Fort Meade (2)

 (1917-Present) - First established as a U.S. Army World War I National Army Mobilization and Training Camp in 1917 near Admiral, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Named Camp Meade in G.O. 95, 18 Jul 1917, after Major General George G. Meade, who commanded Union forces at Gettysburg during the U.S. Civil War. Renamed Fort George G. Meade on 5 Mar 1929. Active military installation. Commonly known as Fort Meade.

World War I (1917-1918)
Camp Meade was one of sixteen U.S. Army National Army Mobilization and Training Camps established in 1917 to train and integrate National Army units for service in a U.S. Army division. Camp Meade was established in July 1917 under the supervision of construction quartermaster Major Ralph F. Proctor. The camp was to have a capacity of about 56,000 officers and enlisted men that would become the 79th U.S. Infantry Division. The camp was mostly complete in September 1917 at an eventual cost of $ 17,000,000.

The first commander of the camp was Major General Joseph E. Kuhn who formed the 79th U.S. Infantry Division 25 Aug 1917 and initiated troop training. The 79th arrived in September 1917 and departed for France in Jul 1918. The division distinguished itself in combat suffering 3,223 casualties. The 79th returned to the U.S. in May 1919 and was demobilized.

At the end of the war, the camp became a demobilization center. The post was renamed Fort Leonard Wood (2) in 1928, but angry congressmen held up Army appropriations until it was renamed Fort George G. Meade on 5 Mar 1929.

World War II (1941-1945)
Fort Meade was a training center during World War II and more than 3 million men passed through the post between 1942 and 1946. Starting in 1943 the post housed a POW camp for German and Italian prisoners of war.

Current Status
An active military installation and a part of the U.S. Army Military District of Washington. Houses the National Security Agency and the Fort George Meade Museum.

Sources:
 * , page 387

Links:
 * North American Forts - Fort Meade (2)
 * New River Notes - World War I Forces