Camp Claiborne facts for kids
Camp Claiborne was a big U.S. Army training camp in central Louisiana. It was used from the 1930s through World War II. The camp covered a huge area, about 23,000 acres (93 square kilometers). You can find where it once stood just north of Forest Hill, near the crossing of U.S. Highway 165 and Louisiana Highway 112.
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A Look Back: Camp Claiborne's Story
The camp first opened on June 10, 1930. It was called Camp Evangeline back then. It got its name from the Evangeline District of the Kisatchie National Forest, where it was located. Later, it was renamed Camp Claiborne after William C.C. Claiborne. He was the first governor of Louisiana. In 1939, workers started making the camp much bigger. It officially became active in 1940.
From 1939 to 1946, more than half a million soldiers trained at Camp Claiborne. The camp was mostly used for basic training and practicing with artillery. This included a nearby bombing range. It was also a place where engineers learned special skills. Soldiers even practiced building and repairing railroads. The 34th Infantry Division trained here. They were one of the first American groups sent to fight in Europe.
In 1941, before the United States joined World War II, the camp was part of the Louisiana Maneuvers. This was a massive training exercise with 400,000 soldiers. Two pretend armies fought each other across a large area. Near the end of the war, German prisoners of war were held at the camp.
Many soldiers, like those from the 32nd and 34th Infantry Divisions, came from northern states. They had never been to the South before. They had to get used to tough basic training. They also had to deal with the hot, humid weather and low-lying land at Camp Claiborne.
Camp Claiborne closed down and was taken apart in 1945. The land was given back to the Kisatchie National Forest. It is now managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Who Trained Here? Famous Army Units
Many different Army units were formed or trained at Camp Claiborne. These included the 84th Infantry Division and the 82nd Airborne Division. The 101st Airborne Division also trained here.
One very special group was the 761st Tank Battalion. They were also known as the Black Panthers. This was the first all-Black tank battalion in U.S. Army history. They were formed and trained right here at Camp Claiborne.
The 'Crime and Punishment' Railroad
To help soldiers practice repairing railroads during wartime, a special railway was built. It was called the Claiborne-Polk Military Railroad. This railroad was about 50 miles long and had 25 bridges. It even crossed the Calcasieu River. Soldiers also used it to learn how to derail trains and put them back on track.
The railroad ran from Camp Claiborne to Camp Polk. Construction started in September 1941 and finished in July 1942. The soldiers who built this railroad later went to Iran. There, they helped run the Trans-Iranian Railroad. You can still see parts of the old locomotive shop today.
Soldiers often called it the "Crime and Punishment" railroad. The engines were 40 years old, and some freight cars were even older. Some European cars had only four wheels and struggled on curves. Derailments happened so often that a crane was always pulled along. Even the crane sometimes derailed! Sometimes the rails would sink into the swamp. It was even reported that one engine was lost in quicksand and is still there.
What Happened to the Buildings?
When Camp Claiborne closed in 1948, many of its buildings were given away or sold. People moved them to different places in the area. Some buildings can still be found in nearby Forest Hill.
For example, the St. Catherine Church uses one of the old military buildings. The Camp Claiborne chapel was moved to Clarence. It is now used as the Clarence Baptist Church. The balcony in the church, now used for storage, was where African American troops sat for worship. White soldiers used the pews on the lower level.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Marksville bought an old building from Camp Claiborne. They turned it into a rectory, which is a home for priests. Some buildings were also bought by Southeastern Louisiana University.
Camp Claiborne Today
Today, the U.S. Forest Service manages the land where the camp once stood. Not much is left of the original camp. You might see part of a gate and a few old building shells. Many of the old streets and parking lots are still there. The Forest Service also takes care of the Claiborne Trail. This is a 26-mile (42-kilometer) trail system for hiking, walking, and biking.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is currently checking the old camp grounds. They want to see if it's possible to remove any old military items that might still be buried there.
