Planning of Camp Howze
The first mentions of a war camp coming to Gainesville came in the fall of 1940. Clifford McMahon from the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce wrote and recommended Cooke County to host a military training facility. He sent this recommendation to Colonel J. A. Finch, who responded with positive news that confirmed he would consider them in the selection process. That next January in 1941, the Quartermaster Corps sent a questionnaire to Gainesville city officials seeking their thoughts and opinions on an army camp coming to the area.
After the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941, it would take just eleven days for Gainesville to receive news that they were selected as a finalist location for a wartime army camp. On January 7, 1942, athe building contract for the camp was given to the Dallas construction firm, Rollins and Forest, for $30 million. Planning for the construction began immediatly. On March 20, the city of Gainesville and Cooke County officially announced the camp's approval.
In April 1942, a railroad spur to the newly acquired land for the camp began construction. Branching from the Santa Fe railroad, the railway allowed supplies, equipment, and men to transport easily. It wasn't until May 6 that the name of the camp was revealed. Beating out multiple Cooke County war veterans that were locally suggested, the War Department selected Robert E. Lee Howze to name the camp after. Howze was a Major General in the army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his efforts in the American Indian Wars.
On August 1, 1942, the first 25 Quartermaster men reported for duty. With the camp being uncompleted upon their arrival, those first men were tasked with immediatly assisting construction of Camp Howze. On August 17, 1942, Camp Howze was officially open and operating.
