Camp Gordon Johnston opened in 1942 for the purpose of training infantry soldiers and their support groups for amphibious landings on hostile shores. Designated the Army’s Amphibious Training Center in September of 1942, three infantry divisions, two Engineers Special Brigades and elements of three more Engineers Special Brigades left here after training to confront tyranny both in Europe and the Pacific. By June of 1943 the U.S. Navy had taken over the bulk of Amphibious training, and Camp Gordon Johnston was transitioned in September 1943 to a U.S. Army Special Forces Training Center. Many Port Construction , Harbor Craft, Amphibious Truck and other specialized units were trained in various tasks related to opening and maintaining ports and supplying support to the war effort. At the end of the war Camp Gordon Johnston served as a Separation Center for personnel of all services that lived in the Southeast Region. The Camp closed in 1946. Learn about their dedication, fears and heroism at our museum.
Occupying 165,000 acres of forest and coast in Franklin County, Florida, Camp Gordon Johnston oversaw the training of a quarter of a million troops and was the second largest installation in the state. The camp stretched from Carrabelle to Alligator Point, using area beaches and forests for training and maneuvers.
Here is a list of all of the known units who trained at Camp Gordon Johnston. Personnel rosters for each unit can be found by clicking here. While this compilation is only a small fraction of units and personnel, it is all of the available information we have been able to find. Any additional information would be greatly appreciated.
- 4th, 28th and 38th Infantry Divisions
- 2nd and 3rd Engineers Special Brigade
- Elements of the 4th, 5th and 6th Engineers Special Brigades
- 75th Composite Training Battalion
- 23rd and 694th Quartermaster Truck Companies
- 1055th, 1057th, 1058th, 1059th and 2055th Port Construction and Repair
- Harbor Craft Companies: 103rd, 105th, 108th, 112th, 114th, 115th, 332nd, 334th, 336th, 337th, 339th, 340th, 343rd, 344th, 345th, 351st, 353rd, 356th, 358th, 359th, 368th, 374th, 375th, 376th, 377th
- 1461st Engineer Maintenance Company
- 106th and 108th Port Marine Maintenance Group
- Amphibious Truck Companies: 71st, 421st, 455th, 471st, 473rd, 476th, 490th, 816th, 817th, 818th, 828th (458th after service in Europe)
- 1461st and 1463rd Engineer Maintenance
- 165th Transportation Company
- 2nd, 3rd and 81st Chemical Battalions
- 199th Gas Supply Company
- 462nd AAA(AW) Battalion
- 302nd Coast Artillery Barrage Balloon Special Platoon
- II Air Support Command 6th and 7th Communication Squadron
- 61st (5th ESB) and 264th (4th ESB) Medical Battalion
- 169th Station Hospital Company
- Service Unit Command Units 1468, 4466
- 318th ASF and 337th Regimental Bands
- 628th Tank Detachment Battalion
- 288th Signal Company
