Sycamore's German POW Camp

From the Sycamore (Illinois) History Museum.

During World War II, German prisoners were sent to POW camps throughout the United States.  Many were sent to Camp Grant in Illinois (outside of Rockford).

During harvest time, many of the POWs from Camp Grant were sent to Sycamore to help with food efforts, including the Sycamore Preserve Company.  They stayed at temporary barracks on Park Avenue (where Upstaging is located today).

They ate their meals in town and worked in the local canning factory and  harvested food at local farms.

During the last year of the war, some 300 Germans were housed here from ages of 16 to 25.  They worked harvesting sweet corn, peas and asparagus.  Then they helped  can vegetables at the Sycamore Preserve Company.

The camp ran from June 1945 to October 1945.

--GreGen

Preparing for the Repatriation of German Prisoners in DeKalb County in 1945

From the September 9, 2020, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

September 9, 1945, 75 Years Ago.

"Col. Forrest W. Edwards, Camp Grant (in Rockford) commander,  is urging all employers of German prisoners of war to take steps toward replacing them with civilian workers (Americans) in anticipation of the gradual  repatriation of the prisoners.

About 2,500 German prisoners are being used by private contractors under supervision of Camp Grant mostly in agricultural and food processing work."

If you had to be a prisoner of war, these Germans by far had it better than anyone else. As a matter of fact, a lot of the Germans returned home, settled their affairs and then moved to the United States where they became American citizens.

Another Way to Tell That the War Was Over.  --GreGen

WAACs To the Pea Rescue in Rochelle

From the July 11, 2018, MidWeek   (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Former farm girls, now WAACs (Women's Army Auxiliary Corps) at Camp Grant, Illinois, volunteered to help get in the peas on farm near Rochelle, when labor shortage threatened crops.

"The girls drove machinery and took drinking water to the men in the field."

--GreGen

Soldiers From Camp Grant Come to Sycamore to Help in Canning

From the June 27, 2018, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Approximately 40 soldiers from the Camp Grant (Rockford) area arrived in Sycamore early this morning to work in the fields of the California Packing Corporation in an effort to assist the canning company in putting up what produce is ready at this time and avert heavy spoilage."

Still, the Manpower Shortages on the Home Front.  --GreGen

The Hemp Industry in Illinois-- Part 3: "Hemp for Victory"

The U.S. government even produced a film "Hemp for Victory."  The plant was needed to make "shoes for millions of American soldiers,"  "parachute webbing for our paratroopers," fire hoses and millions of feet of rope for our battleships.

There are farmers who claim hemp still grows along railroad tracks where it fell off cars during World War II.

From Hempology

The pilot hemp plant was built in Polo, Illinois.

The need for hemp came about when U.S. supplies of it from Asia were cut off during the war.

The first harvest was in 1943.  Camp Grant had many German POWs captured in North Africa.  They were  brought in by the busload to harvest.

On January 6, 1944, 52 truckloads of hemp was harvested.  As the war wound down, the government began closing plants because of the availability of supplies of hemp from Central America.

--GreGen

Christmas for the Boys-- Part 4: "And a Blonde With That Pair of Gloves"

The sick recipients were invited to provide wish lists.  Most weren't too particular, but "one patient added a blonde to his request for a pair of gloves."

About 12,000 readers sent gifts, most of them asking to help more than one ailing service member

The reason for giving among readers was varied, but one Elkhart, Indiana, woman shared a common sentiment:  "The best Christmas present I could wish for is the knowledge that thru my puny efforts some of these gallant boys will realize that we on the home front appreciate what they are doing for us."

Pictures accompanying the article:

World War II Battle of Guadalcanal veterans Bernard Sgilagyl, Varner Johnson, George Stevo, Leland Kimrey and Harry Simonetti open gifts in 1943.

Lt. Mary Wrona, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, plays Santa to Pvts. Ray Radke and Stephen Valenti, both from Chicago, in the hospital at Rockford's Camp Grant in 1943.

A Great Deal.  --GreGen

Cookies for Camp Grant

From the May 10, 2017, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1942, 75 ears Ago.

"A total of 121 dozen cookies were contributed by members of the Waterman Women's Club and women of this community to the cookie jar at Camp Grant (military base near Rockford, Illinois).

"Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Pogue took the cookies to Shabbona where they were added to those given by the Shabbona Women's clubs and all were taken to Camp grant."

Where I Am Sure They Found Someone Willing To Eat Them.  --GreGen

Looking Back to 1941: Cookies for Illinois' Camp Grant

From the Dec. 14, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1941, 75 Years Ago.

"Soldiers at Camp Grant are probably very contented evenings in their barracks this week.  They may be munching delicious cookies sent them by the Sycamore Woman's Club.

"The senior club was assisted in this excellent project by the Sycamore Junior Woman's Club."

Camp Grant was located in nearby Rockford, Illinois.

Taking Care of Our Fighting Men.  --GreGen

Rockford's Camp Grant Museum

From the April/Easter Market Street Press. //// I picked this newspaper up at the Woodstock (Il.) Library at the Civil War Round Table Meeting this past Tuesday where we heard about embalming. //// In it was an ad for the Command Post Restaurant at 1004 Samuelson Road in Rockford, Illinois. The restaurant also has the Camp Grant Museum featuring Rockford Local History during a Military Camp from 1917-1948. //// I have already written about it, just hit the Camp Grant label. //// The ad goes on to say that the nuseum features displays, postcards, pictures and memorabilia. //// Evidently, the museum is open when the restaurant is open Tuesday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday from 7 to 1 and Sunday 9 to 2. Special hours can be arranged for groups. //// There will be a Friends of Camp Grant meeting May 15th from 7-9 p.m. //// More info at 815-395-0678 or at www.CampGrantMuseum.org. //// It was one really big camp used in both world wars and, if I remember correctly, essentially where the Rockford Airport is located today. //// --GreGen

Camp Grant in Rockford, Illinois-- Part 2

The camp closed in 1923.  From 1933 to 1935, it was used by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

In October 1940, it was reactivated as an induction center for physical exams and medical training.  It is estimated that 100,000 medical corpsmen received their training there.  Later, a POW center housed some 2,500 enemy soldiers.

The camp became one of Rockford's biggest employers with some 6,000 civilians on the payroll.

After the war, it became a separation center for returning GIs, where they left the military to become civilians.  In 1946, the camp was permanently closed.  For a few years, the former barracks were converted into apartments.

Today, the Chicago-Rockford International Airport is located on much of the land.  I came close to using this airport a few years back.  Hey, free parking.

I wonder if George Leisenring was training to be a medic when his parents visited or if he was on staff at the camp.

World War II Stuff  I Didn't Know.  --GreGen