W. V. U. Men at Oakmont Camp, 5th Regiment U. S. Engineers
Date:
1917/07/20
Description:
The men are identified as:Back row: Allen Bowie, Harry Porter, Charles Riggs, Minter Wilson, Charles E. Hodges, R. H. V. Kay, Drage Doddrill, Frank M. Brewster, Uriah N. Orr, Jr.Lower row: Fitzhugh Donnally, Fred Unkefer, Sam Semple, Irwin Stone, Ronald Moist, Okey Keadle, Linwood T. Lawrence, Hubert L. McLaughlin.
Layne Ford, son of Gene and Ada H. Ford wearing army dress uniform. The photograph was taken while he was on leave for the holidays during World War II.
U. S. Soldiers in Training at Seneca Rocks, W. Va.
Date:
1943/08/23
Description:
A group of soldiers are trained in mountain climbing at Seneca Rocks during WWII.The back of the photo reads:"Some of Uncle Sam's soldiers will be able to vie with the best of the Swiss mountain climbers. A new phase of strenuous ground training for combat units really gives our fighting men something to sweat about. High up in West Virginia's mountains, men of the U.S. Army get a short tough course on how to overcome obstacles no matter how high. When the men complete the short period of training they're tops in their field. Under the best tutors and instructors in the art of scaling walls of sheer rock, they learn all there is to know about cliffs and mountains- except yodeling.PHOTO SHOWS: The going gets tougher and tougher the higher they get. Here a group of soldiers leave the thicket to begin the hard climb over sheer rock to reach the peak of Seneca Rock."
Staging areas for new troops arriving in the ETO (European Theater of Operations), were known as "Cigarette Camps". Each camp was named after a brand of cigarette for security reasons. Referring to camps without any indication of geographical location help to block information leaks to the enemy. After V-E Day (Victory in Europe) the camps were converted to redeployment centers. An estimated 3 million American troops either entered or left Europe through the Le Havre area camps.
Major Elmer W. Prince of Morgantown, W. Va. at Camp Philip Morris, Le Havre, France
Date:
1946/03
Description:
United States Army Major Elmer Prince stands outside his two man tent in Camp Philip Morris. This "cigarette camp" could hold up to 35,000 men. In 1946, men in all camps were waiting for their number to be called to board a "Victory Ship" home. The port at Le Havre became known as the "Gateway to America".
Tented Billets at Camp Philip Morris, Le Havre, France
Date:
1946/03
Description:
While enduring the long waiting period to go home, most GIs had less than ideal living conditions, as one soldier wrote, "Under the floor of the tents the rats grew to cat size and sounded as through they were wearing boots when they tramped around while the men trying to sleep ..."
WAC and French War Bride Area At Camp Philip Morris, Le Havre, France
Date:
1946/03
Description:
A fence separates the WAC (Women's Army Corps) and French War Brides living areas from the rest of the camp. There were approximately 6,500 French War Brides, many left France with their husbands to live in America.
Red Cross Club at Camp Philip Morris, Le Havre. France
Date:
1946/03
Description:
The front of the Red Cross Club at Camp Philip Morris. Since camps did not have bathing facilities, the Red Cross shower room was usually the first place visited by soldiers with a 24 hour pass.
