Why did military leaders choose Middle Tennessee?

Featured Photo – Frank Cadematori from Chicago, Illinois. He participated in the first set of maneuvers in June of 1941 as a tank driver. Frank’s son, Rick, found our Facebook page and messaged me to let me know he wanted to share his father’s photos, memorabilia and related war documents. His collection is impressive. I plan to write a blog dedicated to Frank. Stay tuned!

The thing I hear over and over is that the maneuvers were conducted here because the terrain looked a lot like Europe, in particular, Germany. While the resemblance is undeniable, that is not the reason they took place here.

I have to giggle when I think of this — military leaders gathered in Washington DC – looking at a huge map on the wall and saying – um, er, — where is the terrain like Germany? – let’s go there! — unless you can prove it to me, this just did not happen.

Was it a bonus that our back yard looked like areas where the United States and its allies would be fighting – with the hills and streams and rivers – yes, but again – not the only reason.

Several factors led to this decision. And these are in no particular order.

There were already military facilities in Tennessee.  There were National Guard Camps in Tullahoma (Camp Forrest) and Clarksville (Camp Campbell which later became Fort Campbell). Military leaders knew each installation could be expanded as needed – and they both were.

To learn more about Camp Forrest and the vital role it played during the maneuvers visit their website: www.campforrestfoundation.org

The climate had to be considered. And Tennessee’s is not too bad. It just made sense not to have field training exercises “up North” where the winter could last for several months instead of a few weeks.

Middle Tennessee was attractive because of the transportation options: airports, railroads and paved roads.

Think about it – everything needed to go to war had to be brought to Middle Tennessee — those vehicles and supplies were not just sitting around in a bunch of warehouses down the road.

                                       These are US Army Command Cars arriving in Gallatin, Tennessee.

This is the former fairgrounds/speedway in Nashville, Tennessee. Supplies were    temporarily stored here before being transported out to the maneuvers area. The round reels contain communications wire.

Military leaders were also drawn to Middle Tennessee because it was not heavily populated. In fact, during the war years most of what became the maneuvers area was farmland. They knew planes would be flying over – paratroopers would be falling from the sky – mock battles would take place everywhere — and the fewer folks who lived in the areas – the better.

I have read several reports that U.S. Senator Frank McKellar of Memphis lobbied for the maneuvers to take place in Tennessee for the economic impact it would create. I contacted the folks at the Memphis City Library to see if his papers are housed there, and they are, but —– are not archived in such a fashion that somebody there could readily research this. I would have to go myself and sift thru boxes of documents.

If you have friends in Memphis who could help us with this research — call me! No matter the reason, one thing is certain —- history unfolded right before our ancestors’ eyes — a history that will likely never happen again.