Camp Doniphan, Oklahoma Explained

Camp Doniphan was a military base adjacent to Fort Sill, just outside Lawton, in Comanche County, Oklahoma, that was activated for use in World War I for artillery training.^[1] The post was closed in 1918 and incorporated into Fort Sill.^[2]

History

The camp was named for Alexander William Doniphan, a hero of the Mexican–American War from the Missouri Volunteers of Northwestern Missouri. It was from this camp that thousands of soldiers, from Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri, were given basic training prior to being sent to Camp Mills, Mineola, Long Island, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; or Camp Merritt, Dumont, New Jersey, for embarkation to France. The camp contained 1,267 buildings, the majority of which were tents, over a 2000acres area.^[3]

The camp was home of the 35th Infantry Division, made up of the National Guard of Kansas and Missouri.^{[4] [5] [6] [7]} It became part of the United States Army Field Artillery School, and included the 128th Field Artillery Regiment and 129th Field Artillery Regiment of Missouri, 130th Field Artillery Regiment of Kansas, and the 158th Field Artillery Regiment of Oklahoma.^{[8] [9] [10] [11]} Harry S. Truman was stationed at Camp Doniphan from September 1917 until March 1918, and he was assigned to run the regimental canteen.^{[12] [13] [14]} It was here that he made Edward Jacobson his business partner.^[15]

Further reading

• Book: Triplet, William S. . 2000 . Ferrell . Robert H. . Robert Hugh Ferrell . A Youth in the Meuse-Argonne . vii, 8–10, 18, 25, 68, 179 . Columbia, Mo. . . 0-8262-1290-5 . 00029921 . 43707198 .

Notes and References

1. https://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/component/gmapfp/2147:camp-doniphan-part-of-fort-sill.html?view=gmapfp "Camp Doniphan part of Fort Sill" World War 1 Centennial Commission Website
2. https://history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/resmat/wwi/pt02/ch10/pt02-ch10-sec06.html "The WW1 Era: Camp Doniphan" history.army.mil
3. http://luna.library.okstate.edu:8180/luna/servlet/detail/OSULibraryOCM~7~7~11371~100309:Camp-Doniphan,-Fort-Sill,-Okla-?sort=Title%2CTitle%2CTitle%2CTag&qvq=sort:Title%2CTitle%2CTitle%2CTag;lc:OSULibraryOCM~7~7,OSULibraryOCM~29~29,OSULibraryOCM~22~22,OSULibraryOCM~25~25&mi=149&trs=4296 Topographic map, Camp Doniphan, Fort Sill, Okla.
4. http://www.il.ngb.army.mil/ARMY/UNITWEB/B1_178INF/History35ID.htm History of the 35th Infantry Division (ID) "Santa Fe"
5. http://www.kfor9.org/35th_infantry_history History of the 35th Infantry Division
6. http://localhistory.kclibrary.org/cdm4/results.php?CISOOP1=exact&CISOFIELD1=CISOSEARCHALL&CISOROOT=all&CISOBOX1=Fort+Sill%2C+Oklahoma Fort Sill search
7. http://www.kansasguardmuseum.org/35ww1.html The 35th Infantry Division in the Great War
8. Connelley, William E (1928). "The 35th Infantry Division in the Great War" - History of Kansas: State and People, Volume II. Chicago: The American Historical Society. pp. 889-893.
9. http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/ww1/129chronology.shtml Chronological Record of the 129th Field Artillery 1917-1919
10. http://www.kansasguardmuseum.org/mohbleckley.html 2Lt. Erwin Russell Bleckley
11. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-158fa.htm 1st Battalion - 158th Field Artillery (MLRS)
12. [McCullough, David]
13. Gilwee, William J. Capt. Harry Truman Artilleryman and Future President - at the Doughboy Center
14. http://www.trumanlibrary.org/oralhist/markst.htm Oral History Interview with Ted Marks
15. McCullough, p. 107