Visiting Camp Toccoa at Currahee
As I approached the gates of Camp Toccoa in Georgia on 22 January 2022, I was overcome by 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 gate at Camp Toccoa and some memorials across the street.
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 for the new paratroopers to be prepared for airborne warfare in 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, it was not completely adequate for those specific needs.
Jump training was originally held at the Toccoa local airport but was eventually moved to Fort Benning, Georgia, home of the United States Infantry. Trainees were also forced to march 30 miles to Clemson Agricultural School in order to conduct basic rifle skills.
The Parachute Infantry Regiments who 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 mostly know for the huge mountain 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.
A few photos from the grounds. The one I am standing in front of is the last original building.
Camp Toccoa Today
In 2012, the site was taken over by Camp Toccoa at Currahee Project, a non-profit organization created to preserve the legacies of the Airborne Paratroopers who trained on the mountain.
At the moment, Camp Toccoa includes one of the original buildings, a C-47 restoration project, barracks and a pavilion that can be rented, and a small gift shop and 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.
Photos from inside the museum and gift shop.
They also have events you can attend throughout the year.
Unfortunately when I visited in 2022, Currahee Mountain had largely been vandalized by punks and defaced with graffiti. This was the only negative from my experience there.
The non-profit has some big plans for Camp Toccoa and I hope we can financially support 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.
There are stunning views from the summit but unfortunately lots of graffiti.
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