Camp Grant (5)

 (1917-1946) - A U.S. Army National Army Training Camp established in 1917 during World War I in Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois. Named 15 Jul 1917 for General Ulysses S. Grant. Abandoned after World War II in 1946.

World War I (1917-1918)
One of sixteen National Army Training Camps established in 1917 to train World War I draftees. Camp Grant was established in 18 Jul 1917 under the supervision of construction quartermaster Major D. H. Sawyer on a site of about 3,338 acres of land near Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois. The camp was an infantry replacement and training post for National Army draftees and others. The cantonment had some 1,515 temporary World War I type buildings and a capacity for 63,000 troops at an eventual cost of $ 18,000,000.

The first commander of the camp was Major General Thomas H. Barry, who organized the 86th Infantry Division on 25 Aug 1917 and began troop training. The 86th arrived in September 1917 and departed for France on starting on 28 Oct 1918. The division was immediately skeletonized leaving token numbers in the 86th units with the majority of troops going to other divisions as replacements. The 86th returned to the U.S. and was demobilized in January 1919.

At the end of the war the post became a demobilization center for returning troops on 3 Dec 1918.

In 1924 the camp was turned over to the Illinois National Guard.

Between World War I and World War II the camp was used by the Illinois National Guard for training and as a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp.

World War II (1941-1945)
The camp site was federalized in 1940 during the run up to World War II and rebuilt with temporary World War II buildings. It became a Selective Service Reception Center and Medical Corps. Replacement Center. After the war much of the site became the Rockford Airport.

Current Status
Few remains in Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois. The Camp Grant Museum is located in one of the original camp fire station buildings.

Sources:
 * , page 263

Links:
 * North American Forts - Camp Grant
 * Wikipedia - Camp Grant
 * GG Archives - Camp Grant
 * Camp Grant Museum