HISTORY DATES BACK TO 1921
Originally activated in March, 1941, as Camp Wolters, an Infantry Replacement Training Center, the post's history can be traced back as far as 1921 when the 56th Cavalry Brigade of the Texas National Guard was organized.

Brigadier General Jacob F. Wolters, commanding officer of the brigade, pursued the idea of a field training camp in Texas, and in 1925, he went to Washington and received a grant on which to construct the camp.

Anxious to have the camp located nearby, the city of Mineral Wells purchased 50 acres of land east of the corporate limits and presented it to the state of Texas as headquarters for the brigade.

In addition, citizens of Mineral Wells joined together and leased 2,300 acres surrounding the original 50. However, it was stipulated that this ground could be used only three weeks out of each year and then only for maneuvering purposes.

Just prior to World War II the citizens of Mineral Wells leased additional land surrounding the original   National Guard plot and inserted the provision that buildings might be constructed.

INFANTRY REPLACEMENT TRAINING CENTER
On October 13, 1940, it was announced that Mineral Wells was selected as the location for an Infantry Replacement Training Center large enough to house 17,000 men.

The City Commission of Mineral Wells secured individual leases and made a master lease to the War Department for the entire 7,500 acre tract.  The lease was accepted and on November 16, 1940,  an engineering firm from Dallas began construction of the camp.

Eighteen thousand men labored around the clock to complete the job in the phenomenally short time of three and one-half months, during which time inclement weather made this project one of the greatest struggles against time and the elements in Texas construction history.  Total construction cost was approximately $14,200,00.00.

Named after General Joseph F. Wolters, the camp was officially turned over to the Army on March 22, 1941, with the first trainees arriving in early March and beginning their training on 24 March.  On 27 March, the first rifle was fired on the range.

These first arrivals were plagued with mud since there were as yet few concrete roads on post.  Most of the roads and sidewalks were put in later as was the landscaping and terracing.

Brigadier General William H. Simpson arrived on April 4, 1941, and the following day assumed command with Colonel Fay W. Brabson his executive officer.  At the time there were 15 battalions either in operation or awaiting trainees.
Late in September, General Simpson was promoted to major general and the next month left to assume command of the 35th Division.  Brigadier General Emil F. Reinhardt took command of the post on November 9, 1941.

TRAINING MEN FOR WAR
On 7 December, 1941, with the attack on Pearl Harbor, Camp Wolters began in earnest the grim task of training men for war.

On January 19, 1942, the first trial blackout of World War II was held and all lights in the camp were out within one minute after the warning siren sounded.

General Reinhardt left on March 31, 1942, to assume command of the 76th Division and on April 19, Camp Wolters' fourth commander, Major General Bruce Magruder assumed command.

Command changed again on October 1, 1945, when Brigadier General Maurice L. Miller succeeded General Magruder, and the final commander was Major General Harry L. Twaddle, who assumed command on October 23, 1945.

The IRTC was inactivated on January 19, 1946, and the flag was lowered for the last time on August 15, 1946, by one officer and one enlisted man, the only two men remaining on post.

During the war years Camp Wolters was noted as being the nation's largest IRTC, which at its peak housed 30,000 men at one time.

After the war, Camp Wolters was purchased from the War Department by a group of Texas businessmen and became known as Camp Wolters Enterprises.  Many of the barracks were moved and served as barns, warehouses, school buildings and homes.  Those buildings remaining at the camp were converted into a thriving industrial center.  During the latter part of 1950, representatives of the Air Force looked into the possibility of utilizing the post, and following considerable negotiations between the Air Force and Camp Wolters Enterprises it was publicly announced that Camp Wolters would be reactivated.

REACTIVATED AS AIR FORCE BASE
In February, 1951, the camp was reactivated and redesignated Wolters Air Force Base to house the newly formed Aviation Engineer Force, which was established  in April, 1951.

The first contingent of Aviation Engineer trainees arrived in May, 1951, and the SCARWAF (Special Category Army with Air Force) personnel were trained here until 1956 when the SCARWAF function reverted to Army control.

The future of the installation looked dim.  Fearful of inactivation, a delegation of citizens from Mineral Wells and Weatherford journeyed to Washington to meet with government officials and present their plea to keep a military installation here.

Considering the possibility of the Army regaining control of the installation, Secretary of the Army Wilber M. Brucker and a party of Defense Department and Army officials visited the base in March, 1956.

On April 19, 1956, the Defense Department announced that transfer of the base to Army control would take place during the summer of 1956.

POST REOPENED
On July 1, 1956, the post was officially transferred to the Army and on that date, Colonel John L. Inskeep assumed command.

Formal dedication ceremonies were held July 13, and among the dignitaries present were Secretary Brucker.

Camp Wolters then embarked upon its new mission - training helicopter pilots.

On June 1, 1963, Camp Wolters became Fort Wolters, a permanent military installation.
 
 

SOURCE:  A Salute to Fort Wolters,  U. S. Army Primary Helicopter Center  Boone Publications, Lubbock, Texas, 1966.
 

Kindly Provided By:  Mr. Don Kent
                                Outlaw 17
                                175th AHC
                                1968-1969