Fort Bliss, Texas

Fort Bliss is a census-designated place and US Army post located in El Paso County, Texas. The Fort is named for Lieutenant Colonel William Bliss, who was a son-in-law of President Zachary Taylor and who was re-interred at Fort Bliss National Cemetery on post.

History

Fort Bliss was staffed in 1849 to guard El Paso. It was originally located along the banks of the Rio Grande, overlooking Mexico, but was later moved northeastward 10 miles (16 km) to its current location. To this day, the walls of the Fort Bliss Officers Club still contain adobe bricks from over a century ago, and the installation has survived, in contrast to Fort Selden, New Mexico (where Arthur MacArthur was posted, when Douglas MacArthur was a boy), 45 miles (72 km) to the northwest, which is crumbling back into desert.

Related Topics:
1849 - El Paso - Rio Grande - Fort Selden - Arthur MacArthur - Douglas MacArthur

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There is a replica of the original Fort Bliss on the post simulating the adobe style of construction. The troops at Fort Bliss participated in John J. Pershing's expedition against Pancho Villa's raids on New Mexico; they were housed in buildings which still stand on the post. Other items of interest include the Buffalo Soldier memorial statue and a missile museum.

Related Topics:
John J. Pershing - Pancho Villa - Buffalo Soldier

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Fort Bliss trains thousands of U.S. Soldiers. Before 1989, the base was used for Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT). The 1/56 ADA Regiment, part of 6th ADA Brigade under TRADOC. Before 1989, 1/56 had three basic training companies and two AIT battries. Now the mission is three Air Defense batteries (AIT, Officer's Basic Course, and Captain's Career Course) and one company that trains army truck drivers (MOS 88M).

Related Topics:
Basic Training - Regiment - Brigade - TRADOC

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Fort Bliss is home to a large number of maintenance crews and supply units, and serves as one of the Army's premier bases for test driving tanks and other equipment. The fort also houses thousands of military vehicles, among them all the equipment needed to set up Patriot missile sites. Fort Bliss is the home of the United States Army Air Defense Artillery Center (FBADACEN), and monitors missile launches conducted by White Sands Missile Range, located 70 miles (110 km) to the north, in New Mexico. The base is the largest maneuver area in the continental United States, encompassing approximately 1,177,000 acres (4,760 km²), almost the size of Rhode Island.

Related Topics:
Patriot missile - United States Army Air Defense Artillery Center (FBADACEN) - White Sands Missile Range - New Mexico - Rhode Island

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In the post 9-11 era, Fort Bliss has served as one of the major deployment centers for troops bound for Iraq and Afghanistan. Included on the fort is Biggs Army Airfield (formerly Biggs AFB), which was the site for the return of the 507th Maintenance Company, also based at Fort Bliss.

Related Topics:
Iraq - Afghanistan - Biggs AFB - 507th Maintenance Company

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A large medical installation, William Beaumont Army Medical Center and a Veterans Administration center serve the military and retired-military population here, including Omar N. Bradley, in his last days.

Related Topics:
William Beaumont Army Medical Center - Veterans Administration - Omar N. Bradley

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