The Last Days of Camp Wolters, 15 August 1946 Page: 3 of 6
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Tho enlisted dotachment had previously boon moved to the
National Guard Area and was operating a mess hall in which the
onlistod mon, Officers and civilians vwre permitted to oat.
The Prisoner of War Camp vws still in operation although the
strength was considerably reduced. The POW Camp continued to
operate until 5 April when it was inactivated and all prisoners
transferred to Camp Bowie. At this time the mess vas discontinued
and all personnel authorized to mess off the post. A short
time later the barracks wore closed and the personnel authorized
to live off the post also.
31 March Lt. Col. Foster departed for the Separation Center
and "Your Adjutant," the writer of this summary, assumed command.
During April, May and June, activity centered around the disposal
of Salvage and Surplus Property, and the disposition of records.
In Mineral Wells the question vas frequently asked "What
do you do out there?" The answers were varied, and not always
truthful but served to swing the conversation to other subjects.
Anyone who has handled property knows the amount of work there is.
As far as the Headquarters was concerned the principal item of work
was the handling of correspondence and inquiries. With questions
concerning every phase of the operation of Camp, these inquiries
took time to check into and to answer. During this period there
was an average of 52 letters a day, with the peak being a day when
80 letters wore written. Such inquiries ranged all the way from
simple questions to the question as to why a shipment of soldiers
from the Reception Center in December 194;3 was sent by an unauthorized
route. That might be termed the "Sixty-Four Dollar" question1t--incidontally
after much correspondence tho responsibility
was placed and the government received the financial advantage,
11 Juno the Eighth Sbrvice Conmand was discontinued(as were
all the Service Commands), and the Fourth Army assumed jurisdiction
and command. The 1866 was then rodosignated the 1866 Area
Service Unit.
Comnmencing 1 January there was a continual reduction in
officers, enlisted men and civilians. On 1 July Captain Williamson
departed for separation, which left the writer as the only
officer at camp, with two enlisted men (S/Sgt Maxwoll and Tec 5
Alexander) and twelve civilians. The civilians wore divided
between Headquarters which also included four engineer employees,
and the Surplus Property activity. By this time the only Surplus
Property roraining was that which had boon turned over to the War
Assets Administration. This camp therefore moroly acted as storekeeper
for the V^AA. Miss Julia Wells was the rdomining employee
of the once crowded Personnel office, while Ml*. James E. Nelson
and Mr. Joe McGill plus two guards were the remainder of the
Engineer activity. Those guards were on duty each night in the
first tower which formerly housed a machine g'm to guard the POWsf
These guards were on duty from five in the evening until eight the
following morning when the Headquarters person neol arrived. An
extension of the telephone was in the guard tywer, and thus Camp
aould be contacted 24 hours of the day, sovon days a week.
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Coing, Edward E. The Last Days of Camp Wolters, 15 August 1946, book, August 15, 1946; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth46563/m1/3/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boyce Ditto Public Library.