Camp White, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Camp White was an Army
training base in Jackson County
, Oregon
, United States
, during World War II
. It was also the site of a prisoner-of-war (POW) camp
. The camp was named in honor of George A. White
, who served as adjutant general
for Oregon starting in 1915. The camp was dedicated September 15, 1942. Many of the troops trained at Camp White participated in the Oregon Maneuver
combat exercise in the fall of 1943. The camp was deactivated in April 1946. There was a Camp White post office from 1942–1960, when the name was changed to White City
.
program produced by Southern Oregon Public Television (SOPTV) chronicling the transformation of rural Southern Oregon
during World War II and focusing on the Camp White military facility. It is one of several programs produced by SOPTV documenting the history of Southern Oregon.
On December 12, 1942, Congress
appropriated $27 million to transform the Agate Desert
into Camp White. The documentary chronicles the stories of the troops that were trained in this "Alcatraz
of Boot Camps" and the impact of the military base on the Southern Oregon economy. Exclusive photos and interviews with the soldiers help bring this story to life. This program was produced in cooperation with the Camp White Military Museum.
42.4375°N 122.85833°W
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
training base in Jackson County
Jackson County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument* Crater Lake National Park * Klamath National Forest * Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest * Umpqua National Forest -Demographics:...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was also the site of a prisoner-of-war (POW) camp
Prisoner-of-war camp
A prisoner-of-war camp is a site for the containment of combatants captured by their enemy in time of war, and is similar to an internment camp which is used for civilian populations. A prisoner of war is generally a soldier, sailor, or airman who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or...
. The camp was named in honor of George A. White
George A. White
Major General George A. White was an American author, journalist and Major General in the first half of the 20th century...
, who served as adjutant general
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
for Oregon starting in 1915. The camp was dedicated September 15, 1942. Many of the troops trained at Camp White participated in the Oregon Maneuver
Oregon Maneuver
The Oregon Maneuver was a large scale military training exercise held in Central Oregon in 1943. The exercise was designed to test United States Army units prior to deployment in support of Allied combat operations in World War II. The maneuver included approximately 100,000 men...
combat exercise in the fall of 1943. The camp was deactivated in April 1946. There was a Camp White post office from 1942–1960, when the name was changed to White City
White City, Oregon
White City is an unincorporated community in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined White City as a census-designated place . The census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with...
.
Documentary
The Camp White Story: Southern Oregon Goes to War is a documentaryDocumentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
program produced by Southern Oregon Public Television (SOPTV) chronicling the transformation of rural Southern Oregon
Southern Oregon
Southern Oregon is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon south of Lane County and generally west of the Cascade Range, excluding the southern Oregon Coast. Counties include Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, and Josephine. It includes the Southern Oregon American Viticultural Area, which consists of the...
during World War II and focusing on the Camp White military facility. It is one of several programs produced by SOPTV documenting the history of Southern Oregon.
On December 12, 1942, Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
appropriated $27 million to transform the Agate Desert
Agate Desert
The Agate Desert is a prairie located Jackson County, Oregon, United States, in the area of White City. Much of the World War II army training base Camp White was built in the Agate Desert...
into Camp White. The documentary chronicles the stories of the troops that were trained in this "Alcatraz
Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island is an island located in the San Francisco Bay, offshore from San Francisco, California, United States. Often referred to as "The Rock" or simply "Traz", the small island was developed with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, a military prison, and a Federal...
of Boot Camps" and the impact of the military base on the Southern Oregon economy. Exclusive photos and interviews with the soldiers help bring this story to life. This program was produced in cooperation with the Camp White Military Museum.
See also
- Denman Wildlife AreaDenman Wildlife AreaThe Denman Wildlife Area is a wildlife management area located near Eagle Point, Oregon, in the United States...
- List of POW camps in the United States
- List of United States Army installations
External links
42.4375°N 122.85833°W