US Army Training Center - Yearbook (Fort Jackson, SC)

Page 12 text:

HISTORY OF FORT JACKSON VICTORY STARTS HERE Although Fort Jackson was estab- lished to answer America's need for trained soldiers in the gathering storm of World War I, the very first fighting men to walk through these gates could point with a certain pride to a rich heritage and trace their military lineage to one of the earliest battles of the American Revolution. In June 1917, Company E, 1st Regiment, South Carolina Infantry became the first unit to arrive at the fledgling Camp Jackson. This unit was derived from the Second Regi- ment, South Carolina Line, Conti- nental Establishment which defeat- ed a British fleet in the battle of Fort Moultrie six days prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Although named for Major Gener- al Andrew Jackson, a native son of the Palmetto State and seventh president of the United States, the fort is actually situated on the for- mer estate of General Wade Hamp- ton, who served as an early governor of the state and as U.S. Senator. The initial site for the cantonment consisted of almost 1200 acres and was purchased by the citizens of Co- lumbia and donated to the federal government initiating a long tradi- tion of mutual respect and concern between the city and the fort. With an ideal climate for year- round training, the site designated Camp Jackson was chosen as one of 16 national cantonments constructed to supply the war effort. The pressures of war brought swift changes. Within 11 days of signing a contract to construct the post, the 100-man camp guard arrived. By the end of the first month, the labor force had grown to more than 1,200 and the first two barracks were com- pleted. Two months later this force had grown to almost 10,000 men. Virtual- ly overnight the post had grown from a sandy pine and scrub oak forest to a thriving training center complete with trolley line and hundreds of buildings. In the third month following the beginning of construction, some 8,000 draftees arrived and began training. Under the post's first acting commander, Brigadier General Charles H. Barth, its first military unit - the 81st Wildcat Division - was formed. Members of the origi- nal camp guard who had been the first to occupy the fort were moved to Camp Sevier in Greenville, South Carolina and were incorporated into the 30th Old Hickory Division. More than 45,000 troops of these two divisions trained at Camp Jack- son and saw action in France as part of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. In less than eight months this vast military installation was completed. Where before there were sandhill forests and swamps, a new city stood. It boasted theaters, stores, kitchens, barracks, officers' quarters, training facilities, stables, warehouses, ga- rages, an airfield, roads, bridges, rail- roads, water and sewer lines and was distinguished by having the largest government-operated laundry in the country. The hospital consisted of more than 80 buildings covering some 15 acres at the highest point on post.

Page 11 text:

A HEADQUARTERS .32 WW' . We V-w513x'f.7,A.. . . 1 1 no'25'9nU2Unu'ou q ' ' E

Page 13 text:

But almost as suddenly as it had begun, the clamor and activity sub- sided. With the signing of the Armis- tice in 1918, the famed 30th Division was deactivated at Camp Jackson. The 5th Infantry Division trained here until deactivated in October of 1921. The installation reverted to control of the Cantonment Lands Commission, and from 1925 to 1939 the silence of the post was broken only by training exercises of the South Carolina National Guard. In 1940, the installation, once again under federal control, was offi- cially designated Fort Jackson and was organized as an Infantry Train- ing Center. Firing ranges were con- structed and more than 100 miles of roads were hard surfaced. During World War II the Old Hickoryv 30th Division was one of the first units to occupy the Fort, just as it had in 1917. Among other famed units to train at Fort Jackson during this period were the 4th, 6th, 8th, 26th, 30th, 77th, 87th, 100th and the 106th. The 31st Dixie Division trained here during the Korean War. Literally thousands of troops were trained by other units at the Fort during the Korean and Vietnam con- flicts. Today, Fort Jackson is officially designated as a U.S. Army Training Center where young men and women are taught to look, act and think as soldiers, always. From its earliest days, Fort Jack- son personnel have exemplified the can-do spirit with the drive and the determination to get the job done. With some 70,000 soldiers trained here annually, it becomes clear that this is a living heritage and a tradition which continues today. Fort Jackson is one of the largest training facilities of its type in the world today. Some 70,000 soldiers are trained here annually. The post is almost 53,000 acres or 82 square miles in area and there are more than 1,700 buildings. Access to the instal- lation and its training areas is pro- vided by more than 130 miles of un- surfaced roads. The first flag unfurled over the post in November 1917 was flown from the tallest flagpole in the Unit- ed States measuring some 153 feet. The first all-black regiment of World War I was organized here in July of 1917. Organized as the First Provisional Infantry Regiment fCol- oredl and later designated as the 371st Infantry Regiment, this unit was officially assigned to the French army. It was cited for bravery under fire and received more than 100 indi- vidual and unit decorations. The first all-female brigade was es- tablished at Fort Jackson in July of 1974. It was designated the 5th Basic Training Brigade. In keeping with its record of his- torical firsts, Fort Jackson became the proving ground for the integra- tion of basic training by sex. Both men and women are rquired to meet the same rigid standards of excel- lence. - - was -H. tN.n 'J' I 'ff'-f if EL . H