NIU in World War II-- Part 2: About "Vetville"

Well, actually this was postwar, but definitely a result of the war.

**  Nineteen barracks from Fort McCoy, Wisconsin,  were moved to DeKalb and placed on land at Lucinda and garden roads to accommodate the huge influx of students after the war.

**  A photograph accompanies the article showing the campus in 1949 with the barracks in full view.  The area by the barracks was called"Vetville."

**  Vetville housed not only male students, but often their wives and children.

--GreGen

Camp McCoy, Wis.-- Part 7: Other WW II Activities

In addition to training, other specialized groups received instruction at Camp McCoy.

The nation's first ordnance regiment, the 301st came to Camp McCoy after basic training in North Carolina.  Also, an induction and basic training center for Army nurses was set up there.

A Limited Service School was set up to train physically disabled soldiers in several specialist fields.

Building of new recreational and welfare facilities continued at the base throughout the war.  Also, a bakery was set up.  Other activities went on at auxiliary sites like a radio school at Tomah, Wisconsin.  There was also Camp Williams in Juneau County (now Volk Field Air National Guard Base).

--GreGen

Camp McCoy, Wis.-- Part 6: Trained the 100th Infantry Battalion

The first unit to train at the new base that was Camp McCoy was the 100th Infantry Battalion.  This unit was comprised of Hawaiian National Guard who were of Japanese descent.

They served with distinction in Italy, suffering severe casualties while compiling one of the most remarkable  battle records of any U.S. unit during World War II.  More than 9,000 Purple Hearts were awarded to its members.

Shortly after they received their training at Camp McCoy, they were followed by the  2nd and 76th Infantry Divisions.

From Wikipedia.

The unit was unofficially called "The Purple Heart Battalion" and had as a motto "Remember Pearl Harbor."  Twenty-one received the nation's highest honor, the Medal of Honor.  In 2010, the whole battalion received the Congressional Gold Medal.

One Great Fighting Group.  --GreGen

Camp McCoy, Wis. --Part 5: Prisoner of War Camp

In addition, the previous CCC  discharge and reception center on South Post, was converted into a relocation and prisoner of war camp.  The camp was the largest Japanese prisoner of war camp in the Continental United States and also housed several thousand German and Korean prisoners.

Camp McCoy is unique in American history because it was both a relocation camp for West Coast Japanese Americans as well as European and Japanese prisoners captured in World War II.

--GreGen

Camp McCoy, Wis.-- Part 4: Preparing for War

From www.mccoy.army.mil

Following World War I, a Citizen's Military Training Camp was set up at Camp McCoy to provide men of high school and college age military training.  This would primarily prepare them for National Guard or Reserve duty.

In 1933, a Civilian Conservation Corps camp was set up at the post.  This operated until 1939.

In August 1940, the site was used for the Second Army Maneuvers involving 65,000 soldiers from seven states.  In the summer of 1940, the last horse-drawn artillery left the post.

More than 45,000 acres were added to Camp McCoy between 1938 and 1942.  Construction of facilities to house, train and support 35,000 troops began.  Some 8,000 local workers built over 1,500 buildings at a cost of $30 million.

--GreGen

Camp McCoy, Wisconsin-- Part 3: Served As a POW Camp and In Korean War

The South Post of the Camp had served as a Civilian Conservation Center before the war, but during World War II, that was converted into a prisoner of war and Japanese-American relocation camp.  It was the largest holding facility for Japanese POWs in the Continental United States and also housed several thousand German and Korean prisoners.

I had never heard of Korean prisoners of war in World War II.  Koreans who fought for Japan.

The camp was briefly deactivated after World War II, but the Korean War saw its reactivation as a training center until 1953 when it was again deactivated.  In 1973,  the Army reactivated Camp McCoy  as a permanent training center and the following year officially redesignated it as Fort McCoy.

So, it was Camp McCoy until 1974.  Today, it trains some 100,000 troops a year as a Total Force Training Center. It is also the headquarters of the Navy's Mobile Construction Battalion- 25  (Spades and Clubs).

--GreGen

Camp McCoy, Wisconsin-- Part 2: Role in World War II

During World War II, Fort McCoy was used early on as a detention camp for 170 Japanese and 120 German and Italian-Americans arrested as potentially dangerous "enemy aliens" in 1942.  After they were transferred to other camps, McCoy was used a s a training facility for soldiers from across the country preparing to enter combat.

One of these units was the segregated all-Nisei 100th Infantry Battalion.

The post was also used as a prisoner-of-war camp, holding 4,000 German and Japanese prisoners.  Fort McCoy's prisoners were featured in the 2001 movie "Fort McCoy."  This movie was not widely released.

--GreGen

Camp McCoy, Wisconsin-- Part 1: Named for Robert Bruce McCoy

In the last post I mentioned DeKalb, Illinois, resident Stephen J. Mikez being promoted to first sergeant at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.

From Wikipedia.

Now called Fort McCoy.  Army installation of 60,000 acres between Tomah and Sparta, Wisconsin.  It got its start in 1909 a 14,000 acres in the Sparta Maneuver Tract.  In 1910 it was renamed the Camp Robert Bruce McCoy.  In 1926 it was shortened to Camp McCoy.

He served during the Spanish-American War and the Pancho Villa Expedition into Mexico and World War I.

As the United States was ramping up its military before World War II, in 1938, an additional  45,00 acres were added, increasing the capacity to 35,000.  Many additional structures and barracks were also built at this time.

--GreGen

Sergeant Stephen J. Mikez Promoted

From the May 9, 2018, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Word received from Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, states that Stephen J. Mikez, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Mikez of North Eleventh Street, was recently promoted to the rank of first sergeant.

"He is connected with a medical detachment."