Camp Patrick Henry facts for kids

Camp Patrick Henry was an important United States Army base. It was located in Warwick County, Virginia. The camp was used during World War II.

After the war, the land was turned into a commercial airport. This airport is now known as Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport. In 1958, the area became part of the City of Newport News.

A Busy Place During World War II

A guide for soldiers at Camp Patrick Henry

Camp Patrick Henry was mainly a "troop staging ground" during World War II. This means it was a place where soldiers gathered before they traveled overseas. The camp was controlled by the Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation.

The camp started in late 1942. It was built on about 1,700-acre (6.9 km²) of land. At its busiest, Camp Patrick Henry could hold about 35,000 people at one time.

Soldiers from all parts of the American military stayed there. Troops from other friendly countries, called Allied armies, also passed through. Even civilians going on special missions overseas used the camp.

Many different military groups, called "units," were prepared here. In 1943, important groups like the 45th "Thunderbird" and the 88th "Blue Devils" Infantry Divisions were processed. In 1944, the camp handled the 31st "Dixie" and the 92nd "Buffalo" Infantry Divisions.

Almost 1.5 million people passed through Camp Patrick Henry during the war. Most of them were heading to Europe. After the war, the camp also helped many soldiers return home.

The camp had its own post office, restaurant, and movie theater. It even had a train system. This system took soldiers directly from the camp to the ships at the James River.

Prisoners of War at the Camp

A coupon for prisoners of war to use at the camp store

Camp Patrick Henry also held prisoners of war (POWs). Between 1944 and 1945, over 5,000 German prisoners stayed there.

These prisoners helped with work in the area. This was allowed by the Geneva Conventions, which are rules for how prisoners of war should be treated. The first German POWs at the camp were from the Afrika Korps. They had been captured in North Africa in 1943.

The camp had a special store, called a "canteen," for the prisoners. They could use coupons to buy certain items there.

After the War

After World War II, Camp Patrick Henry was closed down. About 925 acres (3.74 km²) of the land was given to the Peninsula Airport Commission. This was to build a regional airport.

This airport, called Patrick Henry Field, opened in 1949. It later became the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport we know today.

The U.S. Army did keep a small part of the complex. They used it for a Nike Missile site until the late 1970s. After that, the entire base was permanently closed.

Today

You can find a historical marker in front of the airport terminal today. It tells the story of Camp Patrick Henry.

The marker says: Camp Patrick Henry Dec. 1, 1942 - Jan. 31, 1945

It mentions that the camp was named after Patrick Henry, a famous Virginian. It also states that the 1,700-acre Army base could hold 35,000 people. It was a key part of the Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation. Nearly 1.5 million people passed through the camp. After it closed, the land was sold in 1949 for community development.

Images for kids

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  Camp Headquarters

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  469th Army Service Force Band

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  Telephone Center, Area 6

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  Red Cross workers assembled at the IP