Carabelle Beach in Franklin County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Camp Gordon Johnston Training Area
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, December 27, 2016
1. Camp Gordon Johnston Training Area Marker
Inscription.
Camp Gordon Johnston Training Area. . With the approach of World War II, amphibious warfare training centers were hurriedly built. Camp Carrabelle opened in September 1941. Construction began in July 1942 and the camp was renamed in honor of Colonel Gordon Johnston (1874-1934), a highly decorated Army officer and veteran of multiple wars. The 165,000-acre camp served as an Amphibious Training Center and Armed Service Forces Training Center for soldiers from all branches of the military during the war. Once referred to as the “Alcatraz of the Army” by columnist Walter Winchell, the camp housed around 10,000 troops at any one time and rotated between 24,000 and 30,000 from 1941 to 1946. Nearby islands and beaches, particularly Dog Island and St. George Island, were used as landing points for amphibious exercises. Florida's sandy beaches, swamps, and jungle-like forests allowed the military to simulate the conditions of landings in the European and Pacific theatres. Camp Gordon Johnston provided some of the toughest military training in the world and was the Army's major amphibious training center. The camp was responsible for training nearly 250,000 men and women before it closed in June of 1946.
With the approach of World War II, amphibious warfare training centers were hurriedly built. Camp Carrabelle opened in September 1941. Construction began in July 1942 and the camp was renamed in honor of Colonel Gordon Johnston (1874-1934), a highly decorated Army officer and veteran of multiple wars. The 165,000-acre camp served as an Amphibious Training Center and Armed Service Forces Training Center for soldiers from all branches of the military during the war. Once referred to as the “Alcatraz of the Army” by columnist Walter Winchell, the camp housed around 10,000 troops at any one time and rotated between 24,000 and 30,000 from 1941 to 1946. Nearby islands and beaches, particularly Dog Island and St. George Island, were used as landing points for amphibious exercises. Florida's sandy beaches, swamps, and jungle-like forests allowed the military to simulate the conditions of landings in the European and Pacific theatres. Camp Gordon Johnston provided some of the toughest military training in the world and was the Army's major amphibious training center. The camp was responsible for training nearly 250,000 men and women before it closed in June of 1946.
Erected 2015 by Camp Gordon Johnston Association and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-855.)
Topics. This
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historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1941.
Location. 29° 49.75′ N, 84° 41.609′ W. Marker is in Carabelle Beach, Florida, in Franklin County. Marker is on U.S. 98/319, 0.2 miles west of Beacon Street, on the right when traveling west. Located on the future site of Camp Gordon Johnston World War II Museum. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Carrabelle FL 32322, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. Camp Gordon Johnston Training Area Marker and future site of museum
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, January 3, 2022
3. Camp Gordon Johnston Training Area Marker
Museum building is in the background.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 28, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 16, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 575 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 16, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 3. submitted on October 28, 2022, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
