DUANE
Duane's take
The way this marker tells it, here's the story of a man who helped shape the face of modern warfare and left his mark on Texas in ways you can still feel today. Andrew Davis Bruce. Born September 14, 1894, in St.
Louis, Missouri. Graduated from Texas A. and M. in 1916. And in 1917, he began what would become thirty-seven years of active military duty.
That is not a typo. Thirty-seven years. He barely had time to unpack before the world handed him a war.
In France with the 2nd Infantry Division during World War I, Bruce rose to the temporary rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Then he served in the German occupation in 1919 before settling into the quieter work of the in-between years — teaching, writing texts in military science and tactics, serving with the 33rd Infantry Division and spending time in the Panama Canal Zone. A man sharpening himself, you might say, for what was coming.
And what was coming was bigger than anyone expected. When the Army assigned Bruce to start a tank destroyer center, he looked at the map, looked at the terrain, looked at the climate, and in February of 1942 he settled on Killeen, Texas. And then — and this is the detail that echoes — he named the new camp after General John Bell Hood, 1831 to 1879, a man of whom Bruce apparently thought highly enough to quote directly on that naming.
The words credited to Hood: "Whose enemies never saw his back." That camp is now a fort. Fort Hood. And the marker calls Bruce the Father of it.
On September 9, 1942, he was made a Major General. And then he took command of the 77th Infantry Division and carried them into the Pacific theater of World War II — Guam, Leyte, Kerama Rotto, Ie Shima, Okinawa. Battle after battle.
He collected decorations the way some men collect regrets, including two awards of the Distinguished Service Cross. Just as he had in the First World War. When the fighting stopped, Bruce didn't exactly slow down.
He served as Governor of Hokkaido, Japan, from 1945 to 1946. Then Deputy Commander of the 4th Army from 1947 to 1951. Then commandant of the Armed Forces Staff College from 1951 until his retirement in 1954.
And then — here's where the story takes one more turn — the man who had been an originator of the tank destroyer corps, a battlefield commander across two world wars, a governor and a general, walked into civilian life and became president of the University of Houston in 1954. Then chancellor from 1956 to 1961. The marker calls his civilian career distinguished.
At this point, you almost want to ask what Andrew Davis Bruce considered a slow week. He and his wife Roberta, born a Kennedy, had three children together. He died July 27, 1969.
The tank destroyer corps. Fort Hood. Two world wars.
The University of Houston. One man. The marker doesn't editorialize much beyond "brilliant battlefield leader and educator" — but then again, it doesn't really need to.
What the marker says
Lt. Gen. Andrew Davis Bruce (September 14, 1894-July 27, 1969) Originator of tank destroyer corps; "Father of Fort Hood." Brilliant battlefield leader and educator. Born in St. Louis, Mo.; graduated 1916 from Texas A. and M.; in 1917, began 37 years of active military duty. In France with 2nd Infantry Division, World War I, attained (at 24) temporary rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Served in German occupation, 1919. In 1920s-30s, taught and wrote texts in military science and tactics; and served with 33rd Infantry Division, Panama Canal Zone. When assigned to start tank destroyer center, he situated it at Killeen, Feb. 1942, because of terrain and climate, naming the camp (now a fort) for Gen. John Bell Hood (1831-79), "Whose enemies never saw his back." Made a Major General, Sept. 9, 1942, Bruce commanded 77th Infantry Division in World War II battles of Guam, Leyte, Kerama Rotto, Ie Shima, and Okinawa. As in World War I, he won many decorations, including two awards of the Distinguished Service Cross. He was Governor of Hokkaido, Japan, 1945-46; Deputy Commander, 4th Army, 1947-51; commandant of Armed Forces Staff College from 1951 until his retirement in 1954. (1972) In distinguished civilian career, served University of Houston as president, 1954-56; chancellor, 1956-61. He and wife Roberta (Kennedy) had three children.