Camp Devens

Camp Devens. Established in 1917 as a major United States Army training cantonment, it played a pivotal role in preparing the American Expeditionary Forces for World War I. The camp was later redesignated Fort Devens and expanded significantly for World War II, serving as a key induction, training, and prisoner-of-war facility. After periods of closure and reactivation, the site continues its military mission today as Devens Reserve Forces Training Area, operated by the Massachusetts National Guard.

History

The land for the installation was acquired in 1917 under the authority of the United States Department of War to meet the urgent need for training facilities following the American entry into World War I. Named for Charles Devens, a Union Army general and former Attorney General of the United States, the camp was constructed with remarkable speed by the Quartermaster Corps. Its early history is deeply intertwined with the 76th Infantry Division, which organized and trained there under the command of Major General Harry F. Hodges. Following the Armistice of 11 November 1918, the camp processed thousands of soldiers through its Demobilization center before being largely deactivated in the 1920s, though it remained a summer training site for the Organized Reserve Corps.

World War I

During the Great War, Camp Devens functioned as one of the nation's primary mobilization hubs, with its population swelling to over 40,000 troops. The 4th Infantry Division and the 12th Infantry Division were also activated and trained at the cantonment before deploying to the Western Front. The camp faced a severe crisis during the 1918 flu pandemic, which overwhelmed its hospital facilities and resulted in hundreds of soldier fatalities, an event documented by physicians like William Henry Welch. Notable wartime visitors included the Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt and the French military liaison officer Marshal Joseph Joffre, who reviewed the troops. After the war, the site briefly housed units like the 26th "Yankee" Division during its reorganization.

World War II and later use

Reactivated in 1940, the post was renamed Fort Devens and expanded dramatically, becoming a major reception center for the New England region under the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940. It trained numerous units, including the 1st Infantry Division and the 32nd Infantry Division, and hosted a significant German prisoner-of-war camp. During the Cold War, it was home to the 10th Special Forces Group and the United States Army Intelligence Center, and later supported the Vietnam War effort. Following recommendations by the Base Realignment and Closure commission, the Army closed most of the post in 1995, transferring the core area to the Massachusetts National Guard while other portions were redeveloped into the civilian community of Devens, Massachusetts.

Facilities and layout

The original cantonment covered over 5,000 acres and was designed with a standard grid pattern of wooden barracks, administrative buildings, and extensive training ranges. Key facilities included the large Base Hospital complex, a massive mess hall capable of feeding thousands, and the historic Moore Army Airfield for aviation training. The post infrastructure grew to include the Fort Devens Museum, the USO club for soldier recreation, and the Saint Catherine of Siena Church. The nearby Nashua River and Willard Brook State Forest provided areas for field exercises. The modern training area retains many ranges and the Devens Cemetery, a National Cemetery affiliate.

Notable personnel

Many distinguished individuals served or were associated with the installation. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall was stationed here as a young officer in the Army Air Corps. Renowned scientist and Nobel laureate Isidor Isaac Rabi worked at the camp's laboratory during World War I. Military figures include General John J. Pershing, who inspected troops, and Colonel Omar Bradley, who commanded a training battalion. The camp was also the initial mustering point for the famed African-American regiment, the 369th Infantry "Harlem Hellfighters". In later years, astronaut John Glenn trained at the post, and Senator John McCain attended military school there as a teenager.

Category:Military installations in Massachusetts Category:World War I sites in the United States Category:1917 establishments in Massachusetts