It must have looked like a western ghost town in early 1946 . Empty buildings from Camp Ellis dotted the farm fields north of Route 10 (now Highway 136) between Table Grove and Ipava. There were 2,200 of them, but just a skeleton crew of personnel remained. As the years passed, the Illinois National GuardContinue reading “Where did Camp Ellis go? Why can’t I see it anymore?”
Tag Archives: WW2
1945 – The Beginning of the End
1945 – the year World War II ended. The Allied forces had been at war for almost six long years when Germany invaded Poland. The year began with Allied success in Europe with the defeat of the Nazi Army in the Battle of the Bulge. Progress was made as the Russian Army liberated Warsaw, Poland. Continue reading “1945 – The Beginning of the End”
He Was Everywhere!
1st/Sgt. Michael Davidson 1st./Sgt. Michael Davidson was nicknamed “Iron Mike” for some reason lost to time. It could have been the fact he had served almost six decades in the military by the time he was assigned to Camp Ellis. He had a colorful story, but yet an incomplete story as not much was personallyContinue reading “He Was Everywhere!”
Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make Do, or Do Without
This famous World War II slogan emphasized the importance of recycling materials for the war effort. My own mother quotes it quite often. The war monopolized her early childhood. She was 2 1/2 years old when Pearl Harbor was bombed and had just turned 5 before VE Day and VJ Day. Her childhood chore wasContinue reading “Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make Do, or Do Without”
Paul Hantz – American POW?
Several years ago, I read the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center – “Transcript of an Oral History Interview with KURT G. PECHMANN Private, German Army, World War II, 1996.” Mr. Pechmann was a German POW at Camp Ellis. Kurt’s story sounds like a war movie and worth the read alone. This incredible story brought theContinue reading “Paul Hantz – American POW?”
That’s Entertainment!
When the army dropped a military camp in the middle of western Illinois in 1942, they no doubt anticipated the challenge of keeping the soldiers occupied outside of military life. USOs were set up in Ipava, Macomb, Lewistown, and even as far away as Peoria, but weekend passes often led to trouble in nearby towns. Continue reading “That’s Entertainment!”
Dedication Day at Camp Ellis – the largest event in Fulton County, IL history
Sunday, July 4, 1943, was a sweltering day. The National Weather Service recorded a high of 89 degrees with a little over ½ inch of rainfall for the day. It was hot, sticky, and humid like the most uncomfortable July day can be in central Illinois, but it was also Dedication Day at Camp Ellis,Continue reading “Dedication Day at Camp Ellis – the largest event in Fulton County, IL history”
Reconditioning Program – the precursor to today’s Physical Therapy
The Medical Units at Camp Ellis were as progressive as can be. M*A*S*H* units were developed at Camp Ellis along with many other programs that would affect U.S. soldiers’ ability to survive the war. The Reconditioning Unit at the Hospital at Camp Ellis introduced soldiers to the idea of using recreation and exercise to rehabilitateContinue reading “Reconditioning Program – the precursor to today’s Physical Therapy”
Black soldiers at Camp Ellis
by Julie Terstriep In 1940, Fulton County, Illinois, boasted a total population of more than 44,000 individuals. By 1950, the population had dropped to a little over 43,000, but the years in between brought hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians to the county to train and work at Camp Ellis. Statistics of that populationContinue reading “Black soldiers at Camp Ellis”
Women’s Army Corps at Camp Ellis
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”
WWII Camp Ellis, Illinois 