Camp Myles Standish
Encyclopedia
Camp Myles Standish was a U.S. Army camp located in Taunton, Massachusetts
. It functioned as a prisoner-of-war camp
, a departure area for about a million U.S. and Allied soldiers; and a candidate site for the United Nations Headquarters
, soon after the military camp
closed.
was notified in June 1942 by the War Department what 1500 acres (6.1 km²) would be taken for use as a military staging area. The design of the layout for the camp was made by the J.F.Worcester Company. The Matthew Cummings Company of Boston received the contract to construct the buildings. The camp opened on October 8, 1942 and was named in honor of Myles Standish who was the first military commander in the Old Colony
region. Camp Myles Standish represented the Boston Port of Embarkation where American soldiers as well as soldiers from Canada
, Great Britain
and Australia
process before engaging in the European Theater of World War II.
As the camp functioned as the port of embarkation, a quartermaster was set up so an entire division could be prepared for deployment within a day. Often, divisions would go to Africa
or Iceland
. This made train traffic understandably chaotic, with trains regularly coming into town from Providence, Rhode Island
Springfield, Massachusetts
and Boston
. The yard itself, run by the New Haven Railroad, contained about ten miles of track.
German soldiers who were captured during the war were detained at this camp. Also, Italian soldiers were detained there as well although they were considered 'co-belligerents' because Italy
had surrendered by the time the Italian soldiers arrived at Camp Myles Standish.
The camp closed in January 1946 following World War II. The site of Camp Myles Standish was briefly considered as a possible site for the United Nations
.
There are several buildings that were once part of Camp Myles Standish that still remain standing as of 2009.
The City of Taunton acquired over 700 acres (2.8 km²) of the former army camp in 1973 for the purpose of constructing a modern industrial park. The Myles Standish Industrial Park has continued to expand and has become one of the most successful industrial parks in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Taunton, Massachusetts
Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the seat of Bristol County and the hub of the Greater Taunton Area. The city is located south of Boston, east of Providence, north of Fall River and west of Plymouth. The City of Taunton is situated on the Taunton River...
. It functioned as a prisoner-of-war 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...
, a departure area for about a million U.S. and Allied soldiers; and a candidate site for the United Nations Headquarters
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, soon after the military camp
Military camp
A military camp or bivouac is a semi-permanent facility for the lodging of an army. Camps are erected when a military force travels away from a major installation or fort during training or operations, and often have the form of large campsites. In the Roman era the military camp had highly...
closed.
History
The city of TauntonTaunton, Massachusetts
Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the seat of Bristol County and the hub of the Greater Taunton Area. The city is located south of Boston, east of Providence, north of Fall River and west of Plymouth. The City of Taunton is situated on the Taunton River...
was notified in June 1942 by the War Department what 1500 acres (6.1 km²) would be taken for use as a military staging area. The design of the layout for the camp was made by the J.F.Worcester Company. The Matthew Cummings Company of Boston received the contract to construct the buildings. The camp opened on October 8, 1942 and was named in honor of Myles Standish who was the first military commander in the Old Colony
Old Colony
Old Colony has the following meanings:*The Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts**The Old Colony Historical Society in Taunton, Massachusetts**The Old Colony Housing Project in Boston, Massachusetts...
region. Camp Myles Standish represented the Boston Port of Embarkation where American soldiers as well as soldiers from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
process before engaging in the European Theater of World War II.
As the camp functioned as the port of embarkation, a quartermaster was set up so an entire division could be prepared for deployment within a day. Often, divisions would go to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
or Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. This made train traffic understandably chaotic, with trains regularly coming into town from Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
and Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. The yard itself, run by the New Haven Railroad, contained about ten miles of track.
German soldiers who were captured during the war were detained at this camp. Also, Italian soldiers were detained there as well although they were considered 'co-belligerents' because Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
had surrendered by the time the Italian soldiers arrived at Camp Myles Standish.
The camp closed in January 1946 following World War II. The site of Camp Myles Standish was briefly considered as a possible site for the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
There are several buildings that were once part of Camp Myles Standish that still remain standing as of 2009.
Redevelopment
Massachusetts took it over from the federal government to create the Myles Standish State School for the Mentally Retarded. The patients of the institution were housed in the former hospital area for the former army camp. In 1951, Governor Paul A. Dever was instrumental in providing for over two dozen new brick buildings on the south part of the former army camp site as the new campus for the metally retarded patients of the Myles Standish State School. Following the death of former Governor Paul A. Dever, the Myles Standish State School was dedicated in memory of Paul A. Dever.The City of Taunton acquired over 700 acres (2.8 km²) of the former army camp in 1973 for the purpose of constructing a modern industrial park. The Myles Standish Industrial Park has continued to expand and has become one of the most successful industrial parks in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Units that passed through
- 106th Infantry Division
- 10th Tank Battalion
- 11th Armored Division
- 172nd Infantry Brigade
- 17th Airborne Division
- 17th Field Artillery Brigade
- 20th Fighter Group
- 26th Infantry Division26th Infantry Division (United States)The 26th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the United States Army. As a major formation of the Massachusetts Army National Guard, it was based in Boston, Massachusetts for most of its history...
- 29th Transport Squadron
- 34th Tank Battalion
- 372nd Military Police Company
- 395th Infantry Regiment
- 452d Bombardment Squadron (Medium)
- 361st Fighter Squadron
- 47th Troop Carrier Squadron47th Troop Carrier SquadronThe 47th Tactical Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 463d Tactical Airlift Wing stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. It was inactivated on 1 August 1973.-History:...
- 49th Troop Carrier Squadron49th Troop Carrier SquadronThe 49th Troop Carrier Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 313th Troop Carrier Group stationed at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts...
- 501st Infantry Regiment
- 555th Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion
- 57th Fighter Group
- 5th Ranger Battalion
- 68th Armor Regiment
- 70th Infantry Division
- 99th Bombardment Wing99th Bombardment Wing (World War II)The 97th Bombardment Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Force Reserve, based at Bedford Field, Massachusetts...
- III Corps
