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World War I, half of the graduates of the Agricultural and
Mechanical College of Texas served in the armed forces of the
United States. Of the total of 1,472 graduates, 702 served, 668 as
commissioned officers. In addition, 565 students were commissioned
during the war. While much has been written about their heroic
deeds, few know of the important role Texas A&M played in the
overall war effort. When war was declared in April of 1917,
contingency plans were already in place. The day
after Congress declared war, military instruction was
increased to ten hours per week with additional time being given
over to target practice.
Texas A&M President
William B. Bizzell headed a committee that quickly put the
entire campus on a wartime footing.
This group coordinated the college's research activities
with the war effort, promoted the "war garden
movement," arranged for the sale of war savings stamps,
and encouraged all kitchens to observe wartime food
regulations.
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By December, the United States Army
began to catch up with Texas A&M and sent its first
training detachment to the campus.
One hundred and twelve
men of Company "K" of the Signal Corps received
instruction from the Department of Electrical Engineering.
By April, 1918, Texas A&M began training aviation
radio mechanics to install and repair aircraft
transmitters. The Animal Husbandry Pavilion was turned
into a temporary hanger. That same month, 369 men arrived
for a two-month course where they trained as auto
mechanics, machinists and blacksmiths.
In addition, the college trained U.S. Army personnel to be
carpenters, horseshoers, surveyors, topographical draftsmen,
general mechanics and pipe fitters. Texas A&M also
opened a driving school complete with an obstacle course. In
May, 1918, the Army opened the Signal Corps School of
Meteorology, the only school among the allied nations
training meteorologists for military service. In all, nearly
4,000 military personnel completed technical and specialized
training on the campus of Texas A&M. The wartime
training helped to foster the beginnings of a national
reputation in military science and technical education. No
longer would the school remain one of Texas' best kept
secrets.
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