(EDITOR'S NOTE: Two years ago Maj. Clifford S. Miller, director, Post Personnel Division, wrote for the CRIER his recollection of early Atterbury days.  We feel that both new-comers and "old-timers" will enjoy Maj. ' Miller's article so we reprint it.)

BY. MAJ. C. S. MILLER.

The "early days" were a continuous battle between dust and mud. When we arrived in June, 1942, the only buildings completed were the Area Engineers office and the offices of the contractors building the Camp.  The enlisted men were first housed 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 on their 'personal cars. Walking, however, was the surest mode of travel, as the only roads were the bounty roads which the heavy traffic of the many contractors' trucks soon reduced to a quagmire, following daily showers Two hours after the rains, the daily dust storms took over.

Plenty of Work

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 "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 School house 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 tile stairs, and by turning sideways we could pass between the end of his desk and the wall. The general staff occupied the two bed rooms and took turns working at the few available tables. There was plenty of work and grief, but everything moved smoothly from the first attention to countless details contributed greatly to the early completion of the camp, and the many improvements made since.

"One of the Finest"

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 camps in the country.

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

First enlisted man assigned to Camp Atterbury now here is M/Sgt. Isadore Lichtman, who arrived on the post June 14, 1942, and after a number of shifts is now sergeant major of the 1st Bn., Separation Center.

This dean of the enlisted "old timers" was a member of the original cadre assigned here from Ft. Knox, Ky., and vividly recalls the occasion of his arrival here, since he was recalled from furlough and on a Sunday at that--to learn of his new assignment.  June 14, 194,2, was not Litchman's first visit to Atterbury since ten days earlier- he came here with Lt. Col. William T. Hardaway, first post adjutant, on an unofficial tour of inspection. The sergeant was not itept impressed. "It had been raining," he relates, "and 'Mulberry' was only one of the more printable terms for the place then."  "There were no quarters, no mess facilities, in fact practically nothing here in those days," the sergeant recalls. "Most of us were forced to commute from Indianapolis or Franklin for some time until quarters were available."
Sgt. Lichtman, whose first job on the post included making up the morning reports, left the original 1560th Service Unit in February, 1943, to become sergeant major of the 8th Detachment, Hq., Special Troops, 2nd Army. In June, 1944, he became sergeant major of Hq.,, Special Troops, 106th Division, and was later assigned to the Separation Center here when it was activated in October, 1944.

Col. Welton M. Modisette, Post. Commander of Camp Atterbury during its existence, has had nearly 33 years of service in the Army, during which time he has held l many important assignments. Col. Modisette entered the Army in 1912, doing troop duty at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., and Ft. Bliss, Tex., until 1916, when he was assigned to Alcatraz Disciplinary Barracks. He was stationed at Camp Tremont, Calif., with the 8th Division in 1918, and then squadron commander with the 304th Cavalry,, followed by command of the 43rd Artillery get. at Camp Stanley, 'I Texas.
After acting as Executive Officer of the Disciplinary Barracks at Leavenworth in 1919, he served as Executive in charge of demobilization at Camp Winston. Kan. After acting as Assistant Executive at Ft. Russell, Wyo., he commanded the post of Empire and a cavalry squadron, and was Executive Office: for a defense command in Panama.

Duty in Washington
He was Senior Instructor of the Kansas National Guard. The next two years he commanded a squadron of the 4th Cavalry at Ft. Meade, S. D., in addition to- being Executive officer for 40 C.C.S. camps in South Dakota. After attending maneuvers on the Army Corns Staff at Pine Camp, N. Y., for the next six )ears re was Assistant Executive and Executive Officer of the 78th Division and 3rd Military Area, 2nd Coins Area. During that time, he directed the preparation of the mobilization plan used at Camp Dix. N. J., and the operation of the military area, also the Provost Marshal procedure for the 2nd Corps Area in New York, New Jersey and Delaware. He served as an umpire !r. 1st Army maneuvers in 1937 and 1940.

Arrived Here May, 1942
Col. Modisette arrived at the partially completed Camp Atterbury in May, 1942, and has been its commanding officer since that time. Under his direction, the huge camp of 42,000 acres is recognized as one of the finest military installations in the Middle-West, and its efficient administration has resulted in many commendations.

He is a graduate of the Field Artillery School, the Advanced Course at Cavalry School, and the Command and General Staff School. Col. and Mrs. Modisette reside in Columbus, Ind., and their son, Ma j. Welton M. Modisette, Jr., is stationed in the South Pacific with the Army Air Forces.

Handling a big job are two of the smallest civilian employees, both under five feet tall. Their duties include receiving examining, processing, and forwarding to the local boards, applications for supplemental gas and tires. Looking at the application of Lt. Alden B. Mel lick, post theater officer, are Joy Smith, Martinsville (left) and Wanda Scott, Franklin.

This was Atterbury - Progress Picture Shows Early Mud
Just three years ago in May, 1942 - This was Camp Atterbury.  Everywhere on the post construction work was in progress.  Heavy spring rains delayed workers' efforts and the mud quite conspicuous around the growing buildings.  

Enlisted men who are among the early settlers here are, (l-r), 1st Row: T/5 Bernard J. Kiefer; M/Sgt James E. Fink; S/Sgt Paul Vernon, Cpl William D. Perry, 1st Sgt Clarence Ferring, M/Sgt David Patterson, 2nd Row: Sgt Charles C. Watson, S/Sgt Robert Lynch, 1st Sgt Russell Calkins, M/Sgt Leo McGrath, T/5 Norman Brinker.  3rd Row: S/Sgt George Davis, M/Sgt Kieffer D. Wellman, T/Sgt William O'Bryan, M/Sgt Isadore Lichtman, S/Sgt Richard Lee.  All the men are members of Hq Section, Station Compliment, with the exception of Brinker and Patterson, Station Medical; Lynch, Military Police Section, Station Compliment; Davis, Prisoner of War Camp, and Lichtman, Separation Center.

Early Settlers - They Came Here in June and July of 1942.
The above officers arrived here during June and July, 1942.  l-r: Maj Charles C. Boatwright, Capt. Harry D. Weller, Maj. George I. Seybert, Maj. Daniel G. Jencks, Col. Weldon M. Modisette, Post Commander, Col. Guy A. Karr, Maj. Taylor C. Smith, Maj Howard Hopkin, Capt. Bert A. Sweigart.  2nd Row: Capt Harry Lerner, Capt Robert S. Thomas, Capt David A Gillespie, Maj Clifford S. Miller, Maj Rees W. Willard, Lt John R. Ford, Capt Emmanuel M. Hilson, Capt Erling Gasman, CWO George Palmer.  Other "First Settlers" not present when picture was taken are Lt Col  Raymond E. Copelan, Maj LeRoy L. Wahle, and Maj Murray B. Frazee

Camp's Name Honors Famed Railroader
The camp is named after Gen. W. W. Atterbury, a native of Indiana, former President of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and Director of Transportation under General Pershing in France during World War I.

Civilians, Too, Remember Atterbury of June - July, 1942
l-r: E. C. Holmes, Combined Maintenance, Shelbyville; Vivian Conover, Wakeman, Edinburg; Jo Stillabower, Ordnance, Edinburg; Mrs. George May, Ordnance, Edinburg; Joy Smith, Civilian Personnel, Martinsville; Mary Alice Thompson, Civilian Personnel, Franklin; George Lutz, Regional Repair Shops, Indianapolis; Solomon York, Regional Repair Shops, Morgantown; Edgar Spies, Post Engineers, Columbus; Martin Prater, Post Engineers, Franklin.  2nd Row: H. L. Fulkrod, Post Exchange, Columbus; George Parkinson, Post Exchange, Boggstown; George A. Norman, Post Exchange, Columbus; Willard Morlan, Ordnance, Indianapolis; H. J. Wilson, Ordnance, Martinsville; Tyrus Willis, Ordnance, Indianapolis; Robert D. Harden, Post Engineers, Columbus; Charles Mason, Post Engineers, Columbus; Conley F. Shafer, Post Engineers, Columbus; Harold S. Kelsch, Post Exchange, Nashville.  3rd Row: Roy T. Willard, Combined Maintenance, Franklin; Frederick Iliff, Combined Maintenance, Edinburg; Virgil Bedenbaugh, Combined Maintenance, Indianapolis; Morris Beck, Combined Maintenance, Indianapolis; Daniel Patterson, Combined Maintenance, Franklin; Jesse Roush, Combined Maintenance, Morgantown; William A. Taylor, Post Engineers, Columbus; Arthur King, Post Engineers, Columbus; Arthur Lance, Combined Maintenance, Flat Rock.

l-r: D. A. Watson, Post Engineers, Columbus; Florence Brokaw, Quartermaster, Shelbyville; Rugh Johnson, Quartermaster, Franklin; Ada Bruce, Quartermaster, Indianapolis; Mildred McCrea, Quartermaster, Shelbyville; Lauretta Heady, Post Headquarters, Camp Atterbury; Alice Neumann, Quartermaster, Indianapolis; Elizabeth Patterson, Post Engineers, Indianapolis; Jeanne Wunderlich, Personnel Center, Nineveh; Glenn B. Norton, Post Engineers, Franklin.  2nd Row: John Feiock, Fire Chief, Camp Atterbury; Roscoe Talbert, Fire Dept., Edinburg; C. J. Wagner, Fire Dept., Columbus; N. F. Nance, Fire Dept., Georgetown; H. C. Kaiser, Fire Dept., Morgantown; Frank Peek, Fire Dept., Greenwood; Carl Brumgart, Fire Dept., Franklin; Everett Rich, Fire Dept., Columbus; J. E. Williamson, Fire Dept., Edinburg.  3rd Row: George R. Jones, Asst. Fire Chief, Franklin; Guy Atkinson, Post Engineers, Columbus; R. A. Batton, Post Engineers, Nashville; Arthur E. Walker, Transportation, Deputy; Larry E. Morgan, Transportation, Franklin; Carey Hunter, Ordnance, Franklin; Otto Rueff, Quartermaster, Franklin; Ray Parrish, Salvage, Franklin; W. O. Champlin, Combined Maintenance, Martinsville.

l-r: J. S. Boggs, Area Engineers, Columbus; J. F. Drybread, Post Exchange, Edinburg; Iva Weaver, Post Exchange, Columbus; Ralph Lancast4er, Combined Maintenance, Franklin; George McBride, Post Engineers, Shelbyville.  2nd Row: Clifford Colvin, Quartermaster, Columbus; Dean St. Clair, Post Exchange, Columbus; W. E. Routh, Post Exchange, Columbus; Oby Simpson, Post Engineers, Columbus; John R. Mattingly, Post Engineers, Nashville; Maurice Brown, Post Engineers, Columbus.  3rd Row: Willard Gibson, Post Exchange, Franklin; Victor McMillian, Post Exchange, Shelbyville; Lowell Barrows, Post Exchange, Taylorsville; A. E. Leslie, Post Engineers, Columbus; Don M. Norton, Post Engineers, Columbus; A. L. Yates, Post Engineers, Columbus.

© 2005 James D. West - Indiana Military Org  All Rights Reserved
Page Last Revised 01/21/2008