After civil war broke out in Mexico in 1910, growing disturbances along Texas' Rio Grande border led President William Taft to consider increasing the U.S. military presence there. Hugh B. Moore, a Texas City terminal railway executive, and Augustus B. Wolvin, developer of Texas City's port and owner of a steamship line, persuaded U.S. officials to establish an army camp in Texas City as a strategic point for possible troop movements into Mexico. In March 1913, approximately 14,000 army personnel, including three infantry brigades, one regiment each of cavalry and field artillery, one battalion of engineers, one signal corps company, one field bakery, one field hospital, and an aviation squadron, set up camp in an open field just north of town. The camp's air squadron was the first of its kind in the nation, and pilots of the eight aircraft based there set flight records for distance and speed while also giving flying exhibitions. A local economic boom caused by the camp ended abruptly when a major hurricane destroyed the camp and damaged some buildings in Texas City in 1915. The camp was not restored, and many of its personnel were later stationed along the Texas-Mexico border.

Photo: Jim Evans

Photo: Jim Evans

Texas City, Texas · USA