Military Property Ownership and Activity
 The Camp Fannin location was chosen by Executive Order in
December 1941, and construction of Camp Fannin began in December. The U.S. Government acquired approximately 14,093.48 acres of woodland hills by lease (11,022.02 acres) and fee purchase (3071.46 acres) in 1942. Camp Fannin was named in honor of James Walker Fannin, a soldier in the Texas Revolution (McDonald, 2000). The Army activated an Air Corps Replacement Training Center in April 1943 at the site, which was converted to an Infantry Replacement Training Center in July 1943. Later that same year, a prisoner-of-war camp commanded by Major Sam H. Burchard was activated. Troop capacity was 18,680 and the camp hospital could accommodate 1,074 patients (McDonald, 2000).
Camp Fannin served primarily as a training post to provide replacement troops for casualties sustained during World War II. Improvements constructed at the site included administration buildings, supply and storage buildings, barracks, a hospital, ordnance training areas, utilities, and numerous other support facilities. A Women's Army Corps (WAC) detachment was based at the site during 1944, and the camp became a separation point following the end of the war in 1945.
Post-Military Ownership
The site remained active until it was declared surplus in 1946, and was never subject to other than Department of Defense (DOD) control during the period of DOD interest.
The Army deactivated the prisoner-of-war camp in May 1946, and the remainder of the base was deactivated in June 1946. Prior to closure of the base, the target ranges and impact areas were swept for dangerous munitions and duds. The Camp Ordnance Officer issued a Certificate of Clearance for the site on 8 January 1946, following the completion of cleanup activities in December 1945. The land and improvements were transferred to the War Assets Administration (WAA) for disposal on 12 November 1946. The leases were terminated and the land returned to the original owners, with payment made in lieu of restoration. Most of the property acquired in fee and the utility systems were conveyed by the WAA by Deed without Warranty to the State of Texas, which by mid 1949 had re-conveyed all but 614 acres to others through various transactions. The General Services Administration (GSA) transferred the remaining property, primarily by Deed without Warranty, to several public and private interests between 1959 and 1960. There is no record in the real estate files of any restrictions or recapture clauses. Much of the former cantonment - area is owned by Triton Development Corporation, and is the site of a commercial, industrial, and residential enterprise known as the East Texas Center. The University of Texas Health Center at Tyler occupies most of the former hospital area. The former ranges and impact areas are, for the most part, used for pasture or agricultural purposes.
Photo Source: US Military History Institute, Carlisle, Pennsylvania –
Branch Immaterial Replacement Training Center, Camp Fannin, Texas, Camp
Robinson, Arkansas: The Story of Training in Photographs.
S.1.: Beck Engraving, n.d. U294.5F36B72
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