Fort Story Va

• Strategic Location: Fort Story, located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, sits at Cape Henry where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, making it a vital military point for coastal defense since its establishment. • Named After General Story: The installation is named after Brigadier General John Patten Story, a noted Coast Artillery officer, in recognition of his contributions to U.S. coastal defenses. • World War II Coastal Defense: During World War II, Fort Story was heavily fortified with coastal artillery batteries to protect the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay from enemy ships and submarines. • Amphibious Operations Training: Since the 1940s, Fort Story has been a premier site for training Army and Navy units in amphibious operations due to its unique beaches, dunes, and varied terrain. • Joint Base Today: In 2009, Fort Story merged with Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek to form Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, reflecting its joint-service mission. • Lighthouses on Site: Fort Story is home to both the historic Cape Henry Lighthouse (built in 1792, the first federally funded lighthouse) and the newer Cape Henry Lighthouse (built in 1881). • D-Day Rehearsals: The terrain at Fort Story was used to rehearse D-Day landings, preparing U.S. forces for the Normandy invasion in World War II. • Presidential Visit: President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited Fort Story in 1942, emphasizing its strategic importance during the war. • Historical Marker: The First Landing Cross, a monument on Fort Story, commemorates the arrival of the first English settlers in 1607 before they traveled to found Jamestown. • Modern Missions: Today, Fort Story supports training in logistics-over-the-shore (LOTS), disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance, making it a key site for modern joint and expeditionary missions.