidly, and soldiers assisted in coaching, serving lunch, and furnishing school supplies, according to local histories.

 

By 1950, there were 44 teachers instructing 914 students. The high school mascot was the leopard and the school’s colors were green and white. The Fort Hood School lasted just six years. The post school district was scattered across 13 buildings, with the administration located in the 2nd Armored Division Headquarters.

Cavazos students raise flag in 2011

 

In the early 1950s, the Fort Hood ISD school board was planning construction of its high school, but consolidation with Killeen ISD turned that project into Meadows Elementary School, KISD’s first school located on post.

 

On November 23, 1953, Fort Hood commander Maj. Gen. William S. Biddle dedicated the new Meadows Elementary School when the Fort Hood Independent School District consolidated with the Killeen Independent School District.

 

Meadows Elementary School opened a new school adjacent to the original one on post in 2007.

Cavazos Elementary dedication 2009

 

Today, the school district’s 44,000-student enrollment is about 28 percent military, and eight KISD schools are located on the post.

 

Killeen ISD provides a wealth of services to families at Fort Cavazos including all-day pre-kindergarten for 3-year-olds.

 

It benefits from the adopt-a-school program that brings soldier volunteers into schools, as well as military counselors, school liaison officers and many other services.

 

One KISD school that is not located on the post is Richard E. Cavazos Elementary School, which opened in 2009 in Nolanville.

 

In 2017, Cavazos Elementary earned the status of Purple Heart School. At the time it was the second Texas school to earn the designation. A large Purple Heart emblem is visible at the school’s front entrance.

 

Many KISD schools have followed, earning the special status.

 

 

 

 

  

 

  

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