Fort McCoy (Wisconsin)

{{Short description|US Army Reserve installation}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox military installation | name = Fort McCoy | ensign = US Army Reserve Command SSI.svg | ensign_size = 60px | partof = [[United States Army Reserve Command]] (USARC) | location = Located near: [[Tomah, Wisconsin]] | caption = Sign outside the main gate | coordinates = {{coord|44|00|35|N|90|41|00|W|display=inline,title|type:landmark_region:US-WI_dim:20000}} | type = | code = | height = | ownership = [[United States Army]] | controlledby = | condition = Active | built = 1909 | builder = Major General [[Robert Bruce McCoy]] | used = | materials = | demolished = | battles = | events = | past_commanders = | garrison = | website = {{Official website|https://home.army.mil/mccoy/}} | occupants = [[United States Army]], [[86th Infantry Division (United States)|86th Training Division]], [[88th Infantry Division (United States)|88th Regional Support Command]], [[181st Infantry Brigade (United States)|181st Infantry Brigade]], 426th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) & Wisconsin Military Academy, [[Wisconsin State Patrol]], [[Fort McCoy Police Department]], Equipment Concentration Site 67, Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site, NCO Academy }} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = | settlement_type = [[Census designated place]] | image_skyline = FortMcCoyUSArmy.JPG | image_caption = | image_flag = | image_seal = [[File:Fort McCoy distinguishing unit insignia.svg|100px]] | image_map = Map of Wisconsin highlighting Monroe County.svg | pushpin_map = | coordinates = {{coord|44.0035|-90.41|type:landmark_region:US-WI_dim:20000}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Wisconsin]] | subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Wisconsin|County]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Monroe County, Wisconsin|Monroe County]] | established_title = | established_date = 1909 | leader_title = | leader_name = | unit_pref = Imperial | area_total_km2 = 240 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 266 | elevation_ft = 873 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 2,215 | population_as_of = [[2010 United States Census|2010 Census]] | population_density_km2 = auto  | timezone = [[Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]] | utc_offset = −6 | timezone_DST = [[Central Daylight Time|Central (CDT)]] | utc_offset_DST = −5 | postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]] | postal_code = 54656 | area_code = [[Area code 608|608]] | blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]] }} [[File:National Guard CH-146 Griffon Patriot 2006 exercises.jpg|thumb|right|Guardsmen board a Canadian CH-146 Griffon helicopter at Fort McCoy during a joint exercise.]]

'''Fort McCoy''' is a [[United States Army Reserve]] [[Military installation|installation]] on {{convert|60000|acre}} between [[Sparta, Wisconsin|Sparta]] and [[Tomah, Wisconsin|Tomah]], [[Wisconsin]], in [[Monroe County, Wisconsin|Monroe County]]. In 1909, there were two separate camps named Camp Emory Upton and Camp Robinson; in 1926, these camps were joined together to form Camp McCoy.<ref name=":13">{{Cite thesis|type=Dissertation|last=Scott|first=Brandon|date=May 2010|url=https://minds.wisconsin.edu/bitstream/handle/1793/44611/Scott_Brandon.pdf?...2|title=The Untold Story of Camp McCoy: Japanese Prisoners of War in the Heart of Wisconsin during the Second World War}}</ref> Since its creation in 1909, the post has been used primarily as a military training center. A part of Fort McCoy is also used by the [[Wisconsin State Patrol]] as a training facility.<ref>[http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/statepatrol/docs/dsptrain-facility.pdf ''Wisconsin State Patrol Facilities''] {{webarchive|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130816184003/http://dot.wisconsin.gov/statepatrol/docs/dsptrain-facility.pdf |date=2013-08-16 }}</ref>

==History== The post has been in virtually constant use since it was first formed as the "Sparta Maneuver Tract" on 14,000 acres (57 km<sup>2</sup>) in 1909. At first, the tract was made up of two camps, Camp Emory Upton and Camp Robinson. These were separated by a line of the [[Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad]] that ran across the land from east to west. In 1910, the army renamed the entire tract "Camp Bruce Elisha McCoy" for the father (a Civil War captain) of [[Robert Bruce McCoy]], a retired [[major general]] who first proposed the area as a training ground and bought part of the property on which the fort stands. In 1926, the name of the post was officially renamed "Camp McCoy" in honor of Robert Bruce McCoy, who had died in January of that year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fort McCoy History & Heritage |url=https://home.army.mil/mccoy/index.php/about/history |website=Fort McCoy |access-date=26 May 2020}}</ref> It has gone by many different names such as Sparta Maneuver Tract; Sparta Military Reservation; Camp McCoy; and now the present, Fort McCoy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/wmh/id/50045|title=Wisconsin Magazine of History: Volume 92, number 4, summer 2009, p.29 :: Wisconsin Magazine of History Archives|website=content.wisconsinhistory.org|access-date=2019-11-05}}</ref> The name McCoy comes from Robert B. McCoy who was a military man, farmer and served as county judge who initially set up the land as a military camp.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/wmh/id/50045|title=Wisconsin Magazine of History: Volume 92, number 4, summer 2009, p.29 :: Wisconsin Magazine of History Archives|website=content.wisconsinhistory.org|access-date=2019-11-05}}</ref>

In 1938, the United States began a major expansion of the camp. This included the addition of over 45,000 acres (180 km<sup>2</sup>) to the post, as well as the construction of several new structures, including living quarters for the troops. This increased the camp's capacity to 35,000 soldiers. In all, the project was estimated to have cost about $30 million. The expansion was officially concluded with a new inauguration on August 30, 1942.<ref>{{Cite web |title=wi0551data.pdf |url=https://memory.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/wi/wi0500/wi0551/data/wi0551data.pdf |access-date=March 24, 2023}}</ref>

During [[World War II]], Fort McCoy was used as a [[Internment|concentration camp]]<ref>{{cite news|title=First Prisoners Due at Camp Soon, Hint; To Face Heavy Guard |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40105268/fort_mccoy_wisconsin/ |newspaper=The Capital Times |date=January 14, 1942 |page=1 |via = [[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=December 5, 2019 |quote=Construction of a concentration camp for 1,250 war-time prisoners is being rushed to completion on 20 acres of the Camp McCoy military reservation ...}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Economizing in the Funniest Places! |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40105314/fort_mccoy_wisconsin/ |newspaper=Star Tribune |date=March 9, 1942 |page=4 |via = [[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=December 5, 2019 |quote=A hundred and ten soldiers, who are to be escorts or guards for interned Japanese at the Camp McCoy concentration camp ...}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=U.S. Obeys Rules |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40105704/fort_mccoy_wisconsin/ |newspaper=Star Tribune |date=January 29, 1944 |page=10 |via = [[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=December 5, 2019 |quote=Enlisted men of all grades in the Camp McCoy concentration camp receive 10 cents a day for light labors.}} {{Open access}}</ref> for approximately 170 [[Internment of Japanese Americans|Japanese]] and 120 [[Internment of German Americans|German]] and [[Internment of Italian Americans|Italian]] American civilians arrested as potentially dangerous "enemy aliens" in 1942.<ref name=Densho>[http://encyclopedia.densho.org/Camp%20McCoy%20%28detention%20facility%29/ "Camp McCoy"] ''Densho Encyclopedia'' (accessed 11 June 2014)</ref> After the internees were transferred to other camps, McCoy was used as a training facility for units from across the country preparing to enter combat, including the segregated all-[[Nisei]] [[100th Infantry Battalion (United States)|100th Infantry Battalion]].<ref>J. Burton, M. Farrell, F. Lord, R. Lord. ''Confinement and Ethnicity: An Overview of World War II Japanese American Relocation Sites'', [http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/anthropology74/ce17p.htm "Department of Justice and U.S. Army Facilities"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102212824/http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/anthropology74/ce17p.htm |date=2012-11-02 }}, Ch. 17 (National Park Service)</ref> The post was also used as a [[prisoner-of-war camp|prisoner-of-war (POW) camp]] during the conflict, holding 4,000 Japanese and German POWs.<ref name=Densho/> Fort McCoy's POWs were featured in the 2011 film ''[[Fort McCoy (film)|Fort McCoy]]''.

The camp was briefly deactivated following World War II, but with the advent of the [[Korean War]] in 1950, it was once again used for training. This continued until 1953, when the camp was again deactivated. It was then used to house various small national, state and civilian projects, and served as a training center for the [[United States Army Reserves|Army Reserves]], the [[United States National Guard|National Guard]], and the [[Job Corps]].

In 1973, the Army reactivated Camp McCoy as a permanent training center, and on September 30, 1974, it was officially re-designated as Fort McCoy.<ref>The Establishment of Fort McCoy: a Heart for Preparedness, Authors: Mittelstaedt Lou Ann and Motosicky, Kara, P 29, Wisconsin Magazine of History, Volume 92, number 4, summer 2009, Wisconsin Historical Society, ISSN 1943-7366, https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wmh/id/50015/rec/30 (accessed 6 February 2025)</ref>

In the 1990s, a second major construction project was undertaken, costing about $140 million. Today, Fort McCoy serves as a Total Force Training Center. More than 100,000 members of the military are trained at the fort every year,<ref>[http://www.mccoy.army.mil/FactsSheets/index.asp?id=faxfig Fort McCoy Facts & Figures 2005] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209065203/http://www.mccoy.army.mil/FactsSheets/index.asp?id=faxfig |date=2006-12-09 }}</ref> and the total number has exceeded 149,000 in the past.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20041015025157/http://www.mccoy.army.mil/ReadingRoom/Triad/AreaGuide/current/history.htm history]</ref>

After the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban in 2021, Fort McCoy hosted one of the largest populations of Afghan evacuees with over 12,600 as of October 2021.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Inside a U.S. Army Base Where Afghans Await an Uncertain Future|url=https://time.com/6103628/afghan-refugee-resettlement-fort-mccoy/|access-date=2021-12-16|magazine=Time|language=en}}</ref>

The [[181st Infantry Brigade (United States)|181st Infantry Brigade]] is the largest unit stationed at Fort McCoy. The brigade is responsible for training selected U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard units in the Central-Northern United States to support contingency operations in the [[War on Terrorism|Global War on Terror]].

==Deployments== Fort McCoy was used as a mobilization station during [[Operation Desert Shield]] and [[Operation Desert Storm]]. This was the first time units had mobilized at Fort McCoy since the Korean War. Seventy-four military units deployed through Fort McCoy, totaling more than 9,000 Soldiers, 8% of the reserve forces activated during the Persian Gulf War.<ref name=triad/> [[Volk Field Air National Guard Base]] was used as the primary point of departure. In addition, more than 3,000 pieces of equipment were deployed from Fort McCoy by train.

The 769th Engineer Battalion and the 927th Engineer Company (Sapper) of the [[225th Engineer Brigade]] of the [[Louisiana Army National Guard]] mobilized for deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan in 2008 and 2009. The 890th Engineer Battalion of the Mississippi Army National Guard conducted Mobilization training at McCoy from April to June 2008 before deploying to Iraq. The 194th Engineer Brigade mobilized from Fort McCoy to Iraq in 2009 and 190th Engineer Company mobilized to Afghanistan from there in 2010, both are part of the [[Tennessee Army National Guard]]. In late 2009 the 105th Engineer Battalion of the North Carolina Army National Guard completed its predeployment training and deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan in early 2010 in support of the 2009-2010 surge in Afghanistan ordered by President Obama.

During February and March 2003, the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 229th Engineer Company (Combat Support Equipment)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/eng/0229enco.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201015219/http://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/eng/0229enco.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 1, 2016|title=229th Engineer Company | Lineage and Honors}}</ref> deployed from Fort McCoy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The 477th Medical Company (Ground Ambulance), located in Duluth, MN, mobilized to Ft. McCoy from December 2003 to February 2004 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon returning from Iraq, the unit redeployed back to Ft. McCoy before returning home to their families. The 477th also mobilized to Ft. McCoy in support of Operation Desert Storm

From December 2003 through February 2004, the 458th Engineer Battalion (Combat)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/eng/0458enbn.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230141500/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/eng/0458enbn.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 30, 2014|title=458th Engineer Battalion | Lineage and Honors}}</ref> of [[Johnstown, Pennsylvania]], mobilized through Fort McCoy. One of the soldiers mobilized was an intra-Reserve transfer or "fill" from Boise, Idaho, who later used his experiences there to form a major chapter in the online webcomic ''BOHICA Blues''. The entirety of Chapter 3, "Mobe Station", takes place at Fort McCoy and the surrounding area of Sparta and Tomah.<ref>[http://www.bohicablues.com/ BOHICA Blues]</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" heights="160px"> File:Bob Hope at LaCrosse 1990.jpg|Fort McCoy commander and [[Bob Hope]] at a 1990 show in La Crosse, Wisconsin<ref name=triad>{{cite web |title=McCoy rallied to support nation's call |newspaper=The Triad |location=Fort McCoy |url=http://www.mccoy.army.mil/vtriad_online/01262001/desert%20shield-storm.htm |access-date=2015-09-27 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304125920/http://www.mccoy.army.mil/vtriad_online/01262001/desert%20shield-storm.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> File:Headquarters, 2nd Battalion, 351st Regiment on Fort McCoy 1980s.jpg|2nd Battalion, [[351st Infantry Regiment (United States)|351st Regiment]]'s Headquarters at Fort McCoy in the 1980s during Annual Training </gallery>

==Exercises and training== Fort McCoy hosts large-scale exercises multiple times each year: a WAREX (Warrior Exercise) focused on platoon level training, and a CSTX (Combat Support Training Exercise)<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=STAND-TO! |url=https://www.army.mil/standto/archive/2018/03/19/ |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=www.army.mil |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=News |url=https://www.usar.army.mil/News/Tag/95141/combat-support-training-exercise/ |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=www.usar.army.mil}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Fort McCoy: Combat Support Training Exercise | date=28 July 2009 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK5Jgk80894 |access-date=2023-12-19 |language=en}}</ref> that focus on Company level training. During both exercises, battalion and brigade headquarters exercise their mission command functions to the units participating in the exercises.<ref>http://www.mybaseguide.com/news/184-41062/fort_mccoy_photo_essay_operations_for_combat_support_training_exercise_78_18_03 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510185006/http://www.mybaseguide.com/news/184-41062/fort_mccoy_photo_essay_operations_for_combat_support_training_exercise_78_18_03 |date=2018-05-10 }} CSTX 78-18-03</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Combat Support Hospital Flexes Mobility, Ingenuity |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/1480818/combat-support-hospital-flexes-mobility-ingenuity/https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/1480818/combat-support-hospital-flexes-mobility-ingenuity/ |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=December 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

The installation also hosts Global Medic, an annual joint-field training exercise designed to replicate all aspects of theater combat medical support, and Operation Cold Steel, a major initiative to improve the Army Reserve's gunnery training, from February through May 2018.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170308054940/http://www.usar.army.mil/Featured/Training-Exercises/Cold-Steel/ army.mil] Operation Cold Steel home page</ref><ref>[https://www.usar.army.mil/News/Display/Article/1443400/staged-equipment-for-operation-cold-steel-ii-at-fort-mccoy/ army.mil] Staged equipment for Operation Cold Steel II at Fort McCoy</ref> These exercises are organized by the [[86th Infantry Division (United States)|86th Training Division]] and facilitated by the Observer/Controller-Trainers of the [[181st Infantry Brigade (United States)|181st Infantry Brigade]].

Between December and March, the Cold Weather Operations Course (CWOC) trains personnel to operate specialized military equipment under winter conditions. This course is open to the regular Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve soldiers as well as Navy, Marine, and Air Force personnel.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Army Rangers complete training in cold-weather ops course at Fort McCoy |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/314891/army-rangers-complete-training-cold-weather-ops-course-fort-mccoy |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=DVIDS |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fort McCoy CWOC training for 2018-19 finishes with hundreds trained |url=https://www.army.mil/article/220147/fort_mccoy_cwoc_training_for_2018_19_finishes_with_hundreds_trained |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=www.army.mil |date=12 April 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sailors graduate from Cold-Weather Operations Course training at Fort McCoy |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/317241/sailors-graduate-cold-weather-operations-course-training-fort-mccoy |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=DVIDS |language=en}}</ref>

== Prisoners of war == Fort McCoy housed many prisoners of war and is known to have held the most Japanese POWs during World War II.<ref name=":13"/> About 3,000 German, 2,700 Japanese, and 500 Korean prisoners of war were held there.<ref name=":03">{{Cite magazine |last1=Mittelstaedt |first1=Lou Ann |author2=Kara Motosicky |date=Summer 2009 |title=The Establishment of Fort McCoy: A Heart for Preparedness |url=http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/wmh/id/50045 |magazine=Wisconsin Magazine of History |volume=92 |issue=4 |pages=28–41 |access-date=2019-11-05}}</ref> There were many other places that these prisoners were housed. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order titled Order 9066 that brought these prisoners into the different states and away from the coasts.<ref name=":22">{{Cite book|title=Internment of Japanese Americans |last=Mcgill|first=Sara|publisher=Great Neck Publishing|year=2009|isbn=9781429804882|location=Toledo, Ohio}}</ref> The first Japanese prisoner of war to enter the camp was captured at Pearl Harbor.<ref name=":03" />

There were five different POW compounds at Fort McCoy. There were two for the Japanese, another two for the Germans, and one for the Koreans.<ref name=":13" /> There were two barracks in each compound consisting of 50 bunk beds<ref name=":13" /> This is where they would sleep, spend time with one another and write home if they wanted.

Japanese POWs were served steamed rice, usually once a day, and they were offered soy sauce with all their meals. Their utensils were replaced with chopsticks.<ref name=":13" /> Prisoners at Fort McCoy were fed well compared to other camps that were criticized for how they treated Japanese POWs.

Health was important factor to Fort McCoy. They had an on-site hospital that POWs could use if they were ill and had access to prescription medicines and the camp dentist.<ref name=":13" />

They were allowed to practice religion freely. Japanese POWs were given a chapel which was converted to a place of worship. Buddhist preaching was performed daily and in order to perform, the prisoners needed incense.<ref name=":13" /> They did not have incense so they asked the YMCA for it and it was granted to them.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px"> File:CSTX 86-16-03 Bridging 160809-A-DR075-275.jpg|652nd Engineer Company and the 739th Engineer Company conduct rafting operations during CSTX August 2016 File:CSTX 86-16-03 Bridging 160809-A-DR075-191.jpg|652nd Engineer Company conducts rafting operations during CSTX August 2016 File:CSTX 86-15-03 150823-A-HX393-057.jpg|[[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Infantry Division]] participating in a combined arms breach during CSTX August 2015 File:CSTX 86-15-03 150823-A-HX393-069.jpg|316th Engineer Company, 844 Engineer Battalion, in a combined arms breach during CSTX August 2015 File:Army Reserve Goes Virtual During Training Exercise at Fort McCoy, Wis. 080813-A-AB123-001-CC.jpg|443rd Transportation Company during CSTX August 2013 File:CSTX 86-15-03 150815-A-ID814-102.jpg|824th Quartermaster Company (Heavy Airdrop Supply) during CSTX August 2015 File:WAREX 86-13-01-Global Medic 2013 130727-F-AH330-090.jpg|1982nd and 691st Forward Surgical Teams practice wound care in support of WAREX July 2013 File:WAREX 86-13-01-Global Medic 2013 130729-F-AF679-035.jpg|Aeromedical evacuation training as part of WAREX July 2013 File:HMMWV Night Live Fire at WAREX 86-16-03 160713-A-DR075-594.jpg|329th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion during WAREX July 2016 File:US Army 51746 1st, 338th provides training, support at Fort McCoy to deploying units.jpg|181st Infantry Brigade train deploying soldiers from the 101st Construction Battalion September 2009 </gallery>

==Education== Dependents living in the South Post Housing are zoned to the [[Sparta Area School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/military-installation/fort-mccoy/education/education|title=Fort McCoy Education|publisher=[[Militaryonesource]]|access-date=2024-12-21}} - [[.mil]] site.</ref>

==See also== * [[Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 25]]

==References== {{reflist|22em}}

==External links== {{commons category|Fort McCoy, Wisconsin}} * {{official|http://www.mccoy.army.mil}} * [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/fort-mccoy.htm Description at GlobalSecurity.org]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mccoy, Fort}} [[Category:1909 establishments in Wisconsin]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Monroe County, Wisconsin]] [[Category:Forts in Wisconsin]] [[Category:United States Army posts]] [[Category:Military installations established in 1909]]