Fort Story

Infobox Military Structure
name=Fort Story
location=Virginia Beach, Virginia


caption=Shoulder sleeve insignia of 7th Sustainment Brigade, located in part at Fort Story
type=Army post
built=??
materials=
used=??-present
controlledby=U.S. Army
garrison=7th Sustainment Brigade
commanders=
battles=

Fort Story Military Reservation is a facility of the U.S. Army located in the independent city of Virginia Beach, Virginia at Cape Henry. It is a sub-installation of the US Army Transportation Center and Fort Eustis. Fort Story is the prime location and training environment for both Army amphibious operations and Joint Logistics-Over-the-Shore (LOTS) training events. Coastal artillery batteries of two 16 inch coast gun M1919 were installed in the early 20th century to defend the entrance to Chesapeake Bay from attacking naval forces. These weapons were removed shortly after World War II. The large armored gun emplacements and former ammunition bunkers are currently used for storage.

The base includes 1,451 acres (5.9 km²) of sandy trails, cypress swamps, grassy dunes and soft and hard sand beaches. The beaches are wide, gently sloped and washed by the waters of the Chesapeake Bay on one side and get pounded by the surf of the Atlantic Ocean on the other.

Named for Major General John P. Story in 1916, Fort Story has three historical sites. The Cape Henry Memorial Cross marks the location where the Jamestown Settlers first landed in 1607. The Old Cape Henry Light was the first lighthouse authorized and built by the Federal Government. At the Battle of the Virginia Capes Monument, there is a statue of French Admiral Francois Joseph Paul Comte de Grasse to commemorate the famous sea battle on September 5, 1781 which prevented the British from reaching Yorktown during the American Revolutionary War.

Also of historical interest, the passenger station built in 1902 and served by the original Norfolk Southern Railway was restored late in the 20th century and is used as an educational facility by the Army.

External links

* http://www.eustis.army.mil/Fort_Story/