Camp Alexander (1)
Camp Alexander (1) (1917-1918) - A U.S. Army World War I Embarkation Camp first established by G.O. 107, 1917, on 7 Sep 1917 as a part of Camp Hill (1) near Newport News, Virginia. Named Camp Alexander on 15 Aug 1918 after Lieutenant John H. Alexander (Cullum 3205), 9th U.S. Cavalry, the second black graduate of United States Military Academy in 1887. Abandoned in 1918.
World War I
One of five U.S. Army Embarkation Camps established in 1917 to house and train troops awaiting shipment overseas. Camp Alexander was established in August 1917 as a part of Camp Hill (1) and later separately named. The camp housed mostly black stevedore regiments and labor battalions awaiting shipment overseas. Thirty labor Battalions were organized and sent overseas from Camp Alexander and three were organized for duty at Newport News. Over 50,000 black enlisted stevedores and laborers were sent overseas from Camp Alexander.
At the end of the war the camp was ordered abandoned on 11 Nov 1918.
Current Status
Markers (2) in Newport News, Newport News Independent City, Virginia.
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Location: The camp was located between Jefferson Ave. and Warwick Blvd., Newport News, Newport News Independent City, Virginia. Map points are marker locations Maps & Images Lat: 37.010516 Long: -76.446106 |
Sources:
- Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 801
- Historical Record of Camp Alexander, Virginia, Statistical Division, Port of Embarkation, Newport News
Links:
- North American Forts - Camp Alexander
- Marker History - Camp Hill and Camp Alexander
- Waymarking - Camp Alexander
Visited: No
Camp Alexander (1) Picture Gallery
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