Photo By Senior Airman Gabriel Jones | The clock tower stands in the middle of the Quadrangle on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort...... read more read more
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What do President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Shaquille O’Neal have in common?
If you ever find yourself on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, look around and take in what you see. There may be more than meets the eye.
That large house on the corner might have been home to a famous resident. One who bloomed and grew, but no one knew that one day he would become the President of the United States of America.
I am Senior Airman Gabriel Jones, a 502nd Air Base Wing public affairs specialist and an avid fun-fact finder.
When I found out about the Trails and Tales tour hosted by the Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Military and Family Readiness Center, I was chomping at the bit. The chance to get away from my desk and get chauffeured around the base while learning something new makes for a great day at the office.
On the day of the tour, I walked into the M&FRC, adorned the sign-up form with my “John Hancock,” and waited with the other guests for the clock to strike 9 a.m. Ok, 9:05 a.m.; we didn’t want to leave any stragglers behind.
The group included retired military members, military spouses and children ready for an exploratory adventure around the installation.
Once we were ready to leave, we were led by Karen Crawford, community readiness specialist, and William Manchester, Director of the Airman Heritage Training Complex, to a big white bus (yes, just like the ones from basic training, *shivers at the memory*).
The tour was scheduled for three hours, with a snack and restroom break in the middle at the USO near Brooke Army Medical Center.
As we traveled around the post, Manchester, who wished to be referred to as “Bill,” explained the significance of JBSA-Fort Sam Houston today, being with the fact that it is the medical training home for the military.
With great humor, Bill entertained us with the current happenings on the post, and, with great passion, he spoke about the proud history of the fort. With great reverence, he spoke about the darker chapters in JBSA-Fort Sam Houston’s history, as Crawford offered trivia questions and prizes as we meandered along.
Bill continued to share stories about Army Maj. Gen. Benjamin D. Foulois pioneering the first military flights here, and how Dodd Field was built as an airfield and was later used as a Japanese internment camp.
As we rode over the bridge that crosses Salado Creek, Bill noted that it was once the burial ground of Black soldiers who were executed as mutineers due to their participation in the 1917 Houston riots. The U.S. Army recently granted those soldiers clemency and updated their headstones in the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.
Bill also pointed out a number of buildings that have been repurposed over the years. A building that was once a jail is now an office building. The police station was once a cooks and bakers school. An old hospital is now a hotel for distinguished visitors, and yes, there are ghost stories. Even the Quadrangle, which was once a supply depot, is now home to U. S. Army North (Fifth Army) headquarters.
I don’t want to give away everything you might experience on the tour, so I will leave it there.
For the most part, the tour provided knowledge of the history of JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, but we also saw things we don’t normally see as we go from work to home every day.
We drove by the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, the horse stables, as well as the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation building, where we were informed you can rent items ranging from a boat to a chocolate fountain.
It was exciting to see Cole High School where Shaq won a state championship in basketball. It was cool when we passed President Eisenhower’s old house, and seeing a family walking out smiling at each other. It was fun to win prizes, have conversations, and eat delicious free food, thanks to the USO, with other tour-goers in the middle of a Thursday.
The Tails and Trails tours occur on the second Thursday of every month, with the next scheduled for Sept. 12.
I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to get out there and learn something new, or at least enjoy the good vibes, winnable prizes, and delicious free USO food. You never know; the information you learn could help you during your appearance on “Jeopardy” or to win a gift card at Tuesday Night Trivia.
If you have any interesting facts/stories about JBSA that you would like to share, feel free to contact me by email a: gabriel.jones.13@us.af.mil, and I’ll tell you where the aliens are hidden.
LOL, just kidding … or am I?
| Date Taken: | 08.14.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 12.24.2024 13:11 |
| Story ID: | 487748 |
| Location: | SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 38 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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