Way Back When

Published 12:00 am Friday, March 13, 2015

Luxurious homes conceal trenches, world-class golf courses sweep over obstacle courses and shooting ranges, and newlyweds dance in the building once used as an officer’s club. A native landscaped roundabout welcomes residents and visitors near the spot the imposing main entrance that framed the Cascade Mountains once stood.

The restaurants, shops, lodging and vacation homes at Sunriver Resort replace Camp Abbot, the site of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Replacement Training Center (ERTC) during World War II.

Named after Army engineer Henry Larcom Abbot, construction of the only ERTC installation west of the Mississippi began in November 1942, with trainees arriving in March 1943. The camp officially opened in May 1943 with Col. Frank Besson in command.

Encompassing nearly 9,700 acres, the site was chosen for its isolation, open ranges and similarity to the European theatre. The Deschutes River was likened to the Rhine River. The contrasting terrain of desert, forest, mountains, lava, pumice and deep snow, plus the varying weather of shivering cold and blistering heat offered the perfect training ground for the challenges of battles being waged across the ocean.

In the dusty High Desert landscape, Camp Abbot was the training site for 10,000 men in 17-week rotations. More than 90,000 soldiers prepared for battle during the camp’s short 14-month lifespan.

The Training

In the first six weeks of training, a soldier could expect demanding physical exercise and training in combat skills such as hand-to-hand combat, defense tactics and marksmanship. Soldiers were instructed on map and compass reading, first aid, the importance of safeguarding military information and military formation.

A second eight-week phase separated trainees into focused groups including sawmill operation, automotive maintenance, heavy equipment operation and administration. If a trainee wasn’t selected for specialized training, he advanced to the technical and tactical phase as an engineer. Often under fire, engineers were trained to build bridges and fight.

Engineers were typically the first soldiers in and the last to leave. According to an account by Private First Class Don Harrah in an article by Diane Rosebourgh in “Desert Sage Memories,” the majority of Harrah’s outfit — the 414 Engineer Group who trained at Camp Abbot — was killed during the Battle of the Bulge attempting to construct bridges near Bastogne, Belgium.

During the final three-week phase, GI’s lived in the field under simulated battle conditions. Toughened trainees slept outside in fox holes, carried heavy packs, ate C-rations and were instructed to build a bridge one day, only to demolish it the next.

Life at the Camp

Though training was demanding, there was time for leisure. The service club, which housed a large lounge area with leather furniture, soda fountain and cafeteria, was the center of camp social life. Off limits to officers, the service club was a place for servicemen to relax from the stress of Army responsibilities.

Men formed teams to play baseball, basketball and volleyball. In the winter, ice skating and cross-country skiing were popular. A weekly newspaper, “The Abbot Engineer,” entertained as well as updated men on current events.

With the introduction of a company of the Women’s Army Corp (WAC) in 1943, dances were regular pastimes. Since WACs were outnumbered 15 to 1, many women from Bend were bussed down to dance with the servicemen. Usually held on Wednesday nights, dances were at the rec hall with the camp’s own swing band playing the popular tunes of the day. Other dances and games were at the USO Club in Bend. Another popular distraction for weary men was the base theater and nickel movies at the Liberty Theater on Wall Street in Bend.

The Final Days

With the Allied invasion in Europe in June 1944, and the end of the war imminent, the camp suddenly halted operations. Nearly every trace of the camp’s existence was erased.

One of the lasting legacies of Camp Abbot is the Officer’s Club, now the Great Hall at Sunriver Resort. Built in six months as a training exercise, at a cost of less than $4,800, the hall was constructed of native timber and 10 tons of volcanic rock. Dedicated in April 1944, the club was used only one month before the camp was abandoned.

The massive hall was spared from destruction because it wasn’t on the official list of buildings to be demolished. Throughout the years, the mountain-style lodge deteriorated and even housed cattle. The only other building saved was a chapel, which was moved to Prineville and is now the home of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.

Camp Abbot was sold in 1945 to Hudspeth Land & Livestock. In the mid-1960s, 5,484 acres were purchased by John Gray, a developer, who had a vision. Grey turned the base into the Sunriver Resort and planned community. The Great Hall was renovated and reopened in 1969. It is now a showpiece for the resort.

The laughter of children in the pool, the whoosh of golf club swings and the hushed conversation of vacationers enjoying the sunset are tranquil compared to the shouts of hardened Army sergeants, the deafening artillery fire and cadence of thousands of pairs of boots on the hard-packed earth.

It’s difficult to imagine that little more than 70 years ago, what is now a premier resort and golf destination was a military base that trained 90,000 men for the brutality of battle.