American Wanderer    June/July 2002

Freedom Walk 2002

By Martin L. Callahan

The   Trotting Texas   Turtles Volksmarch club and the 3rd Signal Brigade are sponsoring the annual Freedom   Walk   at   Fort   Hood, Texas on the 4th of July. The start time is between   7   and   10 a.m.,   finish   by 1 p.m. Watch   for  direction  signs  along the highway to enter the post. Non-Department of Defense registered vehicles   will   be  limited  to entry at two gates.

Fort   Hood   is   named in honor of Major   General   John   Bell   Hood. Hood   served   as a lieutenant   in the crack 2nd U.S. Cavalry on the Texas frontier  before   the Civil  War and  rose

 

makes the U.S. Army the best in the world! You may see examples of the formidable  M-1  Abrams  tank and other  modern  military vehicles that won Operation Desert Storm, and facilities used to train and sustain 1st Cavalry Division and 4th Infantry Division soldiers.

One special treat  along  the route is that  you will  pass through  the out-door  exhibits  U.S.  and  foreign armored vehicles  and  artillery  at the 1st Cavalry and 4th Infantry Division museums.   The  4th  Infantry Division is  open  from  10  a.m.  to  4 p.m.;  the 1st   Cavalry   Division   is   open    from

to the rank of Major General in the Confederate Army during the war. Hood's  Texas  Brigade,   named   after its  original  commander  was,   proba- bly the most famous Civil War Texas unit.

Fort Hood is in central Texas near Killeen. It first opened as a training center   for   U.S.   Army    Tank Destroyers on September 18, 1942 and continues to be used for training armored units. During WWII the post also   served   as a POW   camp for German soldiers. With procurement of additional land since WWII the post has grown to be one of the largest military installations in the world.

The walk takes you through the post and   gives  you  a  good   view  of what

 

noon  to 4 p.m.  Both  museums also have excellent indoor exhibits that interpret the history of these two divisions. For information on the 1st Cavalry  museum  call  at 254-287-3626 and the 4th Infantry Division museum call at 254-287-8811.

The   Army   will   generously  provide the first   200   walkers   with  an  attrac- tive  free  volksmarch  medal  to  com-memorate the Freedom walk. For information on this most unique walk or other walks sponsored by the Trotting Texas Turtles contact Karl Kittinger at 712 Ridge Street, Copperas Cove, TX 76522-3137 (include a self-addressed, stamped envelope) or call 254-547-1403 (between 5-10 p.m.) or email at walkabout@hot.rr.com.