Camp Mills facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Camp MillsAviation Concentration Center |
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| Garden City, Long Island, New York | |
Encampment of National Guard soldiers at Camp Mills, New York training for service in World War I
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Location of Camp Mills. Note location of Hazelhurst Field and Aviation Field #2, later becoming Mitchel Field
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| Coordinates | 40°43′32″N 73°36′58″W / 40.72556°N 73.61611°W |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1917 |
Camp Albert L. Mills, often called Camp Mills, was an important military base on Long Island, New York. It was located near New York City in what is now Garden City. The camp was named in September 1917 after Major General Albert L. Mills. He was a brave soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Spanish–American War.
Camp Mills was one of three large camps that helped send soldiers overseas during World War I. It could hold up to 40,000 soldiers at one time. This area of Long Island was home to several military sites during the war. These included Hazelhurst Field and Mitchel Field, which were important airfields.
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Camp Mills: A World War I Military Hub
Camp Mills played a key role in preparing American soldiers for World War I. It was first set up in September 1917 as a temporary tent camp. Its main job was to gather and organize Army units before they went to Europe.
Mobilizing Troops for War
The camp first hosted the 42nd Division, also known as the "Rainbow Division." This division was made up of National Guard units from many different states. After the 42nd Division left for the battlefields in France, the 41st Division arrived. They stayed at the camp from October to November 1917.
The camp was briefly closed but reopened in April 1918. It became part of the New York Port of Embarkation. This meant it was a crucial place for troops to stop before sailing to Europe.
Life at Camp Mills
Camp Mills grew into a large base with many wooden buildings. Thousands of soldiers arrived here from training camps across the United States. They waited at Camp Mills until their ships were ready. Then, they took trains to ferryboats that carried them to piers in Brooklyn or Hoboken. From there, they boarded large troop ships heading to ports like Liverpool, England, or Brest, France.
The camp had many facilities to support the soldiers. These included a hospital, warehouses, a bakery, and even a special plant to clean soldiers' uniforms. At its largest, Camp Mills had about 1,200 buildings. It could hold 46,000 people, including 40,000 soldiers waiting to travel. It also had a detention camp and housing for 5,500 permanent staff.
In September 1918, at the peak of its activity, over 31,000 soldiers were stationed at Camp Mills. Many famous people were assigned to the camp during World War I. These included Douglas MacArthur, Wild Bill Donovan, and writer F. Scott Fitzgerald.
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Returning Home: A Demobilization Center
When World War I ended in November 1918, Camp Mills changed its mission. It became a place where thousands of soldiers returned to the United States. It served as a demobilization center. Many units passed through the camp to be processed out of the Army. Soldiers were then sent home to civilian life.
The last troops returned from Europe in the summer of 1919. The camp was then ordered to be closed and sold. Operations continued until March 31, 1920, when the remaining soldiers left. In 1938, Camp Mills became part of Mitchel Field as the Air Corps expanded.
Aviation Concentration Center
Next to Camp Mills was the Aviation General Supply Depot and Concentration Camp. This was a temporary base used during the war. It shared many facilities with Camp Mills. Its purpose was to organize, train, and equip Air Service troops. These were soldiers who worked with airplanes.
The center was set up in August 1917. It helped Air Service units get ready to go to Europe. After the war ended in November 1918, it helped them return home. This facility also grew with wooden buildings. It was later combined with Hazelhurst Field and became part of Mitchel Field in April 1919.
Camp Mills Today
Today, the area where Camp Mills and the Aviation Concentration Center once stood is part of Garden City. It is now a busy urban community. You wouldn't recognize it as a former military base.
A special monument honors the "Rainbow Division" (42nd Division). It is located at St James Street and Rainbow Place in Garden City. This monument was restored and rededicated on November 11, 2004.
