Photos and
Links
History of Camp Barkeley
Barkley Medal of
Honor Citation
Photos
Camp Barkeley Structures
Photos Camp Barkeley Training
Photos Camp Barkeley Activities
11th
Armored Division
12th Armored Division
45th Division Museum
90th Infantry Division
Association
GIs that served at Camp Barkeley
Limited Camp
Personnel Rosters
Special Addition
WWII Taylor County
, Texas Honor Roll
Photo acknowledgement: Photos,
unless otherwise indicated, are from WW II era publications of the
Camp. No duplication of photos can be made without permission.
Camp Barkeley, Texas
February 15, 1941-March 21, 1945
Text on the Camp Barkeley
Historical Marker
Site of main
entrance to Camp Barkeley, one of the nation's largest military camps of
World War II. At peak, 60,000 men were in training here. Named for
Private David B. Barkeley of the 89th Division, who died on a secret
scouting expedition behind German lines during the Meuse-Argonne Battle
of World War I. Among famous units trained here were the 45th and 90th
Infantry Divisions and the 11th and 12th Armored. A medical replacement
training center, the largest in the country, was also established here,
with 15 battalions. In May, 1942, the Medical Administrative Corps
Officer Candidate School was activated and graduated about 12,500
candidates. Camp Barkeley eventually grew to be a complete city unit
twice the size of Abilene of the 1940s. It had a 2,300-bed hospital, 2
cold storage plants, a bakery, 4 theaters, 2 service clubs for enlisted
men, 15 chapels, and 35 post exchange buildings. The military personnel
were housed in hutments, except for some 4,000 in barracks. Part of the
post was also a German prisoner-of-war camp. Once some of the prisoners
escaped, to the alarm of Abilene citizens, and others attempted to
tunnel under the fences. Camp Barkeley was declared surplus in 1945.
(1969)
(Camp Barkeley Historical Marker
is located on Highway 277 South and Taylor County Road 257, 11 miles
south of Abilene, Texas. (Photo by Mike Hernandez)
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(Left) Aerial
View of Camp Barkeley. (Right) WWII Era Greeting Post Card from
Camp Barkeley
Web site does not represent any organization or group, its sole purpose
is to remember Camp Barkeley and its historical significance
during World War II.
Email: mikendez@suddenlink.net