Camp White
| Company type | Military training facility |
|---|---|
| Industry | Military |
| Founded | 1942 |
| Defunct | 1946 |
| Headquarters | Jackson County , United States |
Area served | Oregon |
Camp White functioned as a Army training facility located in Jackson County, Oregon during the period of World War II. Additionally, it operated as a prisoner-of-war (POW) camp. The installation was named in honor of George A. White, who served as Oregon's adjutant general beginning in 1915.
History
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Congress approved a $27 million budget on December 12 to transform the Agate Desert area into Camp White. Training activities were also conducted on sections of Upper Table Rock. The official dedication of the camp occurred on September 15, 1942. Troops trained at Camp White played a significant role in the 1943 Oregon Maneuver military exercise. At its largest extent, the facility encompassed close to 50,000 acres and accommodated nearly 40,000 personnel, ranking it as Oregon’s second-largest city during that era. The base was formally closed in April 1946. From 1942 until 1960, a post office operated under the Camp White designation before being renamed to White City, reflecting the civilian community that emerged following the military’s departure.
Documentary
The Camp White Story: Southern Oregon Goes to War, a documentary produced by Southern Oregon Public Television (SOPTV), details the transformation Southern Oregon underwent during World War II with particular emphasis on Camp White. The film explores the training processes at this "Alcatraz of Boot Camps" and analyzes the military base’s influence on the regional economy. Created in collaboration with the Camp White Military Museum, the documentary was scripted by Ashland-based freelance writer John E. Darling.
See also
- Denman Wildlife Area
- Charles H. Gerhardt
- List of POW camps in the United States
- List of United States Army installations
External links
- Camp White Military Museum located at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center & Clinics (SORCC) in White City
- SOPTV presentation of The Camp White Story: Southern Oregon Goes To War
- Historical overview of Camp White Station Hospital from SORCC
- Buildings and structures in Jackson County, Oregon
- 1942 establishments in Oregon
- Former installations of the United States Army
- World War II prisoner-of-war camps in the United States
- White City, Oregon
- Military installations in Oregon
- 1946 disestablishments in Oregon
- Military installations established in 1942
- Military installations closed in 1946