Great Lakes in Lake County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

World War II

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 4, 2010

1. World War II Marker

Inscription.
On the morning of December 7, 1941, only 6,814 sailors were in training at Great Lakes. Two hours after the attack began, Captain Spaulding, the Public Works Officer, authorized a large construction program. 13 prime contractors, 27 architectural firms, and over 13,000 workers labored around the clock to house and train the rapidly growing population in training that reached 100,156 by March 1944. Over 1,000 buildings were constructed and land area expanded from 685 to 1440 acres. In 1946, four months after the war’s end, only 10,000 recruits remained. The Bureau of Naval Personnel announced plans to discontinue recruit training at Great Lakes. Strong protests from the Midwest eventually led to the cancellation of the plan.

Erected by Naval Station Great Lakes.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1944.

Location. 42° 18.706′ N, 87° 50.409′ W. Marker is in Great Lakes, Illinois, in Lake County. It is on Farragut Avenue near Sampson Road, on the right when traveling east. Marker is in the Historic District of Naval Station Great Lakes. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Great Lakes IL 60088, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance

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of this marker: Great Lakes Athletics (here, next to this marker); Women at Great Lakes (here, next to this marker); The Post War Era (here, next to this marker); Wings over Great Lakes (here, next to this marker); Great Lakes History Trail (here, next to this marker); Fighting Tradesmen (here, next to this marker); Base Realignment and Closure (here, next to this marker); The Golden Thirteen (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Great Lakes.

Also see . . . Great Lakes Naval Training Station. Encyclopedia of Chicago website entry (Submitted on November 13, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Photo on World War II Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 4, 2010

2. Photo on World War II Marker

[Caption reads] Arrival of New Recruits to U.S. Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 4, 2010

3. Photo on World War II Marker

[Caption reads] Boys in Hammocks.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 4, 2010

4. Photo on World War II Marker

[Caption reads] Sighting and Firing Drill.

Sailor Photo on World War II Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 4, 2010

5. Sailor Photo on World War II Marker

National Museum of the American Sailor image. Click for more information.

via Naval History and Heritage Command, unknown

6. National Museum of the American Sailor

Naval History and Heritage Command website entry
Click for more information.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 23, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 892 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 13, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 6. submitted on November 23, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.