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Deactivation |
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CARDINAL 12/23/1953 Atterbury
To Be Closed In Army Economy Move An advance party of 19, led by Brigadier General William Dick, Jr., commander of Division Artillery, left Saturday, December 19, for a four-day trip to Camp Carson, Colorado to examine the new home of the 31st Infantry "Dixie" Division. Gen. Dick and the 17 officers and one civilian who accompanied him enplaned from Atterbury Air Force Base just one day after word from 5th Army Headquarters that the "Dixie" Division, commanded by Maj. Gen. Harry J. Collins, will move to Camp Carson between February 3 and February 15. To Close By March 31 Fifth Army Headquarters said that Camp Atterbury will close by March 31. Non-divisional units will be transferred early in march. Only caretaker personnel will remain at the camp after the closing date. The impressions Gen. Dick and his party gather from their visit will determine when unit parties are sent to Carson, located ten miles from Colorado Springs. Result of Study By Gen. Kean The decision to close Camp Atterbury was made as a result of a study directed by Lt Gen William B. Kean, Fifth Army commanding officer, which revealed that a large saving of operational funds could be made f the "Dixie" Division moved to Camp Carson. Also the move to Carson would be suitable for divisional training and maneuvers. Brigadier General George Keyser, Camp Carson Commanding General, is making plans for the receipt of the Division. General Keyser stated that troop housing is available and that present training facilities and areas are considered adequate. No Housing Available There is no dependent housing currently available at Carson. THe impact on the community can only be estimated when the requirements for dependent housing are made known. As soon as information is available it will be announced in the Cardinal. Atterbury Worth $150 Million Camp Atterbury was built in 1942 at a cost of $40 million. It's value now is estimated at $150 million. It served as a training site until 1946 when the camp was inactivated. Atterbury was reactiated August 1, 1950 in the expansion of Army facilities after the outbreak of the Korean War. In its years of operation Camp Atterbury has been the site of 5 division. The 30th, 83rd and 106th wee stationed there in World War II, and the 28th Keystone and 31st "Dixie" Division during the Korean war period. |
| NOTES ON GENERAL KEAN'S
VISIT 28 January 1954 1. Everything must be done to save money, particularly in regard to overtime pay and in faster mothballing. The laundry is an example of how mothballing can be speeded up. Be sure that we have in briefing folder everything we gave General Kean because he said he was going to read it over as he went to Fort Harrison. He OK'd working overtime in the Transfer Point the next two Saturday mornings because of the money saving involved. He said he had no objection to leaving the 106th Engineers behind for a week or so if it would facilitate closing out the post. 2. He wants Lt Col Whitton for the Transfer Point at Fort Sheridan as soon as possible and would appreciate it, as a personal favor, if he could be spared before the March 18 date. 8. He wants us to call a conference of Edinburg, Nineveh and State Police people to find out what they want regarding thoroughfare through the Post and let him know as soon as possible revisions or guard schedules to correspond with their proposals. He wants to avoid being arbitrary about closing gates and prefers to take care of the civilian community rather than have a row. In regard to the closing of gates, I mentioned that It might be quite helpful to us if we were able to restrict civilian traffic through the Post to daylight hours. He said this should be covered in our discussion with the civilian authorities. He wants to avoid any bottling up of the people as long as there is a thoroughfare. There can be no guard police security depending upon roving patrols. 4. He saw one of the moss halls being mothballed and had no comment (mess hall in Block 13). He was well satisfied with the mothballing being done in the hospital. However, he thought several of the activities such as X-Ray could be mothballed. 6. He is interested in the red seated, tubular, metal chairs in the Officers' Club, wanting to take care of other clubs in the area with some of that furniture. He made an inspection of the Officers' Club. What he may have said I did not hear other than his remark regarding interest in the chairs preciously mentioned. 6. He is considering the possibility of a civilian property officer for Engineers with the idea of making the Post Engineer a property officer in order to make a place for me. Will advise regarding my future within a few days. 7. I gave him a brief orientation telling about the work of the 5th Army team in which I mentioned Public Housing, the interest of the AAFB in housing and the interest of the Governor and the National Guard in Camp Atterbury. He said he had no objection to the AAFB people dealing direct with Public Housing on those quarters, provided it would involve no extra expense to the Army. 8. He was given
a briefing folder incorporating notices from all the Tech Services,
arranged in the same order as the Inactivation Order No. 3, proposed
phase-out plan of civilian and military personnel as particularly
requested. Charts reviewed by him included Camp Atterbury Planimetric map, our day-to-day schedule and our strength figures of military
personnel. JOSEPH B. DAUGHTERY Added Note: I mentioned the problem of the demolition of the Trans Building and General Kean said to let it go until June but make every effort prior to that time to vacate it and then proceed to take it down. |
 Page last revised
10/21/2022James D. West www.IndianaMilitary.org Host106th@106thInfDivAssn.org |