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Camp McClellan, Alabama (1917-1918)

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Now operating as Fort McClellan, the first military installation to be located here was the short-lived Fort Shipp which trained soldiers in preparation for service in the Spanish-American War. Camp McClellan was established in World War I and trained soldiers from 1917 to 1918. During these years, Camp McClellan was home to the 29th Division whose soldiers were preparing for service in France. After the war, Camp McClellan was one of a handful of World-War I training stations maintained in reserve should the need arise for more soldiers. In 1926, funds were approved to build what would become Fort McClellan, a permanent military installation.

Images

110th Field Artillery at Camp McClellan, on Feb. 27th, 1918

Flag, Crowd, Pole, Military organization

Buckner Hall was built at Fort McClellan in 1936

Cloud, Sky, Building, Plant

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

Construction at Camp McClellan began in August 1917 and was well underway by the time the 1st Virginia Infantry Regiment arrived, but much more was needed. This required the newly arrived soldiers to work alongside local carpenters and laborers to complete the building of mess shacks, latrines, and the sprawling tent complexes that would be their home for the next 8 months. Since a rapid victory in France was far from certain, construction continued well after Company "H" left for France. The link at the end of this Clio entry offers a map of Camp McClellan's water supply system built between August and October 1917.

Sources

http://untilitsover.org

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. LCCN Permalink https://lccn.loc.gov/2007664535

Additional Information