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Fort Buchanan - Puerto Rico

The history of the U.S. Army in Puerto Rico dates back to the Spanish American War. Army troops invaded the island on July 25, 1898 and swiftly defeated a weak Spanish army force.

In 1903, the first Puerto Rican U.S. Army unit was established ( the Puerto Rico Regiment ) under the command of LTC James A. Buchanan.
"Camp Buchanan" was established in 1923. It was originally located on a 300 acre tract of land some six miles south of San Juan Bay.

From 1926 to 1930 Camp Buchanan was used as a maneuver training area and range by the Regular Army, by the National Guard troops. and as a Citizen Military Training Camp. In May 1940 it was designated as Fort Buchanan and expanded to 1,514 acres initially, later to 4,500 acres. Permanent facilities were constructed.

During World War II, Fort Buchanan housed a depot supplying the Army Antilles Department. It also processed local troops through its replacement center. The industrial complex included pier facilities, ammunition storage areas, and extensive railroad network connecting it to the bay.

After World War II, the post was gradually reduced in size to its present 476 acres. The post continued to be used throughout the Korean War as a supply and replacement depot.

Until closure as an Army post in 1966, it remained a Command Depot with post facilities, a personnel center, and a special training center. With the deactivation of the Antilles Command on December 31, 1966, Fort Buchanan came under U.S. Navy control. A detachment of approximately 100 personnel remained as a residual element designated at U.S. Army Command Group and placed under command of the U.S. Army Forces Southern Command in Panama, this element consisted of a small command group and support detachment, Rodriguez U.S. Army Hospital (Inactivated in 1971), and advisory groups for the U.S. Army Reserve, the national Guard and the ROTC. While not organic to the command, an Armed Forced Examining and Entrance Station and Intelligence Corps Detachment (inactivated in 1971) also received support from the command.

In December 1971, Fort Buchanan returned to U.S. Army control under the Third Army. It continued to support the Army Reserve, including support of seven Army Reserve Centers throughout Puerto Rico. It became host to a number of tenant activities of the Reserve components, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force and several non-military federal agencies.

On July 1, 1973 as a result of Army reorganization, the TUSA-PR was redesignated as U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Buchanan under direct control of HQ FORCSOM. Initially the Commander, USAG, commanded the Senior Army Advisors to the USAR and NG elements in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Readiness Group, and USAR.

Today, Fort Buchanan is the only active Army Post in the Caribbean Basin area. It continues to support the reserve components and active component soldiers in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands as a power projection platform to mobilize the nation's only fully bilingual and bicultural force, a definite asset for DoD relations with central and South America. Its principal mission is the mobilization, readiness and actual deployment of some 15,000 reserve Component soldiers in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The installation also provides support to DoD operations in the Caribbean area (e.g. Operation Restore Democracy).

Main phone numbers: (787)707-3402 or DSN 740-3402

Mailing Address: Bldg. 1019, Buchanan Heights, P.O. Box 34000, SOFB-PA-FS, Fort Buchanan, PR 00934-34000

Internet: www.buchanan.army.mil/

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