The 12th Armored Division of the United States Army came to Abilene, Texas in 1943. They traveled from Camp Campbell, Kentuckey, down the Bankhead to Camp Barkeley, just south of Abilene. The division consisted of roughly 11,000 soldiers. 

     Many of the veterans from the 12th Armored Division returned to Abilene, TX after the war and were instrumental in the developing of the official 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum.

     The Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) was established in 1976 to create an organization interested in the acquisition, restoration, preservation, safe operation and public education of historic military vehicles.

     The 2015 MVPA Convoy traveled from Washington D.C, all the way to San Diego, California. The journey began on Saturday, 19 September, 2015, and concluded about a month later on Saturday, 17 October.