Victory in World War 2 demanded the full contribution of all Americans. Men were drafted for service or given deferment to fill vital roles in the war efforts. Women were called upon to fill auxiliary service roles in the military, but little training existed for them. In May of 1942, the United States Congress authorizedContinue reading “Women’s Army Corps at Camp Ellis”
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Kurt G. Pechmann, POW
November 6, 1943 outside of Naples, Italy. Twenty-one-year-old German Gefreiter Kurt Pechmann surrendered to the British 8th Army. The War was over for him, but his life’s adventure was just beginning. Kurt was born in Silesia in what is now Poland. His father was a stonemason and after the equivalent of 8th grade, heContinue reading “Kurt G. Pechmann, POW”
Prisoners of War at Camp Ellis
US Army Camp Ellis was originally built to train soldiers to support the Army – Quartermasters, Engineers, Medical Personnel, and Transportation among them. Many believe it was originally built to house Prisoners of War, but POWs were not housed at Camp Ellis until the late summer of 1943. Camp Ellis did become the largest POWContinue reading “Prisoners of War at Camp Ellis”
The 1644th Medical Unit at Camp Ellis
WWII US Army Camp Ellis was located between Table Grove and Ipava, IL in 1942. Its primary purpose was to train those soldiers who served as support staff to the armies in Europe and the Pacific. One of the crucial roles Camp Ellis served as the training of medical staff for the soldiers. According toContinue reading “The 1644th Medical Unit at Camp Ellis”
It was 80 years ago….
In the fall of 1941 and spring of 1942, rumors in rural western Fulton county spread quickly. There had been many vehicles in the area with “US Government” printed on the side of them and coffee shop talk involved what the residents of the area thought the government was up to. No one knew for sure. Continue reading “It was 80 years ago….”
Aerial view of Camp Ellis, Illinois
Camp Ellis, Illinois – U.S. Army Sixth Service Command Unit – from an unknown time aerial view. Construction began on the Camp Sept. 17, 1942 and Dedication Day was set for July 4, 1943.
WWII Camp Ellis, Illinois 