Fort Sam: The Story of Fort Sam Houston, Texas

Thirty years after its founding in 1876, Fort Sam Houston had become the nation's largest Army post. Generals Pershing and Eisenhower were among hundreds of thousands of soldiers stationed here. Its 3,000 acres hold some 800 registered historic structures, more than the number at West Point. Fort Sam hosted the first military aircraft flights in Texas, supplied the pursuit of Pancho Villa on the Mexican border and was a training center for several divisions in both world wars. Now undergoing major expansion, it is the Army's center for medical training and is headquarters for commands including Fifth U.S. Army and U.S. Army South. "Fort Sam is what I call a 'beyond-the-battlefield' post," writes Lt. Gen. Tom Jaco in the foreword, "a monument that packages the history, tradition and memories to which soldiers cling. Within its stone walls and wrought iron fences is contained the spirit of the Army." In addition to the concisely written text, the book includes 178 vintage and contemporary illustrations.