Camp Meade

Camp Meade. Established in 1917 as a major training cantonment for the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I, it was named for George G. Meade, the victorious Union commander at the Battle of Gettysburg. The installation evolved through the 20th century, serving as a pivotal hub for Army Service Forces logistics, intelligence training, and military police operations, eventually becoming a enduring headquarters for United States Army Reserve and National Guard commands. Its legacy is deeply intertwined with the development of nearby Fort George G. Meade, a major United States Department of Defense intelligence and cyber center.

History

The site for the camp was selected by a board of Army engineers in the summer of 1917, amidst the rapid military expansion following the American entry into World War I. Located between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., its proximity to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was strategically vital for moving troops and materiel. Initial construction was overseen by the Construction Division of the Quartermaster Corps, transforming rural Maryland farmland into one of the nation's largest training centers almost overnight. The camp's activation was part of a broader mobilization that included other major installations like Camp Dix and Camp Funston.

World War I era

During the war, it functioned as a primary training ground for infantry divisions, including the 79th Division and the 29th Division. The facility also housed a large replacement depot, processing thousands of draftees through the Selective Service Act of 1917. Training emphasized trench warfare tactics, chemical defense, and the use of new technologies like the M1917 Browning machine gun. Furthermore, it contained one of sixteen camps established for the Negro training division, which faced segregated conditions under policies endorsed by the Woodrow Wilson administration and implemented by the War Department.

Interwar period and World War II

Following the Armistice of 11 November 1918, the camp was significantly reduced but remained active, briefly serving as a demobilization center. In the 1920s, it was home to the Third Corps Area and hosted various cavalry and field artillery units. With the onset of World War II, the installation was dramatically expanded again under the leadership of the Services of Supply. It became a critical training site for the Army Service Forces, specializing in logistics, supply, and transportation corps functions. The Military Police School was established there, and the post also hosted a secret Office of Strategic Services training facility for intelligence operatives.

Postwar use and legacy

After 1945, the original cantonment area was largely repurposed, with much of its former territory absorbed by the growing adjacent Fort George G. Meade. The remaining active portion was redesignated as a support installation. It became the long-standing headquarters for the First Army, overseeing the training and readiness of Army Reserve units across the Northeastern United States. The installation also hosts the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) and elements of the Defense Information Systems Agency. Its historical core is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Notable personnel

Many distinguished individuals were stationed or trained at the camp. World War I figures include General John J. Pershing, who inspected troops there. During the interwar years, future General of the Army George C. Marshall served on the staff. Notable World War II trainees included baseball legend and 357th Infantry Regiment officer Jackie Robinson before his transfer to the 761st Tank Battalion. Famed OSS operative and later CIA officer William J. Donovan oversaw training activities at the camp's secret facilities.