Camp Wheeler (2)

 (1917-1919, 1940-1945) - A U.S. Army World War I National Guard Mobilization and Training Camp first established in 1917 near Macon, Bibb County, Georgia. Named Camp Wheeler in G.O. 95, 18 Jul 1917, after Lieutenant General Joseph Wheeler, Confederate General during the U.S. Civil War and later a Brigadier General in the U.S. Army during the Spanish American War. Abandoned in 1919. Reactivated in 1940 for World War II and deactivated in 1945.

World War I (1917-1918)
One of sixteen U.S. Army National Guard Mobilization and Training Camps established in 1917 to train and integrate National Guard units for service in a U.S. Army division. Camp Wheeler was established in July 1917 under the supervision of construction quartermaster Major Walter Hernwood on a site of about 21,480 acres. The camp was to have a capacity of about 43,000 officers and enlisted men that would become the 31st U.S. Infantry Division. The camp was completed in 1917 at an eventual cost of $ 3,900,000.

The first commander of the camp was Major General Francis J. Kernan who formed the 31st U.S. Infantry Division and initiated troop training. The 31st arrived in October 1917 and departed for France on 1918-10-21. The 31st returned to the U.S. and was demobilized in Dec 1918. When the 31st arrived in France it was skeletonized and its members were dispersed as replacements for other units leaving only a token number of troops in the 31st. The 31st did not see combat as a unit.

At the end of the war the camp became a demobilization center until it was abandoned in April 1919.

World War II (1941-1945)
Camp Wheeler was reactivated in 1940 on 14,394 acres of the original site and was used as a training camp and prisoner of war camp until 1945. Colonel A. R. Emery was the first camp commander. A 1,000 bed hospital was constructed for returning wounded soldiers.

After the war the camp was abandoned as surplus property on 19 Jan 1946. The leased land returned to its owners.

Current Status
Marker only near Macon, Bibb County, Georgia.

Sources:
 * , page 239

Links:
 * North American Forts - Camp Wheeler
 * Wikipedia - Camp Wheeler
 * Waymarking - Camp Wheeler
 * New River Notes - 31st U.S. Infantry Division