Camp Upton facts for kids
Camp Upton was a very important military base for the United States Army. It was used during both World War I and World War II. The camp was located in Yaphank, New York, on Long Island. Today, this same spot is home to the Brookhaven National Laboratory.
During World War I, Camp Upton was a place where soldiers gathered before sailing overseas. In World War II, it became a center for new recruits, a place to hold people from enemy countries, and a hospital.
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History of Camp Upton
Camp Upton in World War I
Camp Upton was built in 1917 to hold up to 18,000 soldiers. It was one of the main camps in New York where troops waited to board ships. The camp was named after Emory Upton, a general from the American Civil War.
Soldiers would arrive at Camp Upton and get ready for their service. Then, they would travel by train to ferryboats. These boats would take them to piers in Brooklyn or Hoboken, where they would board large troop ships to go overseas.
The 152nd Depot Brigade was the group in charge of Camp Upton. They welcomed new soldiers and prepared them for war. After the war, they also helped soldiers return to civilian life. Famous people like Irving Berlin, a well-known composer, and Alvin York, a highly decorated soldier, passed through Camp Upton. The 77th Division and parts of the 82nd Infantry Division were also formed or stayed here.
After World War I ended, the camp helped soldiers go home and military units close down. Many units, including the 327th Infantry and the 325th Infantry, were processed here.
In 1919, Camp Upton started a special program called the Recruit Educational Center. This program taught foreign-born soldiers who didn't speak English, or couldn't read, how to speak English. It also taught them about U.S. history, government, and what it meant to be an American citizen. Soldiers who finished this program could join the army for three years. After that, they could become American citizens.
In 1921, the government sold the buildings at Camp Upton but kept the land. Some of the old camp buildings were even moved to help create the first large town at Cherry Grove, New York.
Camp Upton in World War II
Camp Upton was used again when the U.S. got ready for World War II in 1940. It became a center where new soldiers joined the army. Later, it was used to hold citizens from Germany, Italy, and Japan who were in New York City when the war started. These people were moved to another camp in Maryland in 1943. By September 1944, Camp Upton became a hospital for soldiers who were recovering from injuries or illness.
Camp Upton Becomes Brookhaven National Laboratory
After the camp closed in 1946, the government decided to build a new science center there. They wanted to continue America's lead in nuclear research. So, the land that was once Camp Upton became Brookhaven National Laboratory. This lab is run by a group of universities and focuses on scientific discoveries.
In Popular Culture
While he was stationed at Camp Upton, the famous composer Irving Berlin wrote a musical called Yip, Yip, Yaphank. This musical included his very famous song, "Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning." The musical was later made into a movie in 1943 called This Is The Army, which starred Ronald Reagan.
