- Starting as a small outpost of the 2nd Dragoons and 8th Infantry Regiment in 1849 and gaining fame in the late 1800’s for many well known saloons on the north side and “Hell’s Half Acre”, a rollicking little vice district on the south side (where Post 516’s first home was at a much later date); a town evolved. World War I kept the Fort Worth Stockyards busy providing Pack Mules for the Army and the opening of Camp Bowie on the west side. Some 100,000 “doughboys” of the 36th Infantry Division (known as the “T-Patchers” for Texas), trained and deployed overseas from this camp. Sadly they lost some 2,600 in the last offensive of the war. Camp Bowie was closed but the 36th Infantry of the Texas National Guard remained. In World War II they were the first combat division to land in Europe in 1943. During the War they served in North Africa, Italy, France, Germany and Austria. After several realignments they are back and now serving in Iraq.
- 1941 also brought military airpower to town. Tarrant Field Airdrome, later Fort Worth Army Airfield and then Carswell Air Force Base was one of the first SAC bases hosting B-29, B-36, B-58 and B-52 bombers of the 7th Bomb Wing. The Wing remained active throughout the Cold War. Adjacent to the field Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Company was opened producing B-24, B-36 and B-58 Bombers. The facility is still in operation (now Lockeed Martin) and produced F-111’s, F-16’s and is now starting production of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. 1951 brought Bell Helicopter to Fort Worth (Hurst). In 1956 Bell 204 “Huey” (UH-1) helicopters started moving into the Army arsenal, followed in 1966 by Cobra’s (AH-1) and now the Bell/Boeing 901 Osprey (V-22). Greater Fort Worth American Legion Post 516 was chartered on the 29th of April 1965 with the original home located in Cobb Park near the Texas National Guard Armory.
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