The first shipment arrived by train from Nebraska in July 1942. These POWs alleviated the manpower shortage in Colorado by doing general farm work, canning tomatoes, cutting corn, and aiding in logging operations on Colorado's Western Slope.īetween 19, pack mules were a common sight at Camp Carson. The internment camp at Camp Carson opened on the first day of 1943. Camp Carson was also home to nearly 9,000 Axis prisoners of war – mostly Italians and Germans. Nurses, cooks, mule packers, tank battalions, a Greek infantry battalion, and an Italian ordnance company trained at Camp Carson during the war years. Along with three other infantry divisions – the 71st Infantry Division, 104th Infantry Division and 10th Mountain Division – more than 125 units were activated at Camp Carson and more than 100 others were transferred to the mountain post from other installations.

During World War II, over 100,000 soldiers trained at Camp Carson. The 89th Infantry Division was the first major unit to be activated at Camp Carson. Training on a 37mm anti-tank gun at Camp Carson. The hospital complex was constructed of concrete block, considered semi-permanent, and had space for 1,726 beds, expandable to 2,000 beds. Almost all of the buildings were of mobilization-type construction, with wood-sided exteriors. Facilities were provided for 35,173 enlisted men, 1,818 officers, and 592 nurses. Camp Carson was named in honor of the legendary Army scout, General Christopher 'Kit' Carson, who explored much of the West in the 1800s.Īt the construction's peak, nearly 11,500 workers were employed on various construction projects at the new camp. Construction began immediately and the first building, the camp headquarters, was completed on January 31, 1942. The city of Colorado Springs, Colorado purchased land south of the city and donated it to the War Department. Fort Carson was also home to the 5th Infantry Division, known as the Red Devils.Ĭamp Carson was established in 1942, following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. The post also hosts units of the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve and the Colorado Army National Guard. įort Carson is the home of the 4th Infantry Division, the 10th Special Forces Group, the 4th Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB), the 440th Civil Affairs Battalion (USAR), the 71st Ordnance Group (EOD), the 4th Engineer Battalion, the 759th Military Police Battalion, the 10th Combat Support Hospital, the 43rd Sustainment Brigade, the Army Field Support Battalion-Fort Carson, the 423rd Transportation Company (USAR) and the 13th Air Support Operations Squadron of the United States Air Force. The developed portion of Fort Carson is located near the City of Colorado Springs in El Paso County. Fort Carson is a United States Army post located directly south of Colorado Springs in El Paso, Pueblo, Fremont, and Huerfano counties, Colorado, United States.

Fort carson range co. boundary map