Chireno in Nacogdoches County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Camp Chireno, World War II P.O.W. Camp

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, December 2, 2025

1. Camp Chireno, World War II P.O.W. Camp Marker

Inscription. During World War II, the Frost Lumber Co. (Nacogdoches) and the Angelina Lumber Co. (Lufkin) requested that the War Manpower Commission (WMC) establish Camp Chireno as a "permanent" branch of Camp Fannin (Smith County). The WMC leased private land and built the 30-acre compount west of here along Camp Road. Located in an area devastated by the January 1944 ice storm, this camp benefited from Chireno's established railroad facilities. The site first received Prisoners of War (POWs) in May 1944. The camp's 300 POWs spent their time cutting and salvaging timber and pulpwood. The camp closed in March 1945, near the end of the war. Texas in World War II - 2008

Erected 2008 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 15445.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1944.

Location. 31° 29.903′ N, 94° 21.13′ W. Marker is in Chireno, Texas, in Nacogdoches County. It is at the intersection of Main St (Farm to Market Road 95) and Gingerbread Lane, on the left when traveling north on Main St. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area:

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Chireno TX 75937, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Gingerbread House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Chireno Lower Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); Halfway Inn (approx. 0.7 miles away); Kings Highway Camino Real — Old San Antonio Road (approx. 2 miles away); a different marker also named Kings Highway Camino Real — Old San Antonio Road (approx. 2.7 miles away); a different marker also named Kings Highway Camino Real — Old San Antonio Road (approx. 4.8 miles away); John Balch (approx. 6.3 miles away); Cove Springs Cemetery (approx. 6.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chireno.

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, December 2, 2025

2. Camp Chireno, World War II P.O.W. Camp Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 3, 2025, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 133 times since then and 98 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 3, 2025, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.