Camp Atterbury Marks First Birth

Camp Atterbury
Marks First Birthday Anniversary

Camp Crier, Friday, June 11, 1943
Col. Modisette Observes Year - Post Opened Last June Amidst Mud and Workers.

June, 1943, marks the first anniversary of Camp Atterbury and its dedication as a training center. It was just a year ago when Col. Weldon M. Modisette, Post Commander, entered the officers' register, officially opening Atterbury for the United States Army. Briefly, here is the history of the Post.

Preliminary plans for Camp Atterbury were made in 1941, but the Federal building is the story of the first half of 1942, which saw the beginning of construction and its completion in record-breaking time.

This great training area covers over 40,000 acres, with thousands of buildings, 50-miles of roads and streets, and two hundred miles of water, gas and electrical systems. At the peak of construction last spring, 14,000 workers were employed. Hard and consistent rains made the task doubly difficult.

83rd Moves In

First word of the new camp came in a news dispatch from Washington, D. C., April 28, 1941, which said that "a cantonment of 30,000 men will be established if the size of the Army increases." On May 9, 1941, survey headquarters were set up and on Nov. 24, 1941, the survey was completed. On Jan. 6, 1942, the camp site was approved, and on Feb. 2, construction of the eight-mile railroad spur was completed in six months, and in the latter stages it was often a race between the men completing the buildings and the troops moving in.

Col. Modisette, post commander, arrived here late in May, and was followed by members of his staff in early June. First headquarters were set up on the second floor of the red brick farmhouse at Schoolhouse Rd. and Edinburgh St.

In June 1943

And not the present Camp Atterbury - 19 Post Exchanges, with 13 chapels, six theaters, three enlisted men Service Clubs, three guest houses, three officers' clubs, several hundred dayrooms and recreational halls, an enormous sports arena, many outdoor athletic fields, a Post Hospital with 50 buildings, the largest laundry in Indiana, scores of warehouses and shops, paved streets, sidewalks, grass and shrubbery - June 1943.

Recollections of 'Early Days'
by Maj. Clifford S. Miller

The "early days" were a continuous battle between dust and mud. When we arrived a year ago, the only buildings completed were the Area Engineer's building and a few of the soon-to-be numerous buildings to be built in the camp.

The enlisted men were quartered in the Armory at Franklin and later some were quartered in an old brick farmhouse in the northwest section of camp. A few officers also holed up there. Bathing facilities consisted of a bucket and sponge and the farmhouse pump.

The first motor pool was operated from that barnyard and transportation was decidedly limited so most of the officers depended upon their personal cars. Walking, however, was the surest mode of travel, as the only roads were the county roads which the heavy traffic of the many contractor's trucks soon reduced to a quagmire, following daily showers. Two hours after the rains, the daily dust storms took over.

Plenty of Work and Grief

Most of the officers found haven at the hotels and homes in Franklin, assembling at a cafe there for breakfast. Very few took advantage of the "Ptomaine Tent", a canvas covered, open air lunch stand, but brought their lunches in paper sacks. Some of the "plutocrats" motored into Edinburg for lunch, but that wasn't so easy, either.

Post Headquarters was first established in the second floor of the brick farmhouse on Schoolhouse Road, the first floor being used by the Area Engineer's civilian guard. Col. Welton M. Modisette, Post Commander, occupied the closet at the head of the stairs, and by turning sideways we could pass between the end of his desk and the wall. The general staff occupied the two bedrooms and took turns working at the few available field tables. There was plenty of work and grief, but everything moved smoothly from the first.

One of the Finest

Col. Modisette was all over the camp every day, and personally checked the progress. His constant attention to countless details contributed greatly to the early completion of the camp and the many improvements made since.

After about a month, headquarters was moved into the south wing of the present Post Headquarters building. Gradually, additional units were completed and the finishing touches added, until now, Camp Atterbury bears the reputation of being one of the finest of the new camps in the country.

From the first, the spirit of mutual helpfulness and comradeship existing among the officers, and the hard work and co-operation of the enlisted men, have assured the camp of its highly successful operation.