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 the
United States Army took over the base in 1898 during the
Spanish–American War. It became a Puerto Rico Voluntary Regiment Post. 1908 became a United States Army infantry base for the
65th Infantry Regiment. In 1900 the site was renamed Henry Barracks after the 3rd Military Governor of Puerto Rico Major General
Guy Vernor Henry. In the beginning the base consisted of 439.92 acres of land situated in the east side of the town of Cayey. The property was divided into three encampments: the Spanish Camp- Campamento Español also known as Hospital Hill (15 acres), the Henry Barracks main post in the northern part consisted of 372 acres and the home for the third Battalion of the 65th Infantry Regiment, and the
United States Navy Cayey Naval Radio Station (67 acres). By 1920 Henry Barracks became a sub-post attached to
Fort Brooke in San Juan where the 65th Infantry First Battalion were posted. 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. The Navy left Cayey as a result of the damage from Hurricane San Felipe and moved to
Naval Air Station Isla Grande in
San Juan. All the land held by the Navy to include Magazine Hill (El Polvorin) were absorbed by the U. S. Army. 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==