The Military
It’s not surprising to find a strong military presence in an area that once was the headquarters for the Southern Division of the United States Army. Fort Brooke, established in 1823 soon after Florida became a state, brought federal troops to the then isolated area of Tampa Bay. Federal troops meant federal dollars to be spent at local establishments. Tampa grew, at least in part, because of Fort Brooke.
Today we are home to MacDill Air Force Base, in turn home to several joint commands involving every branch of the military, and to two United States Coast Guard facilities.
Where there are military bases, there are also military veterans and military retirees eligible for various benefits and services on or near military bases. Military personnel also mean military families. So we’ll list the veterans’ hospitals in Hillsborough and Pinellas, about Bay Pines National Cemetery, and veterans’ organizations. We’ll also give you information about 4-H groups just for military kids and other resources for military families.
1. United States Coast Guard
City: Tampa Bay, FL
Category: The Military
Telephone: (727) 535-1437
Address: 15100 Rescue Way
Description: Dedicated in 1933, Bay Pines National Cemetery holds the remains of more than 27,000 veterans and, in some cases, their spouses. Space is available for cremated remains.
2. Dunedin VA Outpatient Clinic
City: Tampa Bay, FL
Category: The Military
Telephone: (727) 734-5276
Address: 1721 Main St.
Description: Open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
3. James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital
City: Tampa Bay, FL
Category: The Military
Telephone: (813) 972-2000
Address: 13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.
Description: Open Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
4. St. Petersburg VA Outpatient Clinic
City: Tampa Bay, FL
Category: The Military
Telephone: (727) 398-6661
Description: Open Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
5. Tampa Vet Center
City: Tampa Bay, FL
Category: The Military
Telephone: (813) 228-2621
Address: 8900 N. Armenia Ave.
Description: Veterans Post newspaper publishes monthly news of interest to veterans. It is distributed in area veterans’ hospitals, organization meeting places, and by subscription. Look inside the print edition for a comprehensive listing of veterans’ organizations and auxiliary groups meeting in the Tampa Bay region. Click on the “Links” line on the main page of the Web site for an even more comprehensive listing of organizations and events of interest to veterans.
6. Disabled American Veterans
City: Tampa Bay, FL
Category: The Military
Telephone: (727) 319-7444
Address: 9500 Bay Pines Blvd.
Description: Veterans Post newspaper publishes monthly news of interest to veterans. It is distributed in area veterans’ hospitals, organization meeting places, and by subscription. Look inside the print edition for a comprehensive listing of veterans’ organizations and auxiliary groups meeting in the Tampa Bay region. Click on the “Links” line on the main page of the Web site for an even more comprehensive listing of organizations and events of interest to veterans.
7. Jewish War Veterans
City: Tampa Bay, FL
Category: The Military
Telephone: (813) 767-2605
Address: 5100 Burchette Rd. #1507
Description: Veterans Post newspaper publishes monthly news of interest to veterans. It is distributed in area veterans’ hospitals, organization meeting places, and by subscription. Look inside the print edition for a comprehensive listing of veterans’ organizations and auxiliary groups meeting in the Tampa Bay region. Click on the “Links” line on the main page of the Web site for an even more comprehensive listing of organizations and events of interest to veterans.
8. Veterans of Foreign Wars
City: Tampa Bay, FL
Category: The Military
Telephone: (352) 622-5126
Description: Veterans Post newspaper publishes monthly news of interest to veterans. It is distributed in area veterans’ hospitals, organization meeting places, and by subscription. Look inside the print edition for a comprehensive listing of veterans’ organizations and auxiliary groups meeting in the Tampa Bay region. Click on the “Links” line on the main page of the Web site for an even more comprehensive listing of organizations and events of interest to veterans.
9. Hillsborough County Extension Office
City: Tampa Bay, FL
Category: The Military
Telephone: (813) 744-5519
Address: 5339 S. CR 579
Description: In addition to hosting 4-H clubs on base at MacDill Air Force Base—and in all U.S. military bases in England—the Hillsborough County Extension Office has other programs to help military families. Operation Military Kids helps children and teens of Army Reserve and National Guard troops understand and cope with a parent’s being deployed and with adapting to military culture. Operation Child Care helps with short-term child care for children whose Army Reserve or National Guard parents are part of Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom.
10. North Pinellas Branch ARC
City: Tampa Bay, FL
Category: The Military
Telephone: (727) 446-2358
Address: 2481 Sunset Point Rd.
Description: Congress has charged the American Red Cross with keeping families and service members connected during times of crisis. The Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross conveys emergency messages to active-duty troops, provides emergency financial and travel assistance, provides counseling and connections to other social services for troops and their families, and helps veterans claim financial benefits.
11. South Pinellas Branch ARC
City: Tampa Bay, FL
Category: The Military
Telephone: (727) 898-3111
Description: Congress has charged the American Red Cross with keeping families and service members connected during times of crisis. The Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross conveys emergency messages to active-duty troops, provides emergency financial and travel assistance, provides counseling and connections to other social services for troops and their families, and helps veterans claim financial benefits.
12. Tampa Headquarters ARC
City: Tampa Bay, FL
Category: The Military
Telephone: (813) 348-4820
Address: 3310 W. Main St.
Description: Congress has charged the American Red Cross with keeping families and service members connected during times of crisis. The Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross conveys emergency messages to active-duty troops, provides emergency financial and travel assistance, provides counseling and connections to other social services for troops and their families, and helps veterans claim financial benefits.