The Camp Dodge Story
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Camp Dodge Story
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From a small militia camp to...

 
         

As World War One (WWI) was being fought in Europe, the United States struggled to remain neutral. On April 6, 1917 President Woodrow Wilson and the United States declared war on the imperial German Government. The same day Camp Dodge, previously a camp and training grounds for the Iowa National Guard located just 10 miles north of Des Moines, was chosen as the 13th National Cantonment for military training. Within four months, infrastructure, buildings, and water systems were built with great precision to accommodate more than 40,000 troops training at Camp Dodge.
         
The 13th Cantonment was initially established to educate and train young men from the Midwest, and later southern troops, with the skills needed to win battles in Europe. Many troops drafted into the National Army came to Camp Dodge and experienced military life for the first time. It wasn't easy for many of the drafted troops, but they made it through before leaving Camp Dodge for France or other military posts.
Physical training at Camp Dodge. (click image to view larger)

Daily activities at Camp Dodge included many components with emphasis being placed on physical drill, but school and advancing the education was also a major element. There were several specialty school including: heavy machine gun, grenade, bayonet, camouflage, trench mortar, signal and liaison, intelligence, sniping, horseshoers, clerks, cooks, and French language.

 

View inside barracks. (click image to view larger)

 

 
Airplane view looking southeast over civic center. (click image to view larger)
  
     
The 88th Division was organized at Camp Dodge and went to fight on the battlefields in France before the war ended in November of 1918. Shortly after, Camp Dodge was returned to state ownership and once again served as a training site for the Iowa National Guard.
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