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U.S Army Arrived

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The Vancouver Farm

The Vancouver Farm

The U. S. Army arrived in the Pacific Northwest in 1949 in response to the Whitman massacre and other Indian uprisings. The soldiers arrived at Vancouver, first by ship. A few months later, overland reinforcements arrived with 1,000 men, 700 horses, 1,200 mules, and 171 supply wagons.

Vancouver Barracks was the headquarters for the military’s response to conflicts in Alaska, Washington, Idaho, and parts of Montana, and it sent out personal and goods for many conflicts from the Spanish American War through World War II.

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The number of soldiers stationed here rose and fell according to need. During World War I, it swelled to 30,000 with the Spruce Production Squadron, and then it dwindled after the war. It was made the Pacific Northwest Headquarters for the Civilian Conservation

Corps (CCC) until WW II.

Vancouver Barracks was responsible for the Kaiser Shipyards, established in 1942 with 38,000 workers operating around the clock to produce 10 Liberty ships, 30 landing craft, 50 escort aircraft carriers, 31 attack transports, 12 C-4 troopships, 8 C-4 cargo vessels, and 2 (14,000-ton) dry docks.

After WW II, the military presence dwindled, ending completely in 2011. Today, many streets and landmarks provide lasting significance of the U.S. Army’s 160-yearplus presence in Clark County.

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