Camp Harahan

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Type Staging area for New Orleans Port of Embarkation and training base. 295636N 901110W / 29.9433N 90.1861WCoordinates:

Coordinates Built In use Garrison

295636N 901110W / 29.9433N 90.1861W

1942 1942 -- 1946 Acreage:

Camp Harahan[1], also called Camp Plauche, was a troop staging area outside New Orleans, Louisiana during World War II. [2] The camp served as a staging area for troops passing through the New Orleans Port of Embarkation. Its mission changed to that of a training base in 1942. Between 200,000 300,000 troops, including battalions of railroad troops, port troops and hospital men were organized and trained there. [3] The Army Administration Officer Candidate School was established 19 October 1942 at Mississippi State College under the supervision of the Army Adjutant General. Within a few months the School was renamed the Transportation Corps Officer Candidate School (OCS) and moved to Camp Harahan. The curriculum included transportation modes, terminal operations, and cargo/personnel movement. [4] The 765th Transportation Battalion was activated at Camp Harahan on 12 March 1943, as the 765th Railway Shop Battalion. It soon deployed to the European Theater. [5] The 721st Railway Operating Battalion was activated at Camp Harahan on 14 April 1943. The unit comprised men from replacement companies, reception centers, a cadre from another battalion and reservists of the New York Central System, which sponsored the battalion. While at Camp Harahan for six weeks, the men underwent a vigorous physical training program, learning to march, hurdle obstacle courses, roll full field packs, fire a gun and become indoctrinated in Army discipline, rules and regulations. [6] The 721st deployed to the CBI Theater. The 740th Railway Operating Battalion was activated at Camp Harahan in December 1943.
[7]

The camp was later used to hold German and Italian prisoners-of-war (POWs). [8]