Camp Fannin Veterans Memorial
Camp Fannin Veterans Memorial
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TallTexWally
Texarkana, Texas638 contributions
Jan 2018 • Solo
I visited the Camp Fannin Memorial again during a recent trip to Tyler. There are a series of historical plaques, and park benches honoring various men and units from World War II. Camp Fannin was one of the main army bases in the USA for training infantry soldiers for battle in World War II. It didn't exist for too long, only from early in 1943 until the end of the war in 1945. There's little left to see of the army base itself. You have to use your imagination to realize how big the base was, and the hundreds of thousands of men who trained here. It is something to think about that after completing their training these men went off to the battlefields in Europe and the Pacific. Many fought in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium in 1944, and some lost their lives there. Their sacrifice should not be forgotten. As President Abraham Lincoln said in his Gettysburg Address they gave their last full devotion of duty in service to their country. The hospital complex, UT Health Northeast, is just to the north of the Memorial. It's there because it was the base hospital, and then it became a tuberculosis hospital, before becoming part of the University of Texas hospital system. The hospital keeps growing and expanding. A new building is currently under construction just to the west of the Camp Fannin Memorial. The Memorial itself is fairly new, since it was dedicated just 14 years ago in 2004. Many veterans wanted a place in the heart of what was once Camp Fannin to remember all the soldiers who were at this location during World War II. I mentioned in my previous post that you can obtain more information about the history of Camp Fannin at the historical museum in downtown Tyler. I want to clarifiy that Tyler is the county seat of Smith County, not Tyler County, which is in southeast Texas, near Beaumont. I also want to point out that Camp Ford, which is just about 3 miles down US Highway 271 from the Camp Fannin site, was the largest Confederate Civil War Prison west of the Mississippi. It is also worth a visit. It's interesting that Camp Ford, from the Civil War Era, and Camp Fannin, from the World War II Era, were located so close together.
Written 12 January 2018
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TallTexWally
Texarkana, Texas638 contributions
Jul 2016 • Solo
Camp Fannin was one of the important army bases in the South during World War II. It was located about 9 miles northeast of Tyler, in what was once cotton fields. It became the base where recruits were trained to replace the soldiers fighting in Europe and the Pacific who had died. Thousands were trained here. Many were sent to Europe in 1944 and died in the Battle of the Bulge. At the end of the war Camp Fannin was closed since it was no longer needed. The army hospital on the base continued on as a tuberculosis hospital. Later its role was changed to be a hospital serving the community. It is now UT Health Northeast, serving thousands of patients in Northeast Texas. In recent years a group decided there should be a memorial to remember the US servicemen who trained at Camp Fannin, and to also remember the ultimate sacrifice many paid in service to their country. A site was selected to the south of the hospital, on a knoll above US Highway 271. Several monuments recognizing various military units and specific individuals were erected. It's worth a stop to remember that Camp Fannin played an important part in the war effort. From I - 20 one can take the US 271 exit and head west for a few miles until you reach the UT Health Northeast campus. Enter the grounds of the campus, and go towards the Cancer Center, which is a new addition on the south side of the hospital complex. Just to the south of the Cancer Center is a small road that goes for about a few hundred yards to the Camp Fannin Veterans Memorial. You can also exit I -20 on Highway 155. Just as Highway 155 approaches US Highway 271, there will be an entrance on your right to the UT Health Northeast campus. For more information about the history of Camp Fannin I recommend that you visit the exhibit in the Tyler County History Museum in downtown Tyler.
Written 26 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vdwagg
Slaughter, Louisiana, USA8 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
Being a veteran myself, I am always interested in visiting any memorials that have been established. I knew nothing about Camp Fannin but the informational markers were very informative. It is a shame that the government has never really taken any real action to reciprocate families affected by procurement of the land necessary for Camp Fannin.
Written 10 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kathrynl492
Dallas, United States20 contributions
Oct 2017 • Friends
We weren't expecting to visit a POW camp; not sure if re-enactment is the right word. Basically they have rebuilt a replica of the POW camp on the actual grounds of the POW camp from the Civil War. There's a lot of signage to tell you what went on and when...coming from California where the Civil War isn't so "in your face," it's sobering to see just how impacted this area was by the Civil War. A good visit and reminder that the cost was high on both sides.
Written 21 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bernardo F
New York City, NY15,124 contributions
Mar 2017 • Solo
A very nice memorial. kind of hidden in the front of a big hospital but it's a nice collection of benches with honoring names, and a monument for the veterans. Very moving
Written 9 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
filmbuffintexas
Texarkana, TX516 contributions
Jul 2016 • Solo
Camp Fanin was a U.S. Army Infantry Replacement (AIR) Center and a German Prisoner-of-War Camp from 1943 until it closed in 1946. The memorial of benches and columns is located in the front of the University of Texas Health Center property near Tyler, Texas. The Camp Fanin Veterans Memorial was erected and paid for by the Camp Fanin Association.
I was moved by the sacrifice of so many service men who trained at this Army Camp.
I was moved by the sacrifice of so many service men who trained at this Army Camp.
Written 26 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
slmnsam
Tyler, TX230 contributions
Oct 2017 • Family
Old Camp Fannin is a memorial to the WWII training base outside of Tyler, Texas. Over 200,000 Soldiers came through Camp Fannin as they prepared for war. Named for legendary Goliad Commander, Col James Fannin from the Texas Revolution.
Written 6 December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TrueTexasTraveler
Amarillo, TX984 contributions
Jun 2017 • Couples
This is a very small memorial in the the UT Hospital at Tyler. It's worth a quick stop if you're traveling through to learn about the WWII history there, and also the people who's land was stolen from them by the federal government for the camp.
Written 28 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Juan S
Tyler, TX220 contributions
Jul 2016 • Friends
Great place to take pictures as you visit the eatery Jack Ryan's steak house( across the street).
It is in the central plaza of Tyler, TX.
A mixture of old and Nrw with water fall type of gardens. Nice place to visit. Parking all around the plaza. You will need coins for parking.
It is in the central plaza of Tyler, TX.
A mixture of old and Nrw with water fall type of gardens. Nice place to visit. Parking all around the plaza. You will need coins for parking.
Written 16 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Scott L
Tyler, TX21 contributions
Feb 2017 • Solo
Pleasant stop for a short break. Park benches to sit on. Almost no one knows about it, on the grounds to the UTHSC at Tyler.
Written 29 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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