Camp Edwards is a United States military training installation located in western Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. It was named after Major General Clarence Edwards, commander of the 26th Division in World War I. The base is currently the home of portions of the 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, of the Massachusetts Army National Guard.
In 1931, the National Guard deemed Camp Devens to be too small to meet their needs and began to look for a new training area, and two years later Cape Cod was identified as having a suitable environment to build a new camp. Camp Edwards was officially dedicated in 1938.
In 1940, the U.S. Army leased Camp Edwards as a training facility as part of its mobilization strategy for World War II. The Army undertook significant construction which helped to expand Camp Edwards from a rustic military post to a small city, overflowing with new GIs. The new plan called for new capacity to house 30,000 soldiers and was completed in just four months. At the peak of the construction, 30 buildings were completed every day. During the war, the camp functioned as a sending off point for troops as well as a training ground for anti-aircraft and amphibious units. By mid-1944 the training centers were relocated to Florida, but the camp remained as a hospital, prisoner-of-war camp, and holding area for AWOL (Absent With Out Leave) soldiers being sent overseas until the end of the war.
With the end of the war, Camp Edwards was deactivated. The Air Force took control of nearby Otis Field in 1948, and Otis Air Force Base was born. During the Korean War, the camp was reactivated to train troops. After the war, the camp was again deactivated and turned over the Massachusetts National Guard. The camp was not reactivated for the Vietnam War, but has been used as a training facility for National Guard and Army Reserve units in New England ever since.
Camp Edwards was subject to a closure attempt in the 1990s, but survived after objections from the military community. During Hurricane Katrina, the camp was utilized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, opening up to 2,500 refugees.
Today, the Camp is home to two training centers for National Guard troops. These training centers, which are the only ones in the Northeast other than those at Fort Drum and Fort Dix, are meant to simulate a middle-eastern town.
Units assigned Massachusetts National Guard (1908–present) 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation (???-present) 104th Infantry Regiment - ARNG Recruit Sustainment Battalion 101st Field Artillery Regiment
Past Amphibious Training Center (1942) Engineer Amphibian Command (1942–1944) East Coast Processing Center (1943–1945)
Army 1st through 4th Engineer Amphibian Brigades, redesignated as Engineer Special Brigades in May 1943 (1942–1943) 1114th SCU 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (1943) 68th Coast Artillery Regiment (AA) (1940–1941) 550th AAA Auto Weapons Bn (1943) 551st AAA Auto Weapons Bn (1943–1944) 242nd AAA Group (1952–1953) Combat Aircrew Refresher Training Unit (Otis Field) 26th Infantry Division 36th Infantry Division (1942–1943) 45th Infantry Division (1942) 37th Engineer Regiment (1942) 14th Anti-Submarine Squadron (1942–1943) 304th Station Hospital (1942-1943)
Marines 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force (1977–2000)
Non-military offices U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Federal Aviation Administration U.S. Department of Agriculture
History Early training on Cape Cod
Camp Edwards' beginnings can be traced back to 1908 when the Massachusetts State Militia practiced weekend and annual training in the Shawme-Crowell State Forest. The area was looked at in 1931 when the National Guard deemed Camp Devens to be too small and began to look for a new training area. People who supported and were against the military on the Cape made their voices heard to the Commonwealth and the War Department in 1935 when Governor James Curley signed a bill establishing a Military Reservation Commission. In September, the War Department approved acquisition of up to on Cape Cod for the purpose of military training. In 1936, troops began setting up camp and began training. These soldiers were often equipped with World War I era equipment, wooden guns, and Enfield rifles. This reality reflected the isolationist policy of the American people.
Between 1935 and 1940, Massachusetts and the federal government, primarily using Works Project Administration funds, constructed 63 buildings (all but Buildings 102 and the old Williams Hospital have since been demolished) and two, wide turf runways at Otis Field. The project was the largest WPA project in state history, employing over 600 workmen. In 1938, Governor Charles F. Hurley dedicated Camp Edwards, named after the commander of the 26th Division in World War I, Major General Clarence Edwards. In 1940, the biggest construction project in the camp's history began when the Army leased Camp Edwards. Construction was completed under the command of Major Thomas Waters, of the 68th AA Regiment. The Walsh Construction Company of New York was the company chosen to build the initial 1300 buildings in the cantonment area. These buildings were to house over 30,000 men. The goal was to have the area finished by the beginning of 1941 when the 26th Infantry Division began a year of training.
A railroad spur was built from Falmouth and a constant procession of trucks transporting material to the camp began. Peak of construction occurred in November 1940, with 18,343 employees working three shifts, a weekly payroll in excess of one million dollars, and completion of 30 buildings a day. The project was completed in a mere 125 days (September 1940 to January 1941) and served as the national prototype for other camps built during World War II, using the 700 series drawings. The station was located on Weaver Street.
In January 1941, the 26th Infantry Division, which was recently federalized, consisted entirely of Massachusetts National Guard members. Over the next 3 months, its ranks filled up with members from New York and New England. Starting for 7 months in April 1941, the 26th left Camp Edwards to participate in the Carolina Maneuvers and the Coastal Patrol, while other National Guard and Army Divisions came to train the camp. The 26th returned to Camp Edwards on December 6, 1941, with the expectation of completing their year of service soon. The bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and the subsequent declaration of war by the United States, resulted in extension of federal service for the division through 1945.
World War II
In 1941, the 101st Observation Squadron was inducted into federal service and moved to Otis Field. The first concrete runways were laid in 1942 and expanded in 1943 because of the advancements of allied aircraft. The field became an important anti-submarine base because of its proximity to the ocean, and subsequently the Army placed the 14th Antisubmarine Squadron at the field from November 1942 until July 1943. The Navy took over all anti-submarine missions in October.
On February 2, 1942, a massive fire swept through a garage on the base. This fire destroyed 125 vehicles, including 40 which were new. This was the only massive fire to ever occur at the base.
A coast artillery battalion (anti-aircraft) was stationed at Camp Edwards from 1942 to 1944. It formed the core of the Antiaircraft Artillery Training Center, Camp Edwards, one of seven such U.S. Army facilities in World War II. This was activated 28 March 1942 as part of the Army Antiaircraft Command. The Camp Edwards center trained 42 anti-aircraft battalions before it was deactivated in July 1944. Camp Edwards had at least two firing ranges at satellite camps in 1941–1942, the Popponesset Firing Range in Mashpee on the cape's south coast and the Scorton Neck Firing Range in Sandwich on the cape's north coast. The Scorton Neck range was used for antiaircraft and other training with weapons ranging from .22-caliber small arms to 90-mm antiaircraft guns. The types of weapons used at the Popponesset range are unclear. Reportedly, Scorton Neck was in use for a period of 110 days and Popponesset for 60 days. Another anti-aircraft training center was Camp Wellfleet in eastern Cape Cod.
The Amphibious Training Center (initially the Amphibious Training Command) was activated at Camp Edwards under Army Ground Forces command on 22 May 1942, followed shortly by the Engineer Amphibian Command under the United States Army Corps of Engineers on 10 June 1942. The Amphibious Training Center was initially commanded by Colonel Frank A. Keating. The amphibian command was commanded by Colonel Daniel Noce, with Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Trudeau as his chief of staff. Camp Edwards was selected for being an established post close to beaches. Although it was recognized that it would be unsuitable for training in winter, the initial concept was that training would be concluded by November 1942. Planning originally envisioned an invasion of Europe in 1942, but was changed to support an invasion of North Africa in December 1942.
Initially eight Engineer Amphibian Brigades, redesignated as Engineer Special Brigades in May 1943, were planned to be trained, five of these at Camp Edwards in 1942. This was scaled back, and eventually six brigades were trained, four at Camp Edwards. Three of the six deployed to Europe; the other three to the Pacific. Three satellite camps were established for training, all of them in beach areas on the southern coast of Cape Cod. Camp Cotuit (soon nicknamed Camp Candoit) was in Cotuit.Cotuit at www.armyamphibs.com (archive link) Camp Havedoneit was in Osterville and was also a maintenance facility including the Crosby Yacht boatyard.Impact of World War II on Falmouth at WoodsHoleMuseum.org, p. 6Osterville, MA Cape Cod web page Camp Washburn was on Washburn Island in Falmouth. Training was also conducted on Martha's Vineyard. The 36th Infantry Division and the 45th Infantry Division were the divisions initially involved in training. Those divisions later fought in several European campaigns, including amphibious assaults in Sicily and Salerno, Italy in 1943. The first seasickness pill was also tested by the divisions. In fall 1942 Camp Edwards was "winterized", with the Amphibious Training Center and the brigades in training relocated to Camp Carrabelle (later Camp Gordon Johnston) in Carrabelle, Florida. By December 1943, the Engineer Amphibian Command had largely accomplished its purpose with the training of the 4th Engineer Special Brigade and replacements for the deployed brigades. A small supply staff remained until the command was dissolved in April 1944.
The "Convalescent Hospital" was established at Camp Edwards in 1942. In addition to serving wounded coming back from both theaters, the hospital became famous for its convalescent trains that crossed the country and for its WAAC training program for New England nurses. Over 2500 nurses stopped for training at Camp Edwards before going overseas between 1942 and 1944.
A mock German village was constructed at Edwards in 1942. This was one of the first instances of training for urban warfare.
The East Coast Processing Center was established in October 1943. It was the first such facility in the United States. The center housed men who were AWOL prior to shipping them overseas. Most men stayed for a month before being shipped out. Between 1943 and 1945, more than 40,000 men were processed through this center.