1939-1940

America ramps up manufacturing in war-related industries.

 

1940, December 19

US Army introduces the famous “jeep.” Sixth Cavalry receives 8 new jeeps and becomes one of the first units in the country to field test them.

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1941

33rd Surgical Hospital unit pioneers “mechanized” techniques to get surgeons closer to the front lines.

November - Col. Duncan Richart ordered to Fort Oglethorpe and arrives to take command of the post, relieving Col. John Considine, who remained commander of the 6th Cavalry Regiment. A recent Army regulation prevented tactical commanders from simultaneously being post commanders, which had been the protocol since the fort's inception. Col. Richart would have been under the chain of command of the 4th Corps service area whose headquarters was in Atlanta. Col. Richart served in this capacity until his departure on July 28, 1943, by which time he had become a beloved figure by the citizens of Chattanooga.

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1942, February

6th Cavalry Regiment departs Fort Oglethorpe to prepare for deployment in Europe. 

3rd Cavalry Regiment arrives week of February 22 and occupies post's barracks. Commanded by Col. Howell M. Estes.

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1942, April 8

First prisoners of war arrived at the fort. Their numbers and nationality not reported. They arrived by train in Chattanooga and were transported to the post by trucks under heavy guard by Army military police, and aided to the state line by the Chattanooga Police Department. The Army had initially planned to build two POW camps, one in the Chickamauga Battlefield Park, the other within the fort's reservation, just east of the Lafayette Road along Forest Road in what was called the East Post. But at the time of this arrival, only the East Post POW camp was completed. According to an eyewitness account by WAC Catherine Katopes, by March 3, 1943, the construction on the Battlefield Park POW camp had stopped. 

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1943, February

Fort Oglethorpe becomes the 3rd Women’s Army Corps (WAC) Training Center, the largest, most well-known WAC training center in the US. About 50,000 women would be trained here. April 17 - President F.D. Roosevelt visits to review the 3rd WAC Training Center.

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1944, April 22

Lt. Col. Elizabeth Strayhorn becomes 3rd WAC Commandant, first woman to hold such a position in US military history. Fort Oglethorpe houses largest prisoner of war camp in the state of Georgia during WW2. 

Hollywood classic “Keep your Powder Dry,” a movie about the WACs, is filmed at Fort Oglethorpe.

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1945, January

6888th Central Postal Battalion is at Fort Oglethorpe and becomes the only segregated WAC unit to be transferred overseas in WW2.​