Camp Butner
| Company type | Military base |
|---|---|
| Industry | Military training and detention |
| Founded | 1942 |
| Defunct | 1946 |
| Headquarters | Butner , United States |
| Products | Military training, prisoner of war detention, demobilization center |
| Owner | North Carolina Army National Guard |
Camp Butner was a United States Army base located in Butner, North Carolina, operational during World War II. The installation was named in honor of Army general and North Carolina native Henry W. Butner. A portion of the camp functioned as a detention facility for German prisoners of war in the United States. Subsequently, the location was repurposed as the Federal Correctional Complex, Butner. Chosen in late summer 1941 for extensive military training, construction commenced in January 1942, culminating in the erection of more than 1,700 structures within half a year. The barracks designed for enlisted personnel had the capacity to house upwards of 35,000 troops.
Camp Butner served as a deployment point for several prominent US Army divisions prior to their assignments in both European and Pacific combat zones. Among these were the 35th Infantry Division, 78th Infantry Division, and 89th Infantry Division.
Following the conclusion of World War II, the camp transitioned into a principal center for demobilizing and deactivating returning military units, including the 3d Infantry Regiment and the 4th Infantry Division. Additionally, it hosted the Battalion Surgeon's Assistant training program and operated a convalescent hospital for injured soldiers comparable in scale to Walter Reed.
Current usage
Currently under the ownership of the North Carolina Army National Guard, Camp Butner Training Center has been the venue since 2005 for the Civilian Marksmanship Program's Eastern Junior Highpower Clinic & Championship. This event is conducted by the United States Marine Corps Mobile Marksmanship Unit. The facility’s Range 4, featuring a 1000-yard shooting distance, regularly accommodates marksmanship competitions organized by both the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) and the National Rifle Association of America (NRA), including notable annual events such as the Eastern Games and Creedmoor Cup.
A museum dedicated to commemorating the soldiers, civilians, and prisoners of war associated with Camp Butner from 1942 to 1946 is housed within the camp’s original sports arena built in 1942. Overseen by the nonprofit organization Camp Butner Society, this museum also safeguards the last surviving original wooden structure from the camp. Plans are in place to convert this building into a future museum contingent upon securing restoration funding.