Figure 1.--The men drafted as a result of the 1940 Selective Service Act trained in camps opened up all over the country, but especially in the South where training was possible year round. Here we see Jimmy y Gaines, son of Sergeant Gaines, 2nd Platoon, 8B, Camp Wheeler, Macon, Georgia (Summer 1941). Camp Wheeler was used as an infantry replacement center from 1940-45. At the height of the training effort, the camp contained 17,000 trainees and 3,000 cadre personnal. Among units staged there was the 7th Infantry Division. The 7th Division was deployed to the Pacufic and fought on Aleutian Islands, Leyte, and Okinawa. Men like Sgt. Gaines from the small pre-War Regular Army had the vital task of turning raw civilians into soldiers capable of winning the greatest war in human history. For the first time since World War I, the United States had a substanial army, albeit, still poorly trained, inexperinced, and poorly armed. At the time this photograh was taken, some 150 well armed and led German divisions were driving toward Moscow. The Germans had 8 years to build their army. As it would turn out, the United States would have little more than a year. The major issue at the time in America , however, only a few months before Pearl Harbor was being debated in Congress. The Isolationists wanted Congress to reject renewal of the Selective Service Act, and essentially disband America's fledgling new army. Congress was split and there was a very real possibility that President Roosevelt might fail to obtain the needed votes for renewal.

President Roosevelt after Hitler and Stalin launched another war in Europe proclaimed a limited emergency and authorized increases in the size of the Regular Army and the National Guard (September 1939). The numbers, however were still limited. Only with Congressional passage of the Selective Service Act (September 1940), were really large numbers of men available for military service. The Army held its first large-scale corps and army maneuvers in American history (Summer 1940). . The rapid defeat of France and the possible collapse of Britain dramatically accelerated defense preparations. Gen. Marshall and Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson made plans to expand the Army to 1.5 million men. This required two separe actions. Congress approved inducting the National Guard into federal service and calling up the reserves (August 27, 1940). A few weeks later, Congress passed the Selective Service and Training Act--America's first peacetime draft (September 16). The Army launched a massive training program for the new recruits. The National Guard had only limited training and the new draftees had none. Army camps were opened all oer the Unted states. Some were World War I era camps. Many new camps were open. Many of the new camps were opened in the South where the weather permitted around-the year training. Many units had to train with very limited equipment because of shortages and the large numbr of me involved. The new U.S. Army achieved its planned strength (mid-1941). The U.S. Army stood at 27 infantry, 5 armored, and 2 cavalry divisions in addition to 35 air groups and a host of support units. But it was inexperienced, still poorly trained and was still far from prepared to deploy overseas against the much larger, meticulously-equipped, experienced, and highly professional German Wehrmacht. It took the British more than 2 years of combat to learn the fundamental of Blitzkrieg--essentially modern war. The Allies and america would be in trouble unles the developing new army achieved a steper learning curve. At the time this photograh was taken (figure 1), over 100 well armed and led German divisions were driving toward Moscow. The Germans had 8 years to build their army. As it would turn out, the United States would have little more than a year. The major issue at the time in America , however, only a few months before Pearl Harbor was being debated in Congress. The Isolationists wanted Congress to reject renewal of the Selective Service Act, and essentially disband America's fledgling new army. Congress was split and there was a very real possibility that President Roosevelt might fail to obtain the needed votes for renewal.

Created: 10:04 AM 4/30/2015
Last updated: 10:04 AM 4/30/2015