Twenty Four Wichita county registrants will leave on August 5 for Camp Cody in Deming, New Mexico on call 977, ‘the local board announces. The men called for this’ time include; Walter Sisk, Arthur B. Huff, Bert Ligon, Johnnie Presley, Roy H. Harrell, Jesse J. McClellan, William S. Ross, Luther R. Fancher, Beno Michalski, Adrian B. She1ton, Dick B. Borders, Willie B Davis, Arlin Chapin, Homer & Crawford, Duke D. Martin, J.Claude Jennings, Fulcher Armstrong, Alvin L. Harris, Pinkney H. Oats, Claud D. Vaughn, Wyatt B. Johnston, Silas A. Denton, Fred Maier Jr., Lee B, Harris. – From “Wichita Falls Daily Times” – July 29, 1918
Camp Cody Soldiers On The March, Deming, New Mexico, 917-1918
Homer Crawford has gone to Colorado Springs where he will enjoy the pleasures of the tourist before journeying to Camp Cody at Deming New Mexico. – “Wichita Falls Daily Times” 2 August 1918
Lafe Maddux, stenotype and commercial student of the past two years from Breckenridge, Mo., was a visitor Thursday. Mr. Maddux Is now a soldier in the Quartermaster’s Department at Camp Cody, New Mexico. – “Chillicothe Constitution” Missouri - 11 Oct. 1918
Lt. Col. William H. Raymond, field artillery, will proceed to Camp Cody, Deming, New Mexico, for duty as chief of staff. – Washington Post - 26 August 1917
1st Lt. Marcel F. Behar to Camp Cody, Deming, New Mexico. – Washington Post - 26 August 1917
Camp Cody Soldiers At Deming, NM Train Depot, 1917-1918
Approximately five thousand men will be re1eased from the casual camp at Camp Cody at the end of the month, and will be assigned to various unit for the completion of their training. Major Philpot and his officers have worked wonders with the new, drafts and Brig. Gen. John A. Johnson, commander at Camp Cody, been showing his personal intern the new men and their progress since they came here.- Camp Cody, Trench and Camp Newspaper – Date Unknown
Camp Cody Buildings And Tents, Deming, New Mexico 1917-1918
The Holy Cross Sanatorium was located on part of what had been known as Camp Cody. The U.S. War Department in 1917 established a 2000-acre training camp near the town of Deming, New Mexico during World War One. The garrison of soldiers assigned t this base, called Camp Cody, was made up of National Guardsmen from Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and the Dakotas.
Official opening of Camp Deming was on December 29, 1916. The day was marked with a flag raising ceremony. The camp was renamed in honor of William “Buffalo Bill” Cody on July 20, 1917. William Cody was born February 26, 1846 and died on January 10, 1917.
The 34th Infantry Division was called the “Sunshine” Division at first, but this was in conflict with the 40th Division formed at Camp Kearney, California at the same time. So Camp Cody’s 34th became known as the “Sandstorm” Division. Base quarters were built for 36,000 soldiers and the hospital had 800 beds. Camp Cody closed on June 20, 1919.
When World War One ended, the facilities at Camp Cody were converted for use as a tuberculosis sanitarium for ex-soldiers. Later the buildings on Camp Cody were turned over to the Catholic Sisters of the Holy Cross who continued to operate the Sanatorium. In 1939 most of the other building on Camp Cody were destroyed by fire. It was also about this same time that the Sisters decided to close the Sanitarium. – From the book “Spirits Of The Border IV – The History And Mystery Of New Mexico” written by Ken Hudnall (Author) and Sharon Hudnall (Contributor)
Red Cross Nurses and Soldiers At Camp Cody Hospital, Deming, New Mexico
In the first days of Camp Cody it was discovered that there was no swimming pool in Deming nor near the camp and there was forthwith much anguish on the part of the men addicted to this sport. However, it was soon learned that there are dozens of irrigation tanks in and around Deming, especially on the ranches of the “homesteaders.”
In most cases these tanks are just plain mud-holes with an embankment thrown up around the water and built for the purpose of allowing the water to flow through the pipes and down the ditches into the vegetation. Yet these mud-holes have been until recently the only places where scores of men would go for a swim. Given a little time, however, the War Camp Community Service organization has provided a concrete pool immediately outside the camp grounds, a pool, owned by private interests who wished to contribute something toward entertainment of the men while in camp. – Camp Cody, Trench and Camp Newspaper – Date Unknown
Camp Cody Swimming Pool, Deming, New Mexico 1917-1918
December 29,1916 Camp Deming flag raising. Old Glory is flung to the breeze Saturday with a elaborate ceremony.
March 9, 1916 Villa raided Columbus, Luna County, New Mexico.
July 20,1917 Camp Cody is name of local camp named for Buffalo Bill Cody, no longer called Camp Deming, citizens are unhappy over name but glad for the camp.
November 28, 1919 With camp Cody closed town slumped, stores closed, empty buildings everywhere, building at Camp Cody were torn down, lumber was hauled out, so many nails in the streets the tire repair business was about the only booming business.
Number of soldiers at Camp Cody.
The lowest number was 2,559 in December of 1918.
The highest number was 27,773 in June of 1918.
From the Deming Headlight News Papers
Some of the Tents at Camp Cody, Deming, New Mexico, 1917-1918
John A Johnston – Brigadier General – Commanding W H Raymond – Colonel – Chief of Staff S J Sutherland – Major – Assistant Chief of Staff O A McGee – Lieut Colonel – Division Inspector J R Lee – Lieut Colonel – Division Quartermaster H H McGee – Lieut Colonel – Assistant Chief of Staff C C Weaver – Major – Assistant Division Inspector H M Nelly – Major – Division Adjutant John T Sayles – Lieut Colonel – Division Ordnance Officer H A Jess – Major – Acting Division Signal Officer H B Bitzing – Major – Division Judge Advocate T C Crimmins – Major – Assistant Division Judge Advocate Harold Sorenson – Major – Assistant Division Quartermaster Charles A Krauss – Captain – Assistant Division ADC Delos Walker – Captain – Personnel Officer Ira N Sprecher – Lieut – Assistant Personnel Officer Jacob M Coffin – Lieut Colonel – Division Surgeon R P Fagan – Major – Assistant Division Surgeon R B McConlogue – Captain – Division Intelligence Office L R S Ferguson – Captain – Division Athletic Officer
Camp Cody, Trench and Camp Newspaper – Date Aug 8, 1918
Camp Cody Officers Tents – Deming, New Mexico, 1917-1918
Minnesota’s National Guard was converted to four U.S. Volunteer Regiments when the war with Spain began in April 1898. Only the First Regiment, however, was destined to see foreign service. Re designated during the war as the Thirteenth Minnesota Volunteers, it fought Spanish troops and Filipino insurrectionists in the Philippines from 1898-99.
In July 1916, because of border raids conducted by Pancho Villa and the courting of an unstable Mexican government by Germany, President Wilson used his new legal authority to mobilize the nation’s entire National Guard for patrol duty on the U.S.- Mexican border. The Minnesota Guard was sent to Camp Llano Grande near Mercedes, Texas. Although they never saw fighting, their border duty helped prepare them for a much bigger challenge: World War I.
Barely home from Texas, Minnesota Guardsmen were again mobilized when the United States entered the war against Germany in April 1917. Most went directly to Camp Cody near Deming, New Mexico, for training with a newly-organized 34th “Sandstorm” Infantry Division. The 34th consisted of Guardsmen from Minnesota, the Dakotas, Iowa and Nebraska. To the dismay of its men, however, the 34th was eventually named as a depot division and broken up. Minnesotans were reassigned and sent to France as individual replacement troops while the division was reorganized and filled with new draftees from the southwest. Fortunately, Minnesota’s field artillery regiment remained intact. Re designated as the 151st Field Artillery, it became part of the 42nd “Rainbow” Division where it fought with great distinction in France.
The years following World War I found the Minnesota National Guard preoccupied with reorganization, recruitment and armory construction. Minnesota’s 109th Observation Squadron became the first federally-recognized air unit in the National Guard in January 1921. In June 1931, a new field training site was opened to troops at Camp Ripley north of Little Falls. It took its name from Fort Ripley, a long-abandoned 19th century army post which, coincidentally, had been located on land purchased for the new National Guard training camp. – Camp Cody, Trench and Camp Newspaper – Date Unknown
Morning Roll Call, Camp Cody, Deming, New Mexico, 1917-1918
Camp Cody Is To Be Located On Site of Old Camp Brookes
The permanent buildings will consist of brigade headquarters, showers and latrines for the officers and soldiers. A hospital will be constructed at a cost of $10,000, and this will be located on 8th street, just north of Pine Street on property which has been leased from the United Land & Water Company.
A.A. Temke, city clerk, is acting as attorney for the drawing of the leases of all ground which will be used by the army, both for its camp and hospital. The land for the camp will be secured from the Santa Fe Railway, the United Land & Water Company, Everett L. Todd, A. W. Pollard and Robert E. Hardaway.
Morris Nordhaus and N. A. Bolich form the supervising committee in furnishing the water to the camp in addition to the plumbing contracts which they have secure. The extension of the lighting system is entirely in charge of James A. Shepard.
The military authorities will buy all the material entering into the construction of the necessary buildings from local merchants and dealers, wherever it is possible for them to furnish it, and they will also buy all labor here in Deming. No absolute contracts will be let, but all materials will be furnished to Otto Leupold, who has been appointed superintendent of construction work of the first unit.
J. W. Fitzgerald, division superintendent of the S. P. at Tucson, and Agent W.S. Clark of the Santa Fe railway have conferred on the railroad facilities for detraining the men here, and find that their roads interchange so well that it will not be necessary for their companies to put in any sidings to handle the trains when I they arrive. The same is true of the El Paso & Southwestern. No matter from what direction the soldiers come, Deming’s railroad yards are so well arranged that they can reach their camp without the slightest difficulty, delay or inconvenience.
H.G. Bush has: been awarded the contract for supplying 150,000 feet of lumber, and, this he will redistribute among the various lumber companies in the city. The plumbing work at the camp site will be in charge of D. G. Dryer of H. Nordhaus & Sons Co. and with very few exceptions all the plumbing material necessary for the job will be supplied by local dealers. – Deming Headlight – Deming, Luna County, New Mexico, Friday, July 21, 1916
Camp Cody Is To Be Located On Site of Old Camp Brookes
Captain Stritzinger made a preliminary survey Saturday morning of the proposed campsite, in company with Mayor Morris Nordhaus, Secretary Harry A. Lane, city clerk A. A. Temke, and representatives of the Deming papers.
In the selection of a military camp three considerations are of prime importance, and they are water supply, its relative convenience, and the railroad facilities. After learning that water could be reached at a depth of between fifty and sixty feet, making an examination of the soil, and noting the proximity of the railroads on both the south and west sides, Captain Stritzinger repaired to the Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of establishing an organization, making estimates and a preliminary report to his superiors on the conditions which he found.
It was decided that owing to the fact that it required too much time to secure sufficient six inch pipe, which will be necessary to convey water to the camp from the city stand pipe, a two inch main would be put down at once in order that no delay would be experienced in ordering the first units forward. This will be replaced just as quickly as the large main pipe can be secured from the factory. This line of water mains will be carried right up to the camp, and will be furnished free of charge to the army by the city. The Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Co. has extended its lines to the camp from the central exchange and an army exchange will be established and maintained for taking care of the enormously increased business. The Deming Ice & Electric Company has strung its light wires to the camp and will install them through the company streets, without compensation. – Deming Headlight – Deming, Luna County, New Mexico, Friday, July 21, 1916
Camp, Cody Tents and Buildings, Deming, New Mexico 1917-1918
Memories of Camp Cody Weblog 