Redesignating after hero

By Col. Chad R. Foster, Garrison Commander, Fort HoodMay 4, 2023

Richard E. Cavazos circa 1982 as commanding general of the U.S. Army Forces Command.
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Richard E. Cavazos circa 1982 as commanding general of the U.S. Army Forces Command. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Col. Chad R. Foster, Garrison Commander — Fort Hood
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Chad R. Foster, Garrison Commander — Fort Hood (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HOOD, Texas — The redesignation of our installation to Fort Cavazos marks a new chapter in the history of the Great Place. This turn to a new page is not a transition. Instead, it is a reaffirmation of the legacy of service and sacrifice that has characterized our community since this installation was founded in 1942. General Richard Cavazos, a native son of Texas and war hero, will be our new namesake. His example is emblematic of who we were yesterday, who we are today and who we will be in the future.

Over the course of 80 years, we grew from humble beginnings to become the U.S. Army’s leading site for the training and deployment of armored forces. In the early days of World War II, we served as the training location for tank destroyer units bound for the European Theater of the war. Today, our live fire ranges, maneuver training areas and power projection capabilities are unmatched. Our installation can support the training of up to two armored divisions. If our nation calls, the many units stationed right here in Central Texas are ready to answer. This has been the case for 80 years, and it will remain so in the years to come. We will still have nearly 40,000 Soldiers and more than 196,000 acres of maneuver training area, all situated within an incredible Central Texas community whose support to our military families is second-to-none.

General Richard Cavazos is one of our own. He was born and raised in Kingsville, Texas. After earning his commission in 1951 from Texas Technological College (now known as Texas Tech University), he went on to distinguish himself in combat during both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, earning two Distinguished Service Crosses. Later, he served as the commanding general of the III Armored Corps at Fort Hood from 1980-82 before continuing in his career to ultimately serve as the commanding general of U.S. Army Forces Command. In this last capacity, he became the first Hispanic American to be promoted to the rank of 4-star general. After he hung up his uniform, General Cavazos played a key role in establishing the Army’s senior training program for our general officers. He became a mentor for countless division and corps commanders at Fort Hood and many other locations throughout the Army.

The Cavazos legacy lives on today in the thousands of Soldiers, families and Department of the Army civilians who currently serve across our installation. These amazing people — all of YOU — made this the Great Place and will keep it so for as long as the Army stands watch over our national defense here in Central Texas. I will always remember Fort Hood as the place where I gained so many cherished personal and professional memories. This is where I cut my teeth as a young company commander, grew into the role of a field grade officer and returned years later to command the best garrison in the Army. This will always be my Army home.

Although names change, our legacy of service and sacrifice endures. No one will ever forget Fort Hood as long as we live because we are simply entering a new chapter of that same proud history. The redesignation to Fort Cavazos is really about the continuation of this legacy. Each new page that is added to our long, shared history will be written by us, showing the quality of our people and the strength of our community. This is who we are — yesterday, today and tomorrow!

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