Henry Barracks, Puerto Rico

Henry Barracks
	Cayey, Puerto Rico
	65th Infantry coat of arms
Type	Former Military Base
Site information
Controlled by	Formerly by the U.S. Army
Site history
Built	1898
In use	1898-1965
Garrison information
Garrison	65th Infantry Regiment

Henry Barracks was a U.S. Army base located in Cayey, Puerto Rico named after the 3rd Military Governor of Puerto Rico and Medal of Honor recipient Major General Guy V.Henry.

History[]

This base in the Central Mountain range of Puerto Rico located 25 miles (40 km) from San Juan, Puerto Rico was under control of the Spanish army until U.S. Military Troops took over the base in 1898 during the Spanish–American War and became a Puerto Rico Voluntary Regiment Post. 1908 became a United States Army infantry base for the 65th Infantry Regiment and renamed Henry Barracks after the 3rd Military Governor of Puerto Rico and Medal of Honor recipient Major General Guy V.Henry.

Some units from the 65th Infantry were mobilized to World War II and the Korean War from Henry Barracks. A large number of soldiers from the 65th Infantry were native Puerto Ricans.

In 1928 Hurricane San Felipe hit Puerto Rico and destroyed many of the base wooden structures. In 1929 new permanent buildings were constructed at the Henry Barracks.

After the Korean War the U.S. Army brought in troops not native to Puerto Rico. They were called "Continentals" by the locals from Cayey Puerto Rico. By that time the combat troops stationed at Henry Barracks consisted of an artillery battalion and a heavy mortar company.

Base Closing[]

The Army phased out its presence at the post in 1965. Most of the land and buildings were transferred to the University of Puerto Rico and opened the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey campus in 1967 while other facilities were transferred to the municipality of Cayey, Puerto Rico.

Most of the land and buildings that was transferred to the municipality of Cayey were turned into sports facilities.

National Guard[]

The Military only keep one parcel from the Henry Barracks army base for the Puerto Rico Army National Guard 105TH FSC 1/65 Infantry Battalion. An Heliport, maintenance shop, administration offices and a NGX PX are some of the facilities at the National Guard post use mostly for monthly drills.

Army ROTC[]

The University of Puerto Rico at Cayey hosted the U.S. Army Reserve Officers Training Course ROTC program at a site in the former Herry Barracks base. The Army ROTC had an office, several classrooms, an obstacle course and a rappeling tower. After many years in operations the Army ROTC left the UPR Cayey campus in 1997.

Tribute[]

A monument stands near the Herry Barracks housing area to honor Military Veterans from Cayey, Puerto Rico and of the main roads of the former Army base was renamed Avenida Los Veteranos (Veterans Avenue).

References[]

http://www.valerosos.com/

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