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"With the passing of Gen. (Ret.) Robert Shoemaker, the Army and our Nation lost a decorated leader, mentor, advocate and friend. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones. We should never forget his leadership during one of the most difficult times in our Nation's history."
- Acting Secretary of the Army Robert Speer
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June 22, 2017 Fort Hood mourns passing of General Shoemaker
FORT HOOD, Texas – Former III Corps and Fort Hood Commanding General retired Gen. Robert M. Shoemaker died at 11:55 p.m. June 21 at Seton Medical Center, Harker Heights, Texas.
General Shoemaker assumed command of III Corps in March 1975. In 1977, General Shoemaker was assigned as deputy commander, U.S. Army Forces Command, and a year later, he was promoted to general and became commanding general of U.S. FORSCOM. General Shoemaker retired from the Army in 1982 to the Fort Hood area, and remained active in community service here.
"We join the entire Central Texas community and our Army in mourning the loss of a great general, dynamic leader, philanthropist, and friend. General Shoemaker was an accomplished III Corps and Forces Command commander, a pillar of the community, and an inspiration to us all. We will truly miss him," Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk II, III Corps and Fort Hood commanding general.
A memorial service is scheduled for June 28 and the Killeen Civic and Convention Center, Killeen, Texas. The graveside service will be held immediately following at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, Killeen, Texas. The service will include full distinguished military honors with caisson.
General Shoemaker was 93 years old, and he is survived by his wife of nearly seventy years, Tuke.
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June 21, 2017 First Army Division West to change command in ceremony
FORT HOOD, Texas – First Army Division West will conduct a change of command ceremony here at 10 a.m. June 26 on Cameron Field.
Maj. Gen. Jeffrey N. Colt, outgoing commander, will transfer command to Maj. Gen. Erik C. Peterson during the ceremony. First Army Commanding General, Lt. Gen. Stephen M. Twitty, will serve as guest speaker.
Peterson most recently served in Washington, D.C., as director of Army Aviation, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff.
First Army mobilizes, trains, deploys and demobilizes all U.S. Army National Guard and Army Reserve forces throughout the continental United States, providing trained and ready forces for diverse missions worldwide as U.S. Forces Command’s executive agent for implementation of Army Total Force Policy. Division West is First Army's lead agent for conducting post-mobilization training to our reserve component forces in accordance with Department of the Army and FORSCOM directives.
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FORT HOOD, Texas -- Fort Hood officials have released the name of a Soldier who was found unresponsive June 15 at his off-post residence in Copperas Cove, Texas.
Pfc. Devon James Tucker, 21, whose home of record is listed as Wayne City, Illinois, entered active-duty service in January 2016 as an indirect fire infantryman.
He was assigned to 3rd Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas, since May 2016.
Tucker deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from August 2016 to February 2017.
Tucker's awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medals with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and NATO Medal.
Circumstances surrounding this incident are currently under investigation by the Copperas Cove Police Department.
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June 19, 2017 Fort Hood Host Mega Career Fair
FORT HOOD, Texas -- Fort Hood’s Soldier for Life Transition Assistance Program will host a Mega Career Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 20 at Club Hood here.
185 employers and support agencies representing 50,000+ employment opportunities will be offering jobs. They represent a wide range of employment prospects in many career paths from telecommunications, health care, logistics, law enforcement, maintenance, security, manufacturing and more.
Job seekers may park at Hood Stadium (off of Clear Creek Road) on 22nd & 23rd Streets (east of First Army Division West HQ) or at Warrior Way Exchange. Free shuttle buses will run continuous from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Non DoD ID cardholders must obtain a visitors pass at the Marvin Leath Visitors Center located on T. J. Mills Blvd. before proceeding to the parking areas on post.
The event is open to all interested job seekers – active duty military and their spouses and dependents, military veterans and civilians alike.
Media who desire to cover this event should register here. The gate time is 11 a.m. June 20 at the south side parking lot of the Fort Hood visitor's center.
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FORT HOOD, Texas -- After extensive search, rescue and recovery efforts by Fort Hood Fire and Rescue teams were unsuccessful in locating a Soldier who was swept into flooding waters in Clear Creek near Turkey Run Road just before 6 a.m. April 11, the Army appointed a board of inquiry to conduct a status determination to determine the Soldier's personnel status.
Per Army Regulation 638-8, Army Casualty Program, and Department of Defense Instruction 2310.05, Accounting for Missing Persons, the board concluded and recommended to the Army Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. James T. Iacocca, and Iacocca agreed that Spc. Darius Cooper is deceased. The official date of his death is determined to be April 11.
Cooper, 40, whose home of record is listed as San Antonio, entered active-duty service in June 2008 as a culinary specialist. He was assigned to 2nd Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas, since June 2016.
Cooper deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from September 2009 to July 2010 and in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from March 2013 to November 2013.
Cooper's awards and decorations include two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal and Combat Action Badge.
“Despite the diligent effort to find Specialist Cooper, it is heartbreaking for our Soldiers and the Fort Hood Family that we were not able to locate him," said Maj. Gen. John Uberti, III Corps and Fort Hood deputy commanding general. "Our thoughts, prayers and sincere condolences go to the Cooper Family, loved ones, and fellow Soldiers impacted by this tragedy.
"I’d also like to thank the many emergency responders, not only Fort Hood's, but the state and local community agencies who came forward and tirelessly and professionally searched for Specialist Cooper.
"Our thoughts, prayers and condolences also go to the Family, loved ones, and friends of Morgan’s Point Resort Police Department Dive Team member Lori Pohanka-Kalama who lost her life during the search."
More than 800 individuals were involved in the search, including emergency responders from Texas Task Force One boat and dog teams, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, Texas Game Warden's lake search teams, Morgan's Point Resort Police Department dive and sonar search teams, Fort Hood's Crisis Response Battalion ground search teams, and 1st Air Cavalry Brigade helicopter assets who aided in the search.
DATE: May 11, 2017 4:51:21 PM UTC
UPDATE 8: Deliberate search continues for missing Soldier
FORT HOOD, Texas -- Fort Hood officials continue to be engaged in search efforts for an individual in a vehicle that was swept into Clear Creek near Turkey Run Road on April 11. Fort Hood officials are reasonably certain that the missing individual is a Fort Hood Soldier.
"First and foremost, our primary responsibility is locating the Soldier and protecting the privacy of his family," said Tom Rheinlander, Fort Hood Director of Public Affairs.
The searchers know the identity of the Soldier they are looking for and Fort Hood officials are keeping the family informed of the search efforts.
In keeping with standard Army policy, because the Soldier is still missing, Fort Hood officials will not release the name.
Several media outlets have queried Fort Hood officials asking them to disclose the name of the missing Soldier. Fort Hood officials will not do so because there are ongoing search operations and an investigation.
Fort Hood officials are respecting the family's privacy and will not provide any additional information until the appropriate time.
DATE: April 19, 2017 4:51:00 PM CDT
UPDATE 7: Deliberate search continues for missing individual
FORT HOOD, Texas -- Fort Hood emergency responders have continued their search efforts over the past nine days in cooperation with many community and state agencies. Involved agencies volunteered their specific expertise in support of search operations. The search continues to follow a deliberate process according to Fort Hood's emergency search parameters.
Agencies who have assisted Fort Hood emergency responders include Texas Task Force One boat and dog teams, U.S Army Corps of Engineers and Texas Game Warden's lake search teams, Morgan's Point Resort Fire Department dive and sonar search teams, Soldiers as part of Fort Hood's Crisis Response Battalion ground search teams, and 1st Air Cavalry Brigade helicopter assets.
More than 800 individuals have been involved in the search so far. The search is now focused on areas where it is most likely an individual would be found thus far into the search including debris piles and key areas such as dams. Waterways included in the search include Clear Creek, Cow House Creek, House Creek and Belton Lake along with their surrounding terrain.
Fort Hood officials will continue their search until the missing individual who was swept into flooding waters in Clear Creek on April 11 is found or it is determined otherwise by the experts involved in the search.
DATE: April 13, 2017 4:40:00 PM CDT
UPDATE 6: Search team officials conduct media engagement
FORT HOOD, Texas -- The Directorate of Emergency Services deputy director, Chris Zimmer, alongside Texas Task Force One deputy of operations, Jim Yeager provided additional information about ongoing rescue operations during a media engagement at 1 p.m. April 13 at the search effort command post location.
Zimmer stated, search teams using a deliberate search pattern which is adjusted periodically based on collective expertise, continued to search land and water areas downstream from the incident site to include connecting waterways which eventually empty into Belton Lake.
Yeager added, more ground and dog search teams from TTF1 were added along with boats equipped with sonar assets operated by Texas State Game Wardens and a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Ranger to search outflow areas of these waterways into Belton Lake.
Additionally, media who were present, interviewed Sgt. Gregory Holmes, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade.
Holmes, who is one of the Soldiers participating in the search, described the difficulty of the terrain and vegetation that encompasses the search area.
When asked what motivated him to be part of the search, he stated this is the right thing to do to search for a member of the Fort Hood family.
Holmes further stated that if it was him, he knew the Fort Hood community would do the same to help bring closure to his family.
DATE: April 13, 2017 1:40:00 PM CDT
UPDATE 5: Search and rescue teams increased their effort to find the missing individual April 13, as water levels reduced allowing teams access to more locations.
Teams continue to search land and water areas downstream from the incident site for several miles. Today more ground and dog search teams were added along with additional boat teams launched from the staging areas on West Range Road and Turkey Run Road.
There will be a media availability at noon April 13 at the incident site. The Directorate of Emergency Services deputy director will provide an update on the search progress. Media crews will be able to film the search teams launching for their afternoon search.
Media who wish to cover this event should register here. Media covering the event should meet public affairs representatives at the Fort Hood visitors’ center at 11:30 a.m. The incident site is in a remote area; media should wear appropriate footwear for rough terrain.
DATE: April 12, 2017 3:40:00 PM CDT
UPDATE 4: Updated photos and Broll of the April 12 ongoing search effortsBroll of the emergency efforts are at the below link. Users must register with DVIDS to get the high resolution broadcast quality link:
To download the broadcast quality video, click here.
DATE: April 12, 2017 12:21:00 PM CDT
UPDATE 3: Texas' Task Force One joins the search for missing person in Clear Creek
FORT HOOD, Texas -- Fort Hood emergency services officials deployed 89th Military Police Brigade Soldiers and Texas’ Task Force One search and rescue teams, with their search dogs at first light Wednesday. The groups are searching from Turkey Run Road where Clear Creek crosses the road and from House Creek Bridge on West Range Road. Two AH-64 Apache Helicopters are also searching from the air. Emergency crews have prepositioned a medical evacuation helicopter at the staging area ready to respond if the individual is located.
“I want to personally thank the more than 80 emergency responders, including Task Force One search and rescue teams, who have worked tirelessly to support this critical, ongoing effort,” said Col. Todd Fox, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hood commander. “We’re doing everything we can to locate the driver and we are very appreciative of the assistance offered and rendered by our Central Texas neighbors.”
All low-water crossing remain closed. Old Georgetown Road remains closed at Henson Creek.
DATE: April 11, 2017 9:00:00 PM CDT
UPDATE 2: Driver's vehicle recovered without driver inside
Fort Hood, Texas -- Fort Hood officials have confirmed the vehicle being searched for has been found, but not the individual. Search and rescue efforts will continue throughout the evening.
DATE: April 11, 2017 4:07:19 PM CDT
UPDATE 1: All Fort Hood low-water crossings, Old Georgetown Road remain closed
FORT HOOD, Texas - More than 70 emergency personnel including swift-water rescue teams and air assets including two AH-64 Apache Helicopters from the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, continue search efforts at Clear Creek near Turkey Run Road.
Fort Hood emergency services responded to a report that one individual in a vehicle was swept into Clear Creek near Turkey Run Road just before 6 a.m. April 11.
Fort Hood Directorate of Emergency personnel have reopened all roads except Old Georgetown Road until further notice. All low-water crossings remain closed until further notice.
Earlier it was reported that one of the occupants was taken to Coryell Memorial Hospital, Gatesville, Texas, by ambulance for treatment. This was later determined to be unfounded.
Five photos of the emergency efforts are below.
CUTLINE: Fort Hood Directorate of Emergency Services personnel and 89th Military Police Brigade Soldiers respond to a Clear Creek high-water rescue site off Turkey Run Road where ongoing swift-water rescue efforts continue searching for an individual whose car was swept into the creek by fast-moving waters over the roadway just before 6 a.m. April 11. In addition, a 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, AH-64 Apache Helicopter conducts an aerial search for the missing individual. (U.S. Army photos and video by Master Sgt. Mary Mittlesteadt, III Corps PAO)
Broll of the emergency efforts are at the below link. Users must register with DVIDS to get the high resolution broadcast quality link:
To download the broadcast quality video, click here..
DATE: April 11, 2017 9:52:02 AM CDT All Fort Hood low water crossings, some roads closed
Emergency crews respond to vehicles caught in high waterFORT HOOD, Texas – Beginning at 10:30 p.m. April 10, Fort Hood began to close low-water crossings across the installation due to heavy rain fall and deteriorating weather conditions. Currently, all low-water crossings are closed to any traffic until further notice.
Fort Hood emergency services have responded to a report that one individual in a vehicle was swept into Clear Creek near Turkey Run Road here.
There are organized search teams with safety gear searching the water’s edge. High water and more forecasted rain are hampering efforts to locate the individual and vehicle.
Emergency crews also responded to reports of three other individuals in vehicles caught in high water over night. All vehicles had single occupants and all three individuals were able get to safety.
The following Fort Hood roads and access control point are closed until further notice: East Range Road, West Range Road, Access Control Point 5 (East Range Road) inbound and outbound, Access Control Point 4 (Warrior Way) inbound, Murphy Road, Turkey Run Road (Between Clear Creek Road and West Range Road), intersection of Tank Destroyer Blvd. and Muskogee Street, and intersection of Tank Destroyer Blvd. and Clark Road.
Everyone should monitor weather news and take precautions. If you approach an area with water covering the roadway, TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN.
More information will be released as it becomes available here on the Fort Hood Press Center. There is currently no safe access to the site of the incident. Emergency crews have cordoned off the area for the safety of the crews and to prevent any further incidents.
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FORT HOOD, Texas -- The Department of the Army publicly released its statement on the effects of the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act today.
The NDAA increases the Army's end strength (Active, Guard, Reserve) to 1.018M soldiers.
Specifically included in the authorization is the return of an Aviation Training Brigade to Fort Hood under First Army Division West and retention of the 206th Military Intelligence Battalion, which was formerly scheduled to deactivate.
"This a tremendous force multiplier for our organization, but moreover for our Army, increasing our end strength by approximately 137 Soldiers," said Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Colt, commander of First Army Division West. "As U.S. Forces Command's executive agent for implementation of Army Total Force Policy, the re-activation of the 166th Aviation Brigade greatly enhances First Army's capability to achieve the Army's #1 priority of readiness. It further enables our ability to partner with Army Reserve and National Guard aviation units. Ultimately, it allows us to more effectively advise, assist and train these organizations through integrated pre- and post-mobilization collective training, providing combatant commanders trained and ready aviation forces in support of worldwide contingencies," Colt said.
"This is a win for the Army and the nation," said Col. Laura Knapp, commander of the III Corps' 504th Military Intelligence Brigade. "Retaining the 206th Military Intelligence Battalion significantly contributes to Fort Hood's capabilities as a power projection platform. We are continually engaged in combat operations overseas, and the 206th maintains a continuous presence in Afghanistan, supporting national objectives with critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. Fort Hood provides great synergy for the 206th to build combat power with our robust aviation operations and multi-disciplinary intelligence capabilities: the most diverse array of intelligence units on any FORSCOM installation," Knapp said.
Click here for more information on the Army's end strength:
Department of the Army announces force structure decisions for fiscal year 2017
If you are unable to click the text above paste this link to your browser https://www.army.mil/article/189082/department_of_the_army_announces_force_structure_decisions_for_fiscal_year_2017.
Latest Press Release
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"With the passing of Gen. (Ret.) Robert Shoemaker, the Army and our Nation lost a decorated leader, mentor, advocate and friend. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones. We should never forget his leadership during one of the most difficult times in our Nation's history."
- Acting Secretary of the Army Robert Speer
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