Fort Sam Houston

Fort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas. Known colloquially as "Fort Sam", it is named for the first president of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston.

The installation's missions include serving as the command headquarters for United States Army North, United States Army South, the Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) headquarters, the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Center and School, the Fifth Recruiting Brigade, Navy Regional Recruiting, the San Antonio Military Entrance and Processing Station, and the Medical Education and Training Campus (METC). On 1 October 2010, Fort Sam Houston joined Lackland Air Force Base and Randolph Air Force Base to create Joint Base San Antonio, under Air Force administration.

U. S. Department of Defense (DoD) Elements

U. S. Army Elements

U. S. Air Force Elements

United States Army North is the senior command and responsible for all Army activities on Fort Sam Houston, but not for the post itself. Commanded by LTG Allan Pepin, Army North's primary missions are land-based Homeland Defense, Defense Support of Civil Authorities and Theater Security Cooperation with the Bahamas, Canada and Mexico. Because Fort Sam Houston is part of Joint Base San Antonio, the installation commander is the commander of the 502d Air Base Wing.

Construction at Fort Sam Houston began in the mid-1870s under the supervision of the military commander of the Department of Texas, Major General Edward Ord, a West Point-trained army engineer. As one of the Army's oldest installations with more than 900 buildings in its historic districts, Fort Sam Houston boasts one of the largest collection of historic military post structures. The significant contributions of Fort Sam Houston to the United States were recognized in 1975 when the post was designated as a National Historic Landmark.

The Sundry Civil Service Bill of 3 March 1873 included a $100,000 allotment for a new army post in San Antonio, on 93 acres (38 ha) of land deeded by the city on Government Hill. Edward Braden Construction Co. won the contract to build the post on 7 June 1876, for $83,900 ($2.48 million in 2024). Included on the Quadrangle was a combination 87 feet (27 m) tall watchtower and 6,400 US gal (24,000 L) water tank designed by General Montgomery C. Meigs, based on one he had seen in Europe, and which he called "his work of art".