Fort Hood began life when on January 14, 1942, when it was announced that a tank destroyer tactical and firing center would be established near Killeen, Texas. The center was named Camp Hood in honor of Confederate General John Bell Hood who briefly led the brigade composed of the First, Fourth, and Fifth Texas infantry regiments. On March 2, Hood was promoted to brigadier general and placed in command. Because of his daring leadership, the brigade became known as Hood's Texas Brigade, despite his brief service of only six months as commander.

On April 13, 1950, the Army General Staff approved making Camp Hood a permanent installation and changing its name to Fort Hood. the announcement came from Washington, D.C., that The change was made effective on April 15, 1950. This followed several months of intense lobbying efforts by Frank Mayborn and his committee. They were able to overcome a number of obstacles in the way of the camp becoming permanent.

The 1893 “Report of the Quartermaster-General” by Brigadier General Richard Napoleon Batchelder, Quartermaster General of the Army, suggested that the Secretary of War take responsibility for both the naming of posts and for the designation of posts as forts or camps. He disapproved of the use of terms such as barracks and felt that military installations should be named only after military heroes, not geographical features, Indian tribes, cities, or non-military individuals.

The Secretary of War had assumed complete responsibility for the naming of posts by World War I. During the inter-war years, it was common for the Secretary of War to solicit recommendations for names for new posts from installation commanders; corps and branch commanders; as well as the Chief, Historical Section, Army War College. Unsolicited suggestions for names were also submitted from sources outside the military establishment, and political pressure and public opinion often influenced the naming decision. As a result, it was common for camps and forts to be named after local features or veterans with a regional connection. In the southern states, they were frequently named after celebrated Confederate soldiers.

The following edited guidelines or memorialization criteria are used for naming Army facilities.

• Only deceased persons will be memorialized.
• An installation set up for the use of a specific branch of Service or activity normally will be named for a member distinguished while serving.
• Facilities should be named for persons with ranks or grades comparable to those of the main users.
• When possible, facilities will be named for persons whose careers or actions were important to, and well known in, the locality where memorialized.
• Approval authorities who exercise authority under this regulation for the Army Memorial Program may establish and consider the advice and recommendations from memorialization boards or committees.
• Honor deceased heroes and other deceased distinguished men and women of all races in our society.
• Present them as inspirations to their fellow Soldiers, employees, and other citizens.
• organizational and unit memorials will not commemorate — any unit smaller than a regiment, separate brigade, or comparable unit or an individual. (Exception: When the services of the unit or individual were so distinguished as to warrant a separate memorial.)
• Renaming actions are strongly discouraged, and seldom appropriate. Expect strong resistance from local residents, heirs, historical societies, and others from an attempt to rename. However, if a renaming becomes appropriate, it should be submitted, with recommendations, to the appropriate approval authority.

From various articles about Ford Hood from the City of Killeen, Fort Hood historical notes, and Wikipedia)

#RenameFortHoodtoFortHobby