Fort Wolters

A site dedicated to telling the history of one of the most important bases in the history of our country. PFC Victor Contini was stationed at Camp Wolters in 1941. He was a gifted artist whose talent was recognized by his superiors. Like most ex-Wolterites, after his training was completed, he was shipped out to a combat unit. He served his country in the 105th Infantry Division, and was killed in action on Saipan in 1944. His artictic talents are recognized in an Exhibit opening at the General Patton Memorial Museum at Chiriaco Summit, California. Read about PFC Victor Contini and his paintings under the Camp Wolters section under "Soldier Artist" The old base is slowly moldering away, it is sad, but I guess time has that effect on everything. I originally started the site because I felt Fort Wolters' place in history needed to be preserved. During WWII over 200,000 Infantry trainees cycled through there, and when it was re-opened as the Army's Primary Helicopter School over 40,000 student pilots graduated - most of them destined for the war in Vietnam. Four decades have past since I was first stationed at Wolters, now the base has a sad, evocative air about it. Whenever I go back to visit the old base my mind slides back to when it reverberated with the activity of hundreds of choppers launching and landing during the day. During my visits, I also think of my departed friends, and the other ex-Wolterites who also died in Vietnam or during WWII. The base may be moldering and the facilities becoming derelict, but they are still a memorial to the spirit of the fighting men who spent part of their youth in this special part of central Texas......
Capsule History of Fort Wolters
1921	56th Cavalry Brigade of the Texas National Guard organized.
1925	Grant for construction of Texas National Guard training camp given to Brigadier General Jacob F. Wolters.
1940	October 13 - Announcement made that Mineral Wells selected for location of Infantry Replacement Training Center.
1940	November 12 - Construction of training center begun.
1941	March 22 - Camp Wolters officially turned over to the Army.
1941	April 5 - Brigadier General William H. Simpson assumed command.
1946	January 19 - Infantry Replacement Center inactivated.
1951	February - Camp Wolters reactivated and redesignated Wolters Air Force Base.
1956	July 1 - Camp Wolters reverted to Army control with mission to train helicopter pilots.
1956	September 26 - U.S. Army Primary Helicopter School activated.
1957	April 27 - First class graduated from U.S. Army Primary Helicopter School.
1963	June 1 - Camp Wolters redesignated Fort Wolters, a permanent military installation.
1966	March - Post was designated U.S. Army Primary Helicopter Center.
1973	The helicopter school transferred to U.S. Army Aviation School at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

	Send questions or comments to: fortwolters@gmail.com
	© 2006 Brian N. Bagnall. All rights reserved Last Updated on October 21, 2009