Postcards & other pictures of Camp MacKall

Apr 4

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Smitty had acquired additional postcards to show the people back home what Camp MacKall looked like.  They were in the scrapbook his mother put together and was saved for all these years…..

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A history of Camp MacKall is on Youtube.com in 3 parts.  Part 1 includes some of  these postcards and other photos as well.

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Military Training Humor – 

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Farewell Salutes – 

William Arnold – Edmonton, CAN; RC Air Force, WWII, CBI, B-24 pilot

Norman Eckert – NY; US Army, Korea, Sgt.0083f165f66161f63454e92890403bcd

Howard Feldman – Boston, MA; US Army Air Corps, WWII

Bill Hinson Jr. – W.Palm Bch., FL; US Navy, Cuban Missile Crisis, USS Saratoga, Shangri-la & Enterprise

Jim Keslar – Ligonier, PA; USMC & Army (Ret. 22 years)

Mardo ‘Lou’ Lucero – Alamosa, CO; US Navy, WWII/Vietnam, Corpsman

Stewart Alexander Marken – Brisbane, AUS; RA Army # Q266312, WWII, PTO, 472 Heavy Antiaircraft Troop, craftsman

Alan Penn – Skokie, IL; US Army, WWII

Herbert Sayles – W.Palm Bch, FL; US Army Air Corps, WWII, P-47 pilot

James Sumrall – Covington, LA; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, 187th/11th Airborne Division

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About GP

Everett Smith served with the Headquarters Company, 187th Regiment, 11th A/B Division during WWII. This site is in tribute to my father, "Smitty." GP is a member of the 11th Airborne Association. Member # 4511 and extremely proud of that fact!

Posted on April 4, 2016, in First-hand Accounts, Home Front, Uncategorized, WWII and tagged , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink. 65 Comments.

  1. C. Lienemann | May 31, 2022 at 9:34 AM

    I just found five (blank) postcards from Camp Mackall. My father-in law trained there in the 1950’s and was part of the 101st army infantry.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. colonialist | April 28, 2016 at 4:02 PM

    I was speculating that MacDill must have attracted many quaint nicknames over the years. Strangely, I can’t find any, but I did come across a story that a colonel there had banned chairs for posture reasons, although the true motivation was said to have been to counter the ‘Chair Force’ nickname. *giggle* That’s what I would call standing orders!

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    • GP Cox | April 29, 2016 at 6:01 AM

      I went looking myself, especially since the week of 15 April was their 75th anniversary, and I came up blank. Probably if we ever find personal stories about it. Many of the readers have commented tales about the camp – perhaps they would know.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Gastradamus | April 27, 2016 at 7:30 PM

    hey man, if you ever have the chance, please check out our blog at Gastradamus. You are well respected within our community.

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    • GP Cox | April 28, 2016 at 5:56 AM

      I’ve checked it out and it seems quite good. You have only just started, a blog means a while of commitment – you’ll get there with work and courtesy to your fellow bloggers. May I ask you what you feel is the main theme of your site – Movies? or Personal Opinions? Just curious, who do you consider your community? I don’t see an About page.

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  4. vw1212 | April 9, 2016 at 10:46 PM

    love the humor at this time of night. ha, ha. vw

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. The Emu | April 9, 2016 at 12:36 AM

    Enjoyed those Postcards gp, the Cards actually put a face to Camp MacKall, well done mate, more of your history safely recorded for posterity.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Sheryl | April 5, 2016 at 10:51 PM

    The post card is so much fun!

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  8. Curt Mekemson | April 5, 2016 at 7:14 PM

    So much seems to pass, GP, but on the Internet it is given a second life. Who knows what chords will be struck. Peggy, BTW, is a great fan of post cards. She is sending them out to our grandkids every few days as we travel. Talk about old-fashioned. But they love getting them. –Curt

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. masgautsen | April 5, 2016 at 1:38 PM

    Liked that postcard!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  11. giselzitrone | April 5, 2016 at 9:41 AM

    Thank you Freund …

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. natuurfreak | April 5, 2016 at 6:53 AM

    An important piece of history

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. doesitevenmatter3 | April 5, 2016 at 12:42 AM

    What a precious collection of cards! 🙂
    I love History through the stories and love shared in postcards and letters. Especially those in correspondence with family in the military!
    At antique stores and thrift shops I OFTEN find such cards and I am sad they are not with the family of the one who wrote them. I wonder how they got to the the antique store. Sometimes I buy them just to give them honor and a home. A friend of my mine found a whole collection rubber banded together (about 50 postcards and letters) from a young man to his family and my friend knew I like giving a home to such collections so he bought it and gave it to me. Unfortunately there was no address (just PO Boxes) for me to try to find the family to give the collection back to.
    I just commented on one of Chris’ posts on postcards and military service…and told him about my family’s correspondence to my brother when he served in Vietnam.
    HUGS!!!

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    • GP Cox | April 5, 2016 at 5:53 AM

      Thanks for sharing such stories about postcards. I recently did the same for some very old sheet music. It just couldn’t see them on the bazaar table with Harlequin paperbacks and torn magazines; it didn’t seem right. [you know what I mean]. Now, I need to locate someone who can appreciate them, I can’t even read music.

      Liked by 2 people

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  14. Gypsy Bev | April 5, 2016 at 12:28 AM

    As you know, postcards are favorites of mine as I have a large collection. They make for great memories…on both sides of the card.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  16. jfwknifton | April 4, 2016 at 4:15 PM

    Love those old postcards! Do many of the old buildings still soldier on?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • GP Cox | April 4, 2016 at 4:22 PM

      I don’t think so. The Army Historian who did his thesis on Camp MacKall requested I send him these pictures, which I did. I believe more permanent buildings were later built.
      Thanks for your interest, John – much appreciated.

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      Reply
  18. Claire St. Hilaire | April 4, 2016 at 12:49 PM

    Wow! Those postcards are amazing! It is so amazing to see this period of history through pictures taken by those who lived through it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  19. ibdesignsusa | April 4, 2016 at 12:41 PM

    Loved watching the various postcards with your dad in them! Excellent.Smiling at the humor section and the soft landing 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  20. derrickjknight | April 4, 2016 at 12:26 PM

    Good to have these photos of your Dad.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  21. Jacqui Murray | April 4, 2016 at 12:07 PM

    It’s too bad postcards are disappearing. These are great.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • GP Cox | April 4, 2016 at 3:14 PM

      I love them, Jacqui. You know who has quite a few oldies, Chris at Muscleheaded. He had quite a few in one of his posts today and you’ve seen some in my Humor section!

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      Reply
  22. beetleypete | April 4, 2016 at 11:12 AM

    That was an impressive-looking camp, GP. Nice to have all those souvenirs. Perhaps you can leave them to the Airborne? Do they have an association, or perhaps a museum? I am sure that they would be welcome there.
    Best wishes, Pete.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  23. Mike Sinnott | April 4, 2016 at 9:44 AM

    Wonderful collection, something precious for the family.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  24. giselzitrone | April 4, 2016 at 8:05 AM

    Guter Beitrag wünsche dir eine schöne sonnige Woche Lieber Gruß Gislinde

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  25. Dan Antion | April 4, 2016 at 7:42 AM

    Thanks for sharing the postcards. It was a very good idea to save them.

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    • GP Cox | April 4, 2016 at 7:45 AM

      It was dad’s scrapbook that got me interested in the Pacific, so many years ago. My only problem now is, being as I have no living relatives, where do I leave all my stuff after I pass on?

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
      • Dan Antion | April 4, 2016 at 8:28 AM

        That is a challenge. Maybe a museum? A friend of mine recently asked if I would mind if he donated an A-10 patch I had given him to a local air museum. They are getting an A-10 soon and are building an exhibit. I hope there’s enough interest in the next generation to keep military museums open and active.

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        Reply
  28. GP Cox | April 6, 2016 at 2:23 PM

    Thank you. You are very kind.

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    Reply

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