The Wide World of U.S. Military Bases Quiz

Answer: Germany

Ramstein Air Base is in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate and is part of the Kaiserslautern Military Community , the largest American community outside of the United States.

Answer: California

March Air Reserve Base, formerly known as March Air Force Base, is located in Riverside, California. It is one of the oldest bases in the U.S. being established in 1917.

The Base is named in honor of Second Lieutenant Peyton C. March, Jr., son of the Army Chief of Staff, who had been killed in a flying accident in Texas the previous month.

Answer: Spain

Naval Station Rota is the largest U.S. military base in Spain. Rota is a small town located in the Andalucía Region of Spain. The base is owned by the Spanish government and commanded by a Spanish Admiral.

Answer: Kosovo

Camp Bondsteel is located near the town of Ferizaj in central Kosovo, covers about 955 acres.

The U.S.-led NATO force that has been keeping the peace for more than 20 years is on guard against disinformation campaigns aimed at stoking inter-ethnic tensions in Europe's youngest nation, as of 2023.

The mission of the troops is to maintain the peace between the Albanian majority and the Serbian minority. They agreed in 2022 to normalize some economic and energy issues, but there has been no progress on the political dispute. The main sticking point remains Kosovo's insistence that Belgrade recognize its independence, which Serbia refuses to even discuss.

Answer: Washington

Located in the Pacific Northwest's Puget Sound region, Joint Base Lewis-McChord is the largest military installation on the West Coast. The joint base is a consolidation of Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base. Fort Lewis was established in 1917 and McChord Air Force base was established in 1947, the same year the U.S. Air Force became a separate branch of the armed forces.

The construction of the base included the seizure of Nisqually tribe reservation lands for their use as an artillery field. Legal seizure of the lands occurred through eminent domain and seizure, which resulted in tribal members being forced from their homes.

Answer: Maryland

Naval Support Facility Thurmont is the official name for Camp David. Camp David is a 125-acre retreat in the Catoctin Mountains near the small town of Thurmont, Maryland. The Camp is used as a retreat by the President of the United States. Camp David (originally called Shangri-La) was built in the 1930s by WPA workers. President Roosevelt began using the retreat in 1943.

When President Eisenhower first saw Shangri-La he liked it so much he had its name changed to Camp David, his grandson's name.

Camp David has hosted every president since President Roosevelt and world leaders from Winston Churchill to Nikita Khrushchev.

It seems odd that Camp David is a naval facility. It was because during WWII Roosevelt could not use the presidential yacht as a retreat for fear of U-boats, so the Navy was tasked with finding a safe and appropriate retreat.

Answer: Alaska

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is located in Southcentral, Alaska.

Fort Richardson was named for the military pioneer explorer, Brig. Gen. Wilds P. Richardson, who served three tours of duty in the rugged Alaska territory between 1897 and 1917. Richardson, a native Texan and an 1884 West Point graduate, commanded troops along the Yukon River and supervised construction of several forts.

Elmandorff Air Force Base was named for Captain Hugh M. Elmendorff, an Army Air Force officer in the 1920s-1930s. He never set foot in Alaska. He pioneered high altitude flying tactics and gunnery.

Answer: Virginia

Henderson Hall is located in Arlington, Virginia on grounds once owned by Robert E. Lee's family.

Henderson Hall is named after Archibald Henderson, the longest serving Commandant of the Marine Corps. He is referred to as "the grand old man".

Henderson Hall is home to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Division, traditionally known as "The Old Guard." It is the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the Army, serving our nation since 1784. The Old Guard is the Army's official ceremonial unit and escort to the president. The 4th Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Division guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Answer: Texas

Camp Cavazos, formerly known as Fort Hood and named after Confederate General John Bell Hood, is located halfway between Austin and Waco, Texas. Camp Cavazos is named after Richard Edward Cavazos, the Army's first Hispanic 4-star General.

General Cavazos served with distinction in Korea and Vietnam.

Camp Cavazos is the home of the U.S. III Army.

Answer: South Korea

Camp Humphreys is located near Seoul, South Korea. Camp Humphreys was named in honor of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Benjamin K. Humphreys, a pilot with the 6th Transportation Company, who died in a helicopter accident, in 1961.

Camp Humphreys, as of 2023 is home to the Army's most active airfield outside of the continental United States and one of the largest construction and transportation sites in the U.S. Department of Defense's history.

As of 2023, it is the Army's largest base in the Pacific region.