Army Forts and Camps

Camp Roberts - named in honour of a First World War tank driver who lost his life in France, Camp Roberts was one of the most important military training bases during the Second World War. In 17 week cycles, more than 23-thousand soldiers recruits could receive basic training at the same time. Camp Roberts focused on Infantry and Field Artillery Replacement Training.

This sprawling 43-thousand acre facility is located off Highway 101, about 60 miles north of San Luis Obispo, California.

For more details, please see the California State Military Museum website where the above postcard and many more can be seen.

Chanute Field - named for early aircraft pioneer, Octave Chanute, during the second world war Chunute Field was an aviation school for thousands of air force recruits. It is located in Rantoul, Illinois, about 100 miles south of Chicago. As many as 25-thousand airmen trained here at a time, though the base had just housing enough for 15-thousand. The rest were quartered in tents. The air base closed in 1993 and was converted to a civilian air facility.

More information can be found at Chanute Air Museum website.

Fort Monmouth - founded in 1917 and named for American Revolution soldiers who died in the Battle of Monmouth Court House. It is the main school for the U.S. Signal Corp. It is located in just north of Asbury Park, New Jersey.

More information can be found at this U.S. Army website.

Fort Sheridan - named for the Union Major-General Philip Sheridan, this was built on the Illinois bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan about 30 miles north of downtown Chicago. It was one of four Recruit Reception Centers in the U.S. during the Second World War. Later, many prisoners of war were incarcerated there.

For more details, please see the informative town of Fort Sheridan website.

Fort Sill - founded in 1869 by Maj. Gen. Sheridan and named for his friend, Brig. Gen. Joshua Sill, who was killed in the Civil War. Since 1911 Fort Sill has been the 'home of the artillery', the world renowned U.S. Army Field Artillery School. It comprises 150 square miles of rolling country just outside the community of Lawton, Oklahoma - about 80 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.

More information can be found at the U.S. Army's Fort Sill website.

Scott Field - was named for Corporal Frank Scott, who in 1912 became the first U.S. airman to die in an aircraft accident. Founded in 1917, it is located 25 miles east of St. Louis, Missouri near Belleville, Illinois. During the Second World War war, more than 77-thousand servicemen trained here, for aircraft communcations role. The army also build an induction center nearby, which was later annexed to the Air Force Base.

More information can be found at the Scott Field Heritage Air Park website.