Fort Bliss Centennial

The Fort Bliss military base in El Paso, Texas has a long history. First built in 1848 for protection in the Mexican-American War, it became a Confederate outpost during the American Civil War. It was a major training ground for soldiers during World War I and World War II. After WWII ended it became the headquarters for Dr. Wernher von Braun and his team of German scientists to develop and test American rockets. Even though the stamp shows a rocket in flight, rockets were actually launched at the adjacent White Sands Proving Ground. Today Ft. Bliss continues as a training ground for military personnel and is a major contributor to the economy of El Paso and the surrounding area. The Ft. Bliss stamp was issued on November 5, 1948 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of its founding.