Lanark Village in Franklin County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Camp Gordon Johnston
1942-1946
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, December 27, 2016
1. Camp Gordon Johnston 1942-1946 Marker
Inscription.
Camp Gordon Johnston. In June 1942 the U.S. War Department selected a 155,000 acre section of coastal Franklin County to be used as an amphibious warfare training center. Originally called Camp Carabelle, the base was renamed in January 1943 to honor the memory of Colonel Gordon Johnston, who had died in 1934. The 3rd Engineer Amphibian Brigade arrived for training on September 10, 1942. One of the largest army facilities in Florida during World War II, the base was known by troops stationed there as "Hell-by-the-Sea" because of its crude living conditions and dangerous training programs. The 4th, 28th and 38th Infantry Divisions also received training at the base. Its mission was changed September, 1943 to train personnel to operate small harbor craft and amphibious vehicles. In 1944, German and Italian prisoners of war were interned at the camp. The end of World War II in August 1945 made Camp Gordon Johnston obsolete and it was decommissioned in 1946. By 1948 the property had been transferred to private ownership and most of the buildings and structures demolished or removed. Today, the former officers' family quarters that remain standing in the vicinity of Parker Street are being used as housing in Lanark Village Retirement Community.
In June 1942 the U.S. War Department selected a 155,000 acre section of coastal Franklin County to be used as an amphibious warfare training center. Originally called Camp Carabelle, the base was renamed in January 1943 to honor the memory of Colonel Gordon Johnston, who had died in 1934. The 3rd Engineer Amphibian Brigade arrived for training on September 10, 1942. One of the largest army facilities in Florida during World War II, the base was known by troops stationed there as "Hell-by-the-Sea" because of its crude living conditions and dangerous training programs. The 4th, 28th and 38th Infantry Divisions also received training at the base. Its mission was changed September, 1943 to train personnel to operate small harbor craft and amphibious vehicles. In 1944, German and Italian prisoners of war were interned at the camp. The end of World War II in August 1945 made Camp Gordon Johnston obsolete and it was decommissioned in 1946. By 1948 the property had been transferred to private ownership and most of the buildings and structures demolished or removed. Today, the former officers' family quarters that remain standing in the vicinity of Parker Street are being used as housing in Lanark Village Retirement Community.
Erected 1996 by Sponsored by the Camp Gordon Johnston Association and Florida
Click or scan to see this page online
Department of State. (Marker Number F-371.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Settlements & Settlers • War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1942.
Location. 29° 52.91′ N, 84° 36.03′ W. Marker is in Lanark Village, Florida, in Franklin County. Marker is at the intersection of Oak Street and Kansas Street, on the left when traveling west on Oak Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2316 Oak Street, Lanark Village FL 32323, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, December 27, 2016
2. Camp Gordon Johnston 1942-1946 Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 2, 2017. It was originally submitted on January 31, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 507 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 31, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
