NORTHERN RICHMOND COUNTY – Camp Mackall was the scene of an emotionally moving dedication ceremony on the morning of Thursday, June 7th.
WWII veterans were joined by a large contingent of top military personnel and invited guests who gathered to pay homage to the camp, its namesake, and the services that have been rendered here.
Of particular interest was the ceremonial dedication of a replica WWII era Waco CG-4A glider. This was certainly an appropriate gesture; Camp Mackall was the primary airborne operations training site throughout the war for glider infantry regiments as well as five airborne divisions.
Gliders functioned at the time in much the same manner as the modern helicopters of today. They were capable of transporting a ¼ ton jeep, a 75 mm howitzer, or a ¼ ton trailer, along with a pilot and co-pilot. Further, the hinged-nose feature allowed for ease of loading and unloading.
The Waco gliders were referred to variously as “Gooney Birds”; Flying Coffins”; “Tow Targets”; and “Silent wings.”
It was noted that the front of the replica being dedicated was in fact the nose section from a glider that had crashed in a swampy area of the base during training. A large group of civilian contractors using original blueprints, photographs, and the recovered nose section fabricated the glider at Mackall; several members of the team are from Richmond County.
Following a welcome to guests, Honors to the Nation and the invocation, Lieutenant Colonel Seth A. Wheeler, Commander 1st Battalion 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne), gave a brief history of the camp and introduced special guest Command Sergeant Major Kenneth J. “Rock” Merritt, U. S. Army, Retired.
Merritt spoke at length about the history of the formation of the Airborne divisions and the importance of the Carolina camps.
Originally named Camp Hoffman at the time of its construction commencement in late1942, the facility was renamed on February 8th of 1943 in honor of Private John Thomas “Tommy” Mackall.
Born on May 17th of 1920 in Wellsville, Ohio, Mackall served in Company E, 2nd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment. During the Allied invasion of North Africa in the airborne segment codenamed “Operation Torch,” he was mortally wounded in an attack by French Vichy aircraft on November 8th of 1942. This was the same date as the commencement of the initial construction of Camp Hoffman and thus provided the impetus for renaming the compound.
Mackall succumbed to his wounds four days later and was thought at the time to have been the first paratrooper casualty of the war. It is that date of his death, November 12th, 1942, that is now emblazoned on the tail section of the aircraft at the gate of the camp.
Camp Hoffman/Mackall was hailed as a “marvel of wartime construction” upon its completion. Situated in the counties of Richmond and Scotland at the borders with Moore and Hoke counties, it was in the midst of 62,000 acres of what was otherwise termed “wilderness.” After only a mere four months of work, the camp comprised 65 miles of paved roads, a 1200 bed hospital, five movie theaters, six huge beer gardens, a complete all-weather airfield with three 5000-foot runways, and 1750 buildings.
Currently, as a still-active U.S. Army training facility, the camp is now a sub-installation of Fort Bragg and serves as the primary training site for the U.S. Army Special Forces. Camp Mackall now has only two 150 feet wide runways (one of asphalt and one of concrete) of 5001 feet and 4740 feet, respectively, but remnants of WWII era buildings and infrastructure are replete throughout the area.
The camp is also well-known in military circles as the site of “Nasty Nick,” arguably the hardest obstacle course in the U.S. Army. The moniker derives from Colonel James “Nick” Rowe for whom the training compound is named. The facility hosts SERE, SFAS, the Q Course, and other military training programs.
A more complete history of Camp Mackall in book form is available at the Richmond County Historical Society’s Leake-Wall House in downtown Rockingham, as well as through the Arts Council. Each of these sites is situated on East Washington Street.
Be sure to look soon for a special interview with private Russell Seitz, a local World War II veteran who trained at Mackall.
