Pictorial History of Fort Wolters, Volume 13: Police, Fire, Training Aids, Band, Weather Squadron, Recreation, Prisoner of War Camp, Nike, Camp Wolters Enterprise, Parks Page: 89 of 212
212 p. : ill., maps ; 30 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
could be used for simple labor jobs to keep them occupied. Camp Wolters was selected as one of
the Texas sites. At Camp Wolters the prisoners utilized many of the rock constructed barracks,
latrines, and supply rooms that were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) to house the
Texas National Guard, 56th Cavalry Brigade during summer maneuvers. Due to the limited
number of facilities available for 300 prisoners, additional heavy tarpaper over pine frames with
sheetrock interior barracks and other support buildings were constructed. The estimated prison
population averaged about 300 prisoners and was located on the west side of the center of Camp
Wolters. The camp enclosure was about 600 feet wide and 2,500 feet long, surrounded by a
double fence enclosure of barbwire. The interior fence was 8 feet high and the outer fence with
21 strands of barbwire was 10 feet high. The two fences were located 6 feet apart with stands of
barbwire on angle iron facing inward on top of the fence, to include trip alarm wires. Four sentry
towers were utilized, one on each corer of the compound. Huge floodlights illuminated the
entire area at night, which could be seen easily from US Highway 180.
The following physical assets were within the enclosed compound:
An administrative area which was staffed by civilians.
A chapel. (Converted a section of the recreation room.)
Nineteen barracks (40 feet by 80 feet).
The barracks were arranged to sleep 50 enlisted prisoners utilizing folding metal cots with
straw covered mattresses. Officers were allotted additional space based on the number of
officers assigned to the camp. Some of the prisoners who were artists painted murals on
the walls of the barracks and in the mess halls which were very impressive and interesting.
Many of the paintings expressed their attitude about their time in Africa and America.
Prisoners were privileged to have radios in their barracks, send and receive mail packages.
Two mess halls.
The mess halls were made by converting two barracks. Tables in the mess hall were
placed in rows. Each table would seat eight prisoners. Prisoners were fed three meals a
day. The following menu was typical: (In fact, they were fed better than the guards
guarding them.)
Breakfast: Milk, oranges, dry cereal, skim milk, bread, coffee
Lunch: Soup, pork, headcheese, liver sausage, potatoes, beans, tea
Dinner: Meatballs, potatoes, cabbage, bologna, broccoli, fruit, coffee
Calories intake per day:
Three thousand per day for those prisoners doing active work.
Two thousand per day for sedentary prisoners.
On Sunday all prisoners were considered sedentary.
The prisoners wasted a lot of food, because they did not like American diet. They refused
to eat oysters, cornmeal, celery, corn, eggplant, green pepper, tomatoes, American style
soups, peanut butter, and canned juices. The Provost Marshal General Office solved the
problem by reducing the daily rations by 500 calories per day and closing the canteen
during mealtime. The Red Cross investigated and found that while the food was tasty, it
was very limited in quantity. The Camp Commander acknowledged that the ration
allowance was too small and agreed to increase the allowance by 200 calories per day. At
Camp Wolters a strike was threatened, but never was carried out.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Casper, Willie H., Jr. Pictorial History of Fort Wolters, Volume 13: Police, Fire, Training Aids, Band, Weather Squadron, Recreation, Prisoner of War Camp, Nike, Camp Wolters Enterprise, Parks, book, Date Unknown; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth25111/m1/89/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boyce Ditto Public Library.