Camp Claiborne
Birthplace of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions
At this site on May 7 1942 Sergeant Alvin C York the most decorated Soldier of WWI addressed the 82nd Infantry Division under the command of General Omar Bradley. The division would later become the 82nd Airborne Division and furnish personnel to form the 101st Airborne Division at Camp Claiborne. Therefore, Camp Claiborne is the birthplace of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. The original headquarter buildings for the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions were located directly behind this location.
To listen to the speech that SGT York gave here on May 7, 1942, visit https://archive.org/details/WhatAreWeFightingFor_496. This link will take you to a recording of the speech he gave to his old division, the 82nd Infantry at Camp Claiborne, LA.
SGT York was a member of the 82nd Infantry Division during WWI. For his acts of heroism on October 8, 1918 in the Argonne forest of France he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Congressional Medal of Honor, and the French Croix de Guerre. During WWII, SGT York visited military camps in support of the war.
Omar Bradley was the Commanding General of the 82nd Infantry Division. General Bradley was transferred to Camp Livingston, LA and General Ridgeway assumed command of the 82nd Airborne Division and General Lee assumed command of the 101st Airborne Division.
Photo
this page online
Directly in front of you was the HQ of the 82nd and to your left was the HQ of the 101st Airborne. Notice the insignia's on the buildings.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Military • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is May 7, 1942.
Location. 31° 4.617′ N, 92° 32.137′ W. Marker is in Forest Hill, Louisiana, in Rapides Parish. Marker is on Fourth Street (East Johnston Road) north of State Highway 112, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Forest Hill LA 71430, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Training At Camp Claiborne / Life At Camp Claiborne (approx. 0.8 miles away); Central Louisiana's Role in World War II (approx. 0.8 miles away); Camp Claiborne, LA (approx. 0.8 miles away); African -American Soldiers at Camp Claiborne (approx. 0.8 miles away); a different marker also named Camp Claiborne (approx. 0.8 miles away); a different marker also named Camp Claiborne (approx.
More about this marker. Marker is located on the Historic Camp Claiborne site. To reach the marker, you must follow sign off of Highway 112, where instructed.
Also see . . . Link mentioned in Marker. (Submitted on October 20, 2018, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 20, 2018. It was originally submitted on October 20, 2018, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 345 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on October 20, 2018.
