Flashback Photos: Life at Fort McPherson

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Flashback Photos: Life at Fort McPherson

Images from "the Old Post," during World Wars I and II and beyond.

Fort McPherson's Staff Row is part of the Old Post Area, which dates from 1889-1910. The fort was established in 1885. Staff Row includes late 19th century-early 20th century brick quarters for officers.

A young boy salutes soldiers carrying the American flag at Fort McPherson, Georgia, in this undated photo.

Edgar B. Dunlap is shown here in his pup tent during the nine-day hike of members of the First Officers Training Camp at Fort McPherson in 1917. Fort McPherson is named for Maj. Gen. James Birdseye McPherson, USA, who was killed during the Battle of Atlanta in 1864.

April 25, 1943 -- The III Corps choir of Fort Mac sang at the morning's Easter Service. Left to right are Sergeant Edward J. Sullivan, Corporal Jake Streeter, Corporal Joseph Gunn, Sergeant George K. Rogers and Sergeant Frank Thiebaut.

April 4, 1943 -- Pfc. Arthur B. Ellison, of Fort McPherson, sounds a bugle call in honor of Army Day, April 6.

Master Sergeant James B. Harris fires the cannon at Fort McPherson, where the 4th of July is always celebrated with a 48-gun salute -- one for each state in the Union.

Bernard W. Abrams receives the Army's Civilian Aide Emeritus award form Gen. Robert W. Sennewald during ceremonies at Fort McPherson in 1985.

1940s -- Troops stand at attention and the post band plays the ceremonial song "Retreat," paying honor to the flag as it is lowered in the evening.

Aug. 27, 1943 -- Officers' wives out for a stroll with their toddlers enjoy the scenery and quiet along Staff Row.

Aug. 27, 1943 -- Chow's on at the mess hall for hungry soldiers.

Aug. 27, 1943 -- Soldiers and civilians relax on a lawn outside one of the barracks buildings along Troop Row.

1943 -- A Jeep sits parked at the ready outside Fort McPherson Post Headquarters.

1943 -- Soldiers and friends enjoy some downtime at the post recreation center.

1943 -- A slew of Jeeps and transport trucks await use at Fort McPherson. In the foreground, civilian autos provide a marked contrast to the military vehicles.

1943 -- Once the Fort McPherson Golf Club, this building later became the Officers' Club.

1943 -- These buildings, part of the newer area of Fort McPherson in 1940s, later were used as offices.

1943 -- Soldiers stand by transport trucks in a warehouse area at Fort McPherson.

1943 -- The Fort McPherson Post Chapel was built between 1886 and 1889 as the post guardhouse and was used to hold POWs during the Spanish-American War. The structure was converted to a chapel in 1921. The Post Chapel building had been in use for more than 122 years of Fort McPherson's 126-year history when the base was closed in 2011.

1943 -- "Stop Wasting! Less sugar, more stirring" is one of the reminders to hungry soldiers that with World War II on, even the smallest savings of food make a difference in the national war effort.

1943 -- This mechanized potato peeler, demonstrated for the AJC at Fort McPherson, likely made kitchen police duty a little simpler for some soul.

1930s -- Yes, that's polo being played... at Fort McPherson. Hedekin Field, the post parade ground, was originally a polo field. It's named in honor of Captain David Drew Hedekin, who commanded Headquarters Company at Fort McPherson from 1936-38. Hedekin, a polo player, was fatally injured while playing in a polo tournament at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, in July 1938.

1940s -- Student officers at Fort McPherson, Ga. went on a nine-day hike as a last test before receiving commissions. This hike was made under terrible conditions, as it rained practically every day. This photo was taken by Tracy Mathewson, an Atlanta Constitution photographer who shot photos in and around Atlanta of recruits, soldiers, parades and training as far back as World War I.

December 1943 -- Two soldiers at Fort McPherson prepare for Christmas celebrations. Sgt. Warren Young (left) wanted to spend Christmas with his brother -- which would have been the first time the brothers had enjoyed the holiday together in three years. And Sgt. Harry J. Lassiter, shown at the Fort Mac post office, asked for parcels that wouldn't end up in pieces.

June 1947 -- An unidentified soldier demonstrates automatic rifle shooting while a visitor looks on.

1936 -- This tent city at Fort McPherson housed Civilian Conservation Corps members. The CCC, a public work relief program in operation from 1933-42, gave unemployed, unmarried men aged 18-25 a chance to work at manual labor jobs in rural lands owned by federal, state and local governments as part of the government's efforts to conserve and develop those lands in an effort to reverse the effects of the Dust Bowl and offer some measure of sustenance during the Great Depression.

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Fort McPherson's Staff Row is part of the Old Post Area, which dates from 1889-1910. The fort was established in 1885. Staff Row includes late 19th century-early 20th century brick quarters for officers.

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