US Army Training Center - Yearbook (Fort Bragg, NC)

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stressed, and additional brick barracks buildings were erected. Also constructed during this period were the Post Headquarters, Chapel, Theater, Field Artillery Board, Post Ordnance Shops, Commissary, Quarter- master Office, Guard House and Signal offices. During this period, regiments stationed at the post were furnished with modern motorized equipment and the latest type weapons. They trained with other arms and services in Third Army Maneuvers in 1938 and 1940. PRESENT DEVELOPMENTS Such was the history of Fort Bragg on June 1, 1940, when the garrison strength was 5,406 officers and en- listed men, but during the months which have passed since that date, Fort Bragg has added many more interesting pages to its already interesting history. By mid-summer of 1940, the Post personnel began to expand and early in September a new building program was started, involving the construction of approximately 2,478 buildings at a cost in excess of 532,000,000 The number of workmen on the job ranged from the original group of approximately 5,000 to more than 23,500, with a daily payroll in excess of 8100,000. These buildings will accommodate a garrison totaling more than 67,000 officers and enlisted men, making Fort Bragg North Carolina's third largest city. As this building program is such an important part of the history of Fort Bragg and its development into an even more important part of national defense, a fairly detailed account of it will be given here. As time was an important element in this construc- tion, it is well to note that the timely procurement of building materials and orderly planning of the program in advance of actual construction contributed largely to the speed with which the work was accomplished. As soon as construction was authorized by the War De- partment, roads were built and ground cleared, elec- tricity was then made available for lighting and for operation of high speed electric saws in each area. An efficient communication system involving four switchboards and 13 operators was established, and water mains were laid to each area so that water might be available for both building purposes and fire pro- tection. During the construction period, an average of more than 1,000,000 board feet of lumber moved into Fort Bragg daily. Tn addition to the roadway already built, much of which was improved, widened or rebuilt, approximately 75 additional miles were built to take care of additional traffic and to open up new areas. Fifty miles of sewage lines and more than 40 miles of new water mains were laid. The Fort Bragg water plant, which had an orig- inal capacity of approximately 2,500,000 gallons per day, has been increased to 7,000,000 gallons, and water storage facilities originally 1,500,000 gallons have been doubled. The Fort is assured of an adequate water supply from the 22,000,000 gallons of water which flow by the intake station on Little River daily. Fifty miles of new power lines have been erected, and sub-station T301 facilities increased in line with the increase in power needs of the reservation. In order to make living conditions as comfortable and pleasant as possible, the largest number of build- ings constructed were for the purpose of providing liv- ing arrangements for the rapidly increasing garrison, which has sprung from the 5,500 officers and men at the post in mid-summer of 1940 to a final total of more than 67,000. Included in the new construction are more than 800 barracks buildings, each having interior latrines and circulating heating systems. The Post now has quarters for more than 1,600 officers and mess halls sufficient to take care of the personnel. RECREATION BUILDINGS ERECTED Adhering to the old adage that Mall work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, the authorities have pro- vided recreational facilities to care for the needs of the personnel, including day rooms, post exchanges, rec- reation buildings, theaters, guest houses and Service Clubs. Each of the Recreation buildings has a stage, dressing rooms, facilities for motion picture projection and seats for 500 people, which may be removed leaving the entire floor for dancing, or for use as a lounge or other recreational purposes. The theaters 'will seat 1,038 people each. The guest houses contain living rooms for the Hostesses and for visitors. A cafeteria and a large dance Hoot are parts of the Service Clubs. They are well equipped and capable of furnishing many hours of wholesome recreation and relaxation. To take care of the physical well-being of the people stationed at Fort Bragg, a large hospital, 18 separate infirmaries -and a large Dental Clinic were included in the construction program. The hospital covers an area of 2,680,000 square feet, has a total of 83 wards, with 1,680 beds immediately available and capable of expansion to 2,000 beds if needed. The hospital project consists of a total of 112 buildings, 'with a total of 75 doctors and 240 nurses. Scattered throughout the Post are a number of fire stations, each housing three. vehicles, giving to Fort Bragg all the facilities of a modern city. Already considered the largest Field Artillery reser- vation in the world, Fort Bragg has been and still is one of the most important installations of our national defense, not only because of the many organizations stationed at the post but also because of the fact that modern developments in field artillery have had their inception and field proving under actual service con- ditions over its extensive terrain. Now, with the arrival of more combat units at the Post, the responsibilities of Fort Bragg are daily in- creasing, but the officers and enlisted men stationed at the post feel confident that they will be well equipped and fully prepared for whatever may come. They are justly proud of Fort Bragg and its brief but important history. It has served its purpose well in the past and promises to be of even more importance and value in the future.

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