My Old Kentucky Home Camp Campbell, Kentucky On July 16 1941, the United States Army selected an area divided by the Kentucky-Tennessee line as the site for a new military installation. Construction of the post began in February 1942 and Camp Campbell became the name of the base a month later. The dedication honored William Bowen Campbell, an army veteran of the Seminole Indian, and the Mexican wars, a Tennessee Congressman and a Tennessee Governor. With two thirds of the post located in Tennessee and the post office located in Kentucky, determining the official address of Camp Campbell was difficult. Because of its close proximity to Clarksville, the war department, on 6th of March 1942, designated Tennessee as the official address. Then, six months later without explanation, they reversed themselves and named Kentucky as the permanent address. (Probably Kentucky had the most senior and influential Federal politicians I expect) When leaving the post at the north or west gate you were in Kentucky and the nearest town was Hopkinsville, on the south or east end you entered Tennessee and the nearest town was Clarksville, and only some forty odd miles from the large town of Nashville. Known as "Music City" home of the "Grand 'ole Opry" which many of us visited. Initially designed and constructed to accommodate twenty three thousand soldiers or one armored division and installation support troops. Camp Campbell became during World War Two the training ground for the 8th, 12th, 14th and 20th armored divisions, and the 26th infantry division. At the same time, Camp Campbell was also headquarters for the Twenty Second Corps (Which the 275th Armored Field Artillery Battalion was attached to, or was a part of, at least as far as rations were concerned) and the Fourth Armored Corps. Campbell was built on a 105,000 acre reservation, which was more than twice the size in area of our old Camp Phillips, Kansas. The housing facilities were much nicer than Camp Phillips, which would not be saying a lot. The 275th Armored Field Artillery Battalion was stationed at Camp Campbell from Feb. 1st 1944 until it left for Camp Shanks, New York and its overseas assignment on June 22nd 1944. Accorded permanent military status on April 15th 1950, Camp Campbell became Fort Campbell. Fort Campbell is probably best known today as the home of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) (Screaming Eagles). Who were the war time defenders of Bastogne, and General Anthony C. McAuliffe's often quoted now famous "Nuts". Continually growing throughout a period of fifty years. Fort Campbell has trained and provided soldiers and combat units for World War Two, Korea, Vietnam and Southwest Asia. The veterans of the 275th Armored Field Artillery Battalion would probably have trouble recognizing any part of the post now. Today's modern day soldiers live like kings compared with the way we lived, especially when they live in the states. I'm sure combat is still a real hardship in any war. Most of our 275th comrades realize that the best break of our lives was probably when the army decided to convert the 275th to an armored battalion. Many of us might owe our very lives to that decision. Not only did it give us tremendously increased fire power and mobility for our own protection, but it delayed our entry into combat until long after the Normandy invasion which took such a huge toll of American lives. More information on Fort Campbell and the 101st Airborne Division (AA) can be seen on the following links: A History of Fort Campbell, KY home of the only air assault division in the world. air assault! url - http://www.campbell.army.mil/ftchistory.htm 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) History - A HISTORY OF THE 101st AIRBORNE DIVISION (AIR ASSAULT) (Screaming Eagles) The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) has exemplified the epitome of military professionalism since the unit's activation Aug. 15, 1942. url - http://www.campbell.army.mil/dhistory.htm World War Two timeline from HBO series Band of Brothers, - the story of Easy Company, 502nd Bn, 101st Airborne Division, which saw action south of St. Vith at Bastogne. http://www.hbo.com/band/timeline/p2_timeline/timeline.html Copyright © 1999 DeLoyd Cooper All rights reserved. Return to a Short History of 275th AFA Bn
On July 16 1941, the United States Army selected an area divided by the Kentucky-Tennessee line as the site for a new military installation. Construction of the post began in February 1942 and Camp Campbell became the name of the base a month later. The dedication honored William Bowen Campbell, an army veteran of the Seminole Indian, and the Mexican wars, a Tennessee Congressman and a Tennessee Governor.
With two thirds of the post located in Tennessee and the post office located in Kentucky, determining the official address of Camp Campbell was difficult. Because of its close proximity to Clarksville, the war department, on 6th of March 1942, designated Tennessee as the official address. Then, six months later without explanation, they reversed themselves and named Kentucky as the permanent address. (Probably Kentucky had the most senior and influential Federal politicians I expect) When leaving the post at the north or west gate you were in Kentucky and the nearest town was Hopkinsville, on the south or east end you entered Tennessee and the nearest town was Clarksville, and only some forty odd miles from the large town of Nashville. Known as "Music City" home of the "Grand 'ole Opry" which many of us visited. Initially designed and constructed to accommodate twenty three thousand soldiers or one armored division and installation support troops. Camp Campbell became during World War Two the training ground for the 8th, 12th, 14th and 20th armored divisions, and the 26th infantry division. At the same time, Camp Campbell was also headquarters for the Twenty Second Corps (Which the 275th Armored Field Artillery Battalion was attached to, or was a part of, at least as far as rations were concerned) and the Fourth Armored Corps.
Campbell was built on a 105,000 acre reservation, which was more than twice the size in area of our old Camp Phillips, Kansas. The housing facilities were much nicer than Camp Phillips, which would not be saying a lot. The 275th Armored Field Artillery Battalion was stationed at Camp Campbell from Feb. 1st 1944 until it left for Camp Shanks, New York and its overseas assignment on June 22nd 1944.
Accorded permanent military status on April 15th 1950, Camp Campbell became Fort Campbell. Fort Campbell is probably best known today as the home of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) (Screaming Eagles). Who were the war time defenders of Bastogne, and General Anthony C. McAuliffe's often quoted now famous "Nuts".
Continually growing throughout a period of fifty years. Fort Campbell has trained and provided soldiers and combat units for World War Two, Korea, Vietnam and Southwest Asia. The veterans of the 275th Armored Field Artillery Battalion would probably have trouble recognizing any part of the post now. Today's modern day soldiers live like kings compared with the way we lived, especially when they live in the states. I'm sure combat is still a real hardship in any war.
Most of our 275th comrades realize that the best break of our lives was probably when the army decided to convert the 275th to an armored battalion. Many of us might owe our very lives to that decision. Not only did it give us tremendously increased fire power and mobility for our own protection, but it delayed our entry into combat until long after the Normandy invasion which took such a huge toll of American lives.
url - http://www.campbell.army.mil/ftchistory.htm
url - http://www.campbell.army.mil/dhistory.htm
http://www.hbo.com/band/timeline/p2_timeline/timeline.html
Return to a Short History of 275th AFA Bn