[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 163 (Tuesday, November 3, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1581]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CAMP LOGAN, TEXAS: 1917

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 3, 2015

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Memorial Park is to Houston what 
Central Park is to New York City. It is our haven in the woods in the 
heart of Houston, Texas. Many joggers, runners and walkers hit the 
park's trail daily to make the three mile loop. I know this park well. 
In my past life as a criminal court judge, I took to the gravel trail 
for my daily run, as later did my kids. But what people may not know is 
the rich history that lies beneath their feet. Much of Memorial Park is 
located on the grounds of a historical WWI military facility--Camp 
Logan.
  Camp Logan was an emergency training center that was established when 
the U.S. entered WWI.
  After declaring war on Germany, The War Department, now known as the 
Department of Defense, sought out Harris County, Texas for its moderate 
climate and Houston's newly opened ship channel.
  These elements made it a prime spot to train young American 
``doughboys'' to go ``over there'' to fight in the Great WWI in Europe.
  Two military installations were built: Camp Logan for the Army and 
Ellington Field for the Army Air Service. The camp provided shelter and 
training to thousands of soldiers from all over America from1917-1919.
  Set up like many other army camps in the United States, Camp Logan's 
primary function was turning young American boys into fighting men.
  Tens of thousands of National Guard soldiers were trained for duty in 
France. The soldiers that trained at Camp Logan entered camp straight 
out of civilian life and found themselves in intense combat 
preparation.
  Tear gas and explosives were used to simulate the conditions on the 
front lines. But a new type of warfare was harder for the soldiers to 
imagine--trench warfare. The trenches were bloody, muddy, cruel and 
under constant attack. History shows how brutal and costly the trench 
war was.
  Even with all the training at Camp Logan, soldiers were not fully 
prepared for life in the trenches.
  To help the soldiers cope with the wounds and harsh reality of war, 
the commission on Training Camp Activities enlisted the help of several 
nationwide service organizations like the YMCA, Red Cross, American 
Library Association, Knights of Columbus, Jewish Board of Welfare and 
others. Through these private organizations the soldiers had 
entertainment, counseling, religious services, athletic programs and 
more.
  The kindness of the local Houston community surrounding the camp did 
a lot to support the men of Camp Logan as well.
  With the thousands of men at Camp Logan, the Camp was not without its 
problems. A conflict by soldiers with local police in 1917 resulted in 
the death of four police officers, three African American soldiers and 
ten local civilians after a riot.
  After the war, the Camp continued to serve vital functions. In 1919, 
it was used as a hospital for wounded soldiers coming back from Europe. 
It also served as a unit of the City of Houston's health care system 
until 1923. After that, the Camp remained deserted until 1942.
  Catherine Mary Emmott wrote to the Houston Chronicle advising the 
city to ``buy some of the land and turn it into a park in memory of the 
boys.'' Her efforts led the way in turning the land into a park. Thus 
Memorial Park--a memorial to the ones who were trained in Texas to 
fight in Europe.
  Emmott's efforts did not fall upon deaf ears. William C. Hogg, son of 
Texas Governor Jim Hogg, bought two tracts of the former Camp Logan 
site and sold it to the City of Houston. That May, the City of Houston 
officially established a park in remembrance of the WWI soldiers who 
trained there.
  Today, Memorial Park includes a golf course, bike paths, tennis 
courts, baseball fields and a nature center. It is an attraction for 
runners, walkers and joggers of all ages. The grounds are now a 
training area for athletes rather than a training area for soldiers.
  It is estimated that almost 1,000 Camp Logan soldiers gave their 
lives during the Great WWI and over 6,200 were wounded.
  The Logan soldiers served with distinction in combat in the forest 
and trenches of Europe. Seventy-five of the African American soldiers 
trained at Camp Logan from the 370th Infantry were awarded the French 
Croix de Guerre and 12 received the U.S. Army's Distinguished Service 
Crosses for their acts of valor.
  Memorial Park, as it is appropriately named, has begun a project to 
commemorate the doughboys who trained at Camp Logan by planting trees 
in their honor.
  The series of trees will be lined up like columns of soldiers in an 
area called ``Memorial Groves.'' This section of the park contains the 
highest number of Camp Logan remnants, artifacts and WWI memorabilia.
  It is vital that communities know their history.
  The work being done for ``Memorial Groves'' at the park is an 
appropriate way to see that history and honor the memory of Camp Logan 
and the young warriors it produced.
  Texas has had a long history of supporting and uplifting America's 
military. The history of Camp Logan is our own. Camp Logan should be 
remembered just as it is--a memorial for the soldiers who trained on 
Texas soil before they fought on foreign soil 100 years ago.
  Of the Logan soldiers, some served and returned, some served and 
returned with the wounds of war and some served and did not return. 
Memorial Park is a memorial for them all. As we approach November 
11th--Armistice Day, now Veterans Day--the end of WWI, it is with deep 
gratitude that we honor the men of Camp Logan, Texas.
  And that's just the way it is.

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