Fort Huachuca During WWII
Minority Service Members:
Guide to Visiting Five Markers
Marker:
Five commemorative panels honoring minority service members and the role that Fort Huachuca served during World War II
Location:
Fort Huachuca
Sierra Vista, Arizona
These historical signs are located on an active military installation. All U.S. visitors, 18 years and older, who do not have a Department of Defense identification card will be subject to a background check before being allowed access to the installation. Before visiting, please check the current visitor access information.
33.454087, -111.953424 – Hatfield Street entrance to Fort Huachuca
31.546053, -110.336780 – Mountain View Officers Club
This series of five commemorative panels was developed as a state project of State Regent Sallie Lovorn, Arizona State Society, DAR, with the cooperation and support of Fort Huachuca. The panels honor minority servicemen and servicewomen who served in a segregated U.S. military in the years before and during World War II. The panels also highlight the Mountain View Officers’ Club, an important historic building that can be seen from the interpretive trail. In 1948 President Harry S. Truman declared the U.S. military to be desegregated.
Directions and parking:
Enter Fort Huachuca as directed by the current visitor access information. At the gate, ask for a map and directions to the parking lot next to the interpretive trail, about a nine-minute drive. It may be helpful to enter “Mountain View Officers Club, Fort Huachuca” in your navigation app for precise location or use the map inset above.
While at the gate, you may also ask about other areas of the fort that are open to the public.
Begin the tour:
Start with panel #1, Judge Us by Our Deeds.
Members of the historic preservation committee of the Arizona State Society, DAR, who contributed to this project celebrate.
The “Interpretive Trail” sign points to the parking lot and beginning of the historical markers trail.
April 25, 2024
Learn more about the background of racial and gender segregation and exclusion in the U.S. Army at the start of World War II. This panel introduces the role that Fort Huachuca filled in that environment.
View marker details for Panel #1: Judge Us by Our Deeds.
Courtesy of Arizona Historical Society.
Fort Huachuca was the site of a major building project to support two Black Divisions of the U.S. Army, including the construction of a Black officers’ club. The Mountain View Officers’ Club was a major structure at the fort.
The officers’ club was one of only two such clubs built in the U.S. during World War II for Black officers. In 2013, due to its condition of disrepair, the structure was categorized as one of the most endangered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. A major renovation project saved the building, originally designed by Arizona architect Del Webb.
This panel tells of the two Black divisions associated with the fort.
View marker details for Panel #2: Army Life.
Courtesy of the Jack Miller Collection of Photos at Boston Public Library.
Women left their mark on the U.S. Army! This panel introduces their changing role.
View marker details for Panel #3: Female Service at Fort Huachuca.
Courtesy of U.S. Army Women’s Museum.
Service members lived activity-filled off-duty hours, from events held at the Mountain View Officers’ Club through sports. The fourth panel showcases photographs taken by John B. “Jack” Miller (1924-1948) when he was stationed at Fort Huachuca, including this image of the Four Aces of the 372nd football team.
View marker details for Panel #4: MWR – Morale, Welfare, and Recreation.
Courtesy of the Jack Miller Collection of Photos at Boston Public Library.
From 1886 until 1947, Indian Scouts served a distinctive role in the U.S. Army. The last remaining Indian Scouts were stationed at Fort Huachuca, as shown in the final panel.
View marker details for Panel #5: Apache Scouts.
Courtesy of The Apache Sentinel, Library of Congress.
Retrace your steps to the parking lot. Other areas of Fort Huachuca may be open to the public. Please inquire at the security gate when you enter.
Thank you for visiting this historic site!
This guide is based on information provided by the Arizona State Society, DAR, also known as ASDAR.
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The content contained herein does not necessarily represent the position of NSDAR. Hyperlinks to other sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR, the state organization or individual DAR chapters.
Unless otherwise noted, images are courtesy of Arizona State Society, DAR, Daughters.