Camp Kilmer facts for kids
Located in Central New Jersey, Camp Kilmer was a very important former United States Army camp. It opened in June 1942 during World War II. Its main job was to get soldiers ready to go overseas to fight in Europe. It was also a place where soldiers came back to after the war. Over 2.5 million soldiers passed through Camp Kilmer, making it the biggest center for troops during and after World War II. The camp officially closed in 2009.
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What Was Camp Kilmer?
Camp Kilmer was named after Joyce Kilmer. He was a poet who died fighting in World War I. His home was close by in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
The army chose this spot in 1941 because it was perfect for sending troops from the New York City area. Building the camp started in early 1942. It was located in Piscataway Township, New Jersey and Edison Township, New Jersey. New Brunswick was just two miles south. New York City was about 22 miles away. Soldiers could easily travel by train from the camp to ships waiting to take them across the ocean.
The camp opened in June 1942. The first group of soldiers arrived on July 22, 1942. The buildings were made of wood. They were painted in bright, contrasting colors. This was a type of camouflage, like the "dazzle camouflage" used on ships. Camp Kilmer had ten main areas called "Disposition Areas." These were barracks where soldiers stayed while waiting for their ships to Europe.
At Camp Kilmer, soldiers sent their personal things home. They also got medical shots and all the supplies they needed. Then, they boarded ships to go to Europe. After the war ended in Europe (called V-E Day), the camp helped soldiers return home. It processed them before sending them to their final stations. The camp stayed busy until late 1949 when it was no longer needed for this purpose.
Camp Kilmer After World War II
In late 1950, when the Korean War began, Camp Kilmer was opened again. It became inactive in June 1955. However, it still helped soldiers coming back from Europe get discharged. In November 1956, it became a temporary home for refugees from the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. About 30,000 refugees stayed there until June 1957. Many of them later settled in nearby New Brunswick, New Jersey, which already had a large Hungarian community.
In March 1958, Camp Kilmer became the main office for the U.S. Army II Corps. This group managed United States Army Reserve units in the Northeast. The camp also had a special place to fix and maintain parts for Nike/Hercules missiles.
What Happened to Camp Kilmer?
In 1963, most of the camp's land, about 1600 acres, was sold. Local governments and Rutgers University bought it. Today, the Livingston College campus of Rutgers University sits on 540 acres that Rutgers bought in 1964.
Some parts of the old camp are still used today. The Edison Job Corps uses some of the original barracks, the chapel, and the flagpole. The Timothy Christian School also uses a few of the old buildings. The camp's original headquarters building is still there. It is now used by the Rutgers Makerspace.
The concentration camp scenes for the 1964 movie The Pawnbroker were filmed in a part of Camp Kilmer. This area had been used for moving prisoners of war.
For many years, the remaining parts of Camp Kilmer were known as the Sergeant Joyce Kilmer Reserve Center. It was home to the Headquarters of the 78th Division (TS). This unit helps train other Army Reserve and Army National Guard units.
After the September 11 attacks in 2001, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) set up a temporary office at the facility.
The Sergeant Joyce Kilmer Reserve Center officially closed in October 2009. The last army units moved to Fort Dix. By Fall 2014, the Edison Township Public Works Department took over the last section of Camp Kilmer.
Famous Visitors
Some famous people visited Camp Kilmer. New York Yankee baseball star Joe DiMaggio and comedian Red Skelton were both in the Army and spent time there. DiMaggio signed baseballs for wounded soldiers. He also gave lessons on hitting and fielding. Skelton visited the hospital to make soldiers laugh. Many other celebrities, like Betty Grable and Benny Goodman, also came to put on shows for the troops.
