Visiting Camp Toccoa at Currahee
As I approached the gates of Camp Toccoa in Georgia on 22 January 2022, I was overcome by a wide range of emotions.
I was excited and proud to stand in the place where several of the WWII Paratroopers I have known completed the toughest training of their lives. Yet I was also grief-stricken as I thought about the men who never survived the war or those friends who had recently made their final jump in life. 🦅
Currahee Mountain was speaking to me in ways I never expected!
The History of Camp Toccoa
Originally known as Camp Toombs and established by the Georgia National Guard in 1940, this basic training camp was designed to prepare new paratroopers for airborne warfare during World War II.
Because Colonel Sink, commander of the 506th PIR, didn't like the name "Toombs" as it signified death, he was able to convince the United States Army to change the name to Camp Toccoa.
Despite Currahee Mountain and Camp Toccoa being designated for paratrooper training, they were not entirely adequate for those specific needs.
Jump training was initially held at the Toccoa local airport but was eventually moved to Fort Benning, Georgia, home of the United States Infantry. Trainees were also required to march 30 miles to Clemson Agricultural School to practice basic rifle skills.
The Parachute Infantry Regiments that trained at Camp Toccoa include the following units:
501st PIR, 101st Airborne Division
506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division
511th PIR, 11th Airborne Division
517th PIR, 13th and 17th Airborne Division
457th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion
However, the camp is mainly known for the huge mountain that the aspiring paratroopers had to run as part of their training.
Made famous by the Band of Brothers series and the motto of "Three miles up, three miles down", Currahee Mountain has become a defining symbol to those who served in the military and military history enthusiasts alike. Many individuals or groups, for various reasons, continue to run it as our heroes did in the 1940s.
Camp Toccoa Today
In 2012, the site was taken over by Camp Toccoa at the Currahee Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Airborne Paratroopers who trained on the mountain.
Currently, Camp Toccoa features one of the original buildings, a C-47 restoration project, barracks, a pavilion that can be rented, a small gift shop, and a museum. Of course, you can also run or drive the Currahee Mountain.
I truly enjoyed the displays and exhibits. They have some incredible history behind them, and it's well worth the visit.
They also host events throughout the year that you can attend.
Unfortunately, when I visited in 2022, Currahee Mountain had been largely vandalized by vandals and defaced with graffiti. This was the only negative from my experience there.
The non-profit has ambitious plans for Camp Toccoa, and I hope we can provide financial support for their vision in the future. This historic place is one of the first homes to the 101st Airborne Division and many of our friends, so I'd love to see it preserved for future generations.
If you love the Airborne, I highly recommend you visit Camp Toccoa at Curahee.
And if you're ever interested in running three miles up and three miles down, let me know, because I will do my best to join you.
