Fort Oglethorpe historian Gerry Depken holds a book filled with photos she compiled for this "Images of America" series titled "Fort Oglethorpe." The book, co-written by her and Julie Powell, showcases the complete military history of Fort Oglethorpe.
Photo by Katie Ward HamiltonCollecting photos from the National Archives in Maryland, the National Park Service and the 6th U.S. Cavalry, Fort Oglethorpe historian Gerry Depken has put together the history of the city. Her book, titled "Images of America: Fort Oglethorpe," can be found for $23.53 inside the Walgreens store next to Steak 'n Shake on Battlefield Parkway.
"I just love history, and the best way to keep history alive is to share it," she said. "I encourage people to talk to their grandma about what she has seen over the years and use a tape recorder to keep the memories."
Sitting down to chat with Depken, who is also chair of the Fort Oglethorpe Historic Preservation Commission, people can learn about the rich military history of Fort Oglethorpe. Men in World War I and women in World War II manned the Fort Oglethorpe Post where the 6th Cavalry Museum now stands inside Barnhardt Circle.
"Fort Oglethorpe has always had a military history," said Depken. "We had the largest POW Camp in World War I in Fort Oglethorpe, with over 3,400 prisoners. Later, in World War II, the men left and the Women's Army Corps came in. We had 65,000 women come through the Post in two and a half years. The women took the place of the men to let the men go overseas."
The city of Fort Oglethorpe was created in 1902. During national emergencies, the Post expanded temporarily into the park. Cavalry troops trained at the Post until 1942 and the WACs arrived in 1943.
With its polo matches and dances, the Post was considered an elite assignment, said Depken, adding that Dwight Eisenhower and John Pershing were stationed there.
"A lot of people ask where the Post is at the 6th Cavalry Museum and I say, 'You're standing on it,'" she said. "Three purposes of the Post at Fort Oglethorpe were to make you as healthy as possible, show you how to stay healthy and train you to stay alive. In World War II, they trained medical corpsmen to make stretchers to carry people back to the field hospital."
In February 1949, Fort Oglethorpe was officially incorporated. The Army had left behind war surplus housing around Barnhardt Circle, a police and fire station and a water and road system sufficient to start a city, said Depken.
The city's military history continues today through the names of streets that memorialize military heroes. For example, Barnhardt Circle was named for Col. Barnhardt, who served as commander of the Post.
"We have something that many towns don't - a Post," Depken said.