Alexandria Louisiana WWII Military Camps

Military Camp Information on the Retrospective

Alexandria and Central Louisiana were the site of the massive Louisiana Maneuvers staged during World War II. Numerous military camps were built in the CenLA area are to support the growing war effort: Camp Livingston, Camp Claiborne, Camp Beauregard, Alexandria Army Air Base, and others.

I clearly remember driving the roads of Camp Livingston with my father during the late 1950s heading to Little River, Lonnie's Landing and Walker Lake.

Heading west, as a teenager we used to explore the roads of Camp Claiborne, and stop and shoot BB guns into some of the abandoned concrete shell buildings.

The Retrospective has collected numerous historic postcards and other information on several military installations in the area.

These artifacts from the past tell amazing stories of the magnitude of the camps, and lives of the people who served there.

I remain fascinated by the history of these camps and air bases, and have total respect for the men and women that served there and their part in achieving peace for the United States.

Camp Livingston		CLICK ON SIGN TO READ THE TEXT Louisiana Maneuvers sign, outside Hotel Bentley, downtown Alexandria, Louisiana (photo by Ken Freeman) CLICK ON SIGN TO READ THE TEXT
Camp Claiborne
Alexandria Army Air Base
Camp Beauregard
Esler Field (WikiPedia) aka Camp Beauregard Army Field, and Esler Army Airfield. Construction began in 1939, and renamed in 1941 to honor Lt. Wyler Esler, a pilot who was the first casualty of the airfield when his plane crashed on April 11, 1941 Camp Polk (WikiPedia), near Leesville Barksdale Field in Bossier City (later renamed Barksdale Air Force Base)

32nd Red Arrow Infantry Division marching in downtown
Alexandria Louisiana, November 11, 1941

Invitation to the Dance of the 691st Tank Destroyer Battalion, Bolton Avenue USO,
Alexandria Louisiana, July 8, 1943
Courtesy of Floreda Duke Varick

Christmas Dinner Dance invitation, 102nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron,
December 18, 1943, Alexandria, Louisiana
Courtesy of Floreda Duke Varick

Scenes of Camp Beauregard, Louisiana

Other Sources of Military Camp Information

Several other sites have significant information about these military camps, including:

WikiPedia Articles: Camp Livingston and Camp Claiborne

The National World War II Museum, New Orleans

England Air Force ... by Louis Crusenberry

Louisiana Maneuvers and Military Museum operated by the Louisiana Army National Guard

Louisiana History Museum, Alexandria, Louisiana

The Historic Bentley Hotel, Alexandria

Camp Ruston POW Facilities (PDF)

32nd Infantry Red Arrow Division Veteran Association

Camp Livingston and Camp Claiborne at WinnFreeNet including photos, maps, blueprints, current status, access, trails, roads, etc.

The B-36 Peacemaker Site