Since I’m a lifelong New Yorker living nowhere near a military base, it’s rare that I bump into active duty soldiers in uniform.
Three years ago, I stopped in a Walmart in Killeen, Texas. Within a minute of my store entry, I struck up a brief conversation with a young man in uniform, thanking him for his military service. Surprisingly, I repeated my sincere sentiments to another soldier two minutes later. Then, I looked around noticing the majority of store patrons were in uniform. It was a sight.
I didn’t know it at the time, but I stopped in a town housing the largest active duty armored post in the U.S. Armed Services. Still largely recognized as Ft. Hood (recently renamed Fort Cavazos), this military base fuels the Killeen, TX economy. Recent statistics vary, but numbers range between 36,000-41,000 soldiers on base. Adding their dependents and base staff, Fort Cavazos (Hood) population totals around 83,000.
In 2017 at Ft. Hood, the statistics looked like this: “The post (is) home to 45,414 active duty enlisted soldiers and 4,929 active duty officers with a total population served of 218,003. Of that number 17,954 soldiers and dependents live on post and 89,933 soldiers and dependents live off post, plus 89,933 retirees, survivors and family members.” Source
There are good stories and sad ones associated with Ft. Cavazos (Hood) and other military bases across the globe. Today, we honor men and women who died in war and military personnel lost during training exercises, accidents and suicide. I wasn’t certain, so I double-checked if Memorial Day formally included honoring all of these fallen souls.
According to several official – and unofficial sources (The Washington Post, civilwar.net and others), Memorial Day remembers all lost fighting and also acknowledges soldiers who died outside of active combat. Every loss is a tragic one with life stories behind each name.
To those who served and are no longer with us.
“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” —Arthur Ashe
“Fort Hood occupies about 340 square miles halfway between Waco and Austin, where thousands of U.S. Army soldiers, some airmen and some sailors and Marines, train every day.” Source
“Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility.” —Eleanor Roosevelt
Tales from a Mid-Lifer 
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