Camp Ellis

Camp Ellis was a United States World War II Army Service Forces Unit Training Center[1] and prisoner-of-war camp between the towns of Bernadotte, Ipava, and Table Grove in Fulton County, Illinois.[2] Construction began on 17 September 1942,[2] and the camp opened on 16 April 1943,[1] with an official dedication 14 July 1943.[2] German prisoners of war were guarded by the 475th and 476th Military Police Escort Guard Companies.[3] Training activities ended in November 1944.[2]

History

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According to the Pentagon Report on Camp Ellis, the camp was officially occupied on 1 February 1943 under the Sixth Service Command. It included facilities of: USF Unit Training Center, Engineer and Medical Officers Replacement Pools, Training Center & POW Camp.

Effective as of 1 October 1945 Camp Ellis, Illinois was placed in the Category of surplus (entire camp). 17,478 acres WD owned at cost to Govt (land and buildings of $23,076,438 certified to SPS (WD-#257) 11 October 1945).

The Shawnee National Forest, Camp Ellis, and Illinois maneuver area were transferred to the Department of Agriculture 29 November 1945 (35,375 acres Public Lands).

Effective 11 December 1945, the Camp Ellis Military Reservation, Illinois, entire camp 28,557 military housing, 17,455 acres WD owned, at cost to Govt. (land and buildings) of $23,076,438 was withdrawn from surplus and placed in inactive revocable license to State of Illinois as National Guard Camp-per Monthly Progress Report, OCE, dated 30 January 1946.

Camp Ellis, Military Reservation, Ill., designated as Class II installation, subject to re-entry upon 120 days' notice, under the jurisdiction of the Commanding General, Army Ground Forces, 22 March 1946.

Effective 25 September 1946 reclassified as a Class I installation under jurisdiction of Commanding General, Fifth Army.

Camp Ellis, Table Grove, Ill., inactive 11 December 1945, except housing surplus 8 January 1947.

5013th ASF, Camp Ellis, Ill. reorganized under T/D #205-1013, Fifth Army, Chicago, Ill. December 1947, and 30 June 1948.

Effective 30 November 1949, Camp Ellis, Ill., less certain facilities to be retained for use by Illinois National Guard, was declared excess to requirements of Department of Army and was approved for disposal (DA Cir120), 1 December 1949." Pentagon Report on Camp Ellis[4]

The camp was named after Sergeant Michael B. Ellis, a World War I Medal of Honor recipient from East Saint Louis, Illinois.[1][5]

Units served

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Engineers Training at Camp Ellis, Illinois.
  1. 3052nd Quartermaster Salvage Col Co.
  2. 738th Engineer Base Depot Company
  3. 567th Engineer Dump Truck Company
  4. 539th Salvage Repair Company
  5. 475th Military Police Escort Guard Company
  6. 476th Military Police Escort Guard Company
  7. 4624th Service Unit (WAC)
  8. 1303rd Engineer General Service Regiment Activated on 15 July 1943
  9. 123rd Infantry Company A
  10. 1317th Engineer General Service Regiment
  11. 1332nd Engineer Regiment (African-American Unit)
  12. 371st Engineer Construction Battalion
  13. 520th Transportation Battalion
  14. 548th CSB
  15. 600th Quartermaster Company
  16. 533rd CSB
  17. 123rd Infantry
  18. 181st Transportation Battalion Activated 25 June 1943
  19. 16th Company, 133rd Battalion, 30th Training Regiment. Capt. WM. J. Courchesne, Comdg., 1st Sgt. J. V. Salyard. July 1945[6]
  20. 3184 QUARTERMASTER SERVICE COMPANY APRIL 1944 (African-American Unit Cpl. Howard W. Jones)
  21. 4624th Unit of Women's Army Corps arrive in Camp Ellis 6 January 1944[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Army Service Forces Unit Training Center: Camp Ellis, Illinois". p. 2. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d "History". Fulton County Tourism Council. 16 August 2007. Archived from the original on 15 September 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2007.
  3. ^ "Units that Served / Trained at Camp Ellis". 26 August 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2007.
  4. ^ Bornder, Marjorie Rich. Camp Ellis, Illinois: From Cornfields to Marching Feet. Henington Publishing Company: Texas. 130-131. Print.
  5. ^ "The Story of Camp Ellis". p. 4. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2007.
  6. ^ company class photo
  7. ^ "First WAC Company Arrives at Ellis". Vol. 1, no. 40. United States Army. Camp Ellis News. 21 January 1944.
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40°22′28″N 90°21′30″W / 40.37444°N 90.35833°W / 40.37444; -90.35833

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