Editing Fort Cavazos (section)

===Foundation===
During [[World War II]], [[tank destroyer]]s were developed to counter German mobile armored units. These were mobile anti-[[tank]] guns on armored [[Half-track|halftracks]] or specially developed tanks. Wide-open space was needed for the tank destroyer testing and training, which Texas had in abundance. [[Andrew Davis Bruce|Andrew Davis (A.D.) Bruce]] was assigned to organize a new Tank Destroyer Tactical and Firing Center, and he chose Killeen, Texas for the new camp.<ref name="historicalmarker">{{cite web |title=Lt. Gen Andrew Davis Bruce |work=Texas Historical Marker Atlas |publisher=Texas Archival Resources Online |year=2000 |url=http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/shell-kword.htm |access-date=25 June 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714113229/http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/shell-kword.htm |archive-date=14 July 2014}}</ref> The War Department announced the selection on 15 January 1942. An initial acquisition of {{cvt|180000|acre|km2}} was made, and it was estimated that the camp would cost $22.8 million for the land, facilities, and development of utilities. The date of completion was set for 15 August 1942.

About 300 families had to move from their homes to make room for the camp area and the communities of [[Clear Creek, Texas|Clear Creek]], [[Elijah, Texas|Elijah]], and [[Antelope, Texas (Bell County)|Antelope]] were demolished to facilitate construction of the base. The old Sugar Loaf community, historically called the "Cradle of Killeen," provided the city with many of its first citizens in 1882. All that remains of the community is the mountain from which it took its name, located in the Fort Cavazos area. To lessen the burden of moving, the Army agreed to allow land to be used for grazing for a nominal grazing fee. This grazing arrangement still continues today.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}

In mid-August, the camp was occupied and the official opening took place on 18 September 1942. Camp Hood was named in February for the Confederate General [[John Bell Hood]], who commanded Hood's [[Texas Brigade]] during the [[American Civil War]],{{Sfn|Willbanks|2001|p=186}} part of a series of new training camps named for notable regional military leaders together with [[Camp Carson|Camps Carson]], [[Camp Campbell|Campbell]] and [[Camp Atterbury|Atterbury]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 February 1942 |title=Army Names New Camps; Outstanding Soldiers Honored |page=3 |work=Chicago Tribune |agency=AP |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53443189/army-names-new-camps/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

The original facilities provided housing and training sites for nearly 38,000 troops. In January 1943, an additional {{cvt|16000|acre|km2}} in Bell County and {{cvt|34943|acre|km2}} in [[Coryell County]] near [[Gatesville, Texas]] were purchased. The site near Gatesville was known as the sub-camp and later as [[North Camp Hood]]. During the war years, North Camp Hood housed nearly 40,000 troops and 4,000 prisoners of war, and was the site for the southern branch of the [[United States Disciplinary Barracks]].{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}

At the end of 1942, there were about 45,000 troops living and training at Camp Hood and in late June 1943 it peaked at almost 95,000 troops,{{Sfn|Willbanks|2001|p=186}} which was maintained until early 1944.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}

In 1944, the number of tank destroyer battalions in training at the post declined rapidly. [[Field artillery]] battalions and the [[Infantry Replacement Training Center]] replaced them in March 1944. By September, the Infantry Center was the largest activity on post with 31,545 troops. The total camp population on the last day of 1944 was 50,228.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}

During the last year of World War II the post's mission shifted and its population drastically decreased. As the war came to an end, troop training slowed and equipment reclamation and demobilization were prioritized.{{Sfn|Willbanks|2001|p=186}} A separation center was established in September 1945, and as the year ended, post strength had fallen to 1,807 prisoners and about 11,000 troops.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} The Infantry Replacement Training Center was officially shut down on 7 January 1946.