4. Arrival at Camp Wolters, Texas

Saturday, February 21, 1942

We arrive at Camp Wolters this morning. After processing, I am assigned to the 61st Battalion, Company D, 3rd Platoon. We are part of the Fifth Army.

Given my radio experience, I am ordered to go to radio school while going through basic training. I will become a radio operator.

Trainees arriving at Camp Wolters. [courtesy: www.fortwolters.com]

The entrance to Wolters Industrial Park as it appears today. This would have been the main gate to Camp Wolters in 1942. At its peak during World War II, Camp Wolters became the largest infantry replacement center in the United States. The camp was redesignated as Wolters Air Force Base in 1951, then Fort Wolters in 1963 before being deactivated in 1973. Today it is an industrial park, serves as a training center for the Texas National Guard, and hosts a branch of Weatherford College [photo: public domain].

Issued to each trainee upon arrival. [courtesy: www.fortwolters.com]

A map (left) of Camp Wolters from the Infantry Replacement Training Center booklet [courtesy www.fortwolters.com]. I am assigned to Area 6 . A satellite image of the remnants of Camp Wolters (right) as it appears today. Areas 1-6 and Washington Triangle are marked for reference.





An aerial image of Area 6, looking east, taken from a post card I purchased at Camp Wolters. This is where my barracks were located.




A modern satellite image of Area 6, looking east, as it appears today. The original buildings were torn down long ago, our time spent here a distant memory. Today these are private businesses.