Camp Upton, Military training facility in Yaphank, New York, United States
Camp Upton was a military training facility in Yaphank on Long Island that contained barracks, parade grounds, and administrative buildings across a sprawling site. The base served as a preparation center where thousands of recruits learned military skills before shipping out overseas.
The camp opened in 1917 to train soldiers for the First World War and reopened from 1940 to 1946 to prepare troops for the Second World War. Tens of thousands of soldiers cycled through the facility during these two conflicts.
The 77th Division, formed at Camp Upton, demonstrated exceptional military skill during the Argonne Forest battle in August 1918.
The site sits on Long Island and connected to New York City via the Long Island Rail Road, making troop transport accessible. Today the former grounds have been converted to parkland that visitors can explore on foot or by bike.
Composer Irving Berlin stationed at the camp created the musical 'Yip Yip Yaphank' and wrote a comedic song about soldiers' morning routines. The production later became a Broadway hit that brought the soldiers' everyday experiences to wider audiences.
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