A group of soldiers learned how conflicts, the late 1800s migration west and soldier training all helped shape modern Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center.
Ken Humphrey, the cultural resource manager for the Wyoming National Guard, explained the training ground’s evolution April 9.
Sgt. 1st Class Brock Roush, a platoon sergeant with Training Site Command, said learning about Camp Guernsey was a first for him, even though he’s been with the Wyoming Guard for 16 years.
“I knew about some history, but didn’t know how much of a role the wars and economy played in how the structures came into being, like the masonry used for the historic buildings,” he said.
Humphrey, who is an archeologist by trade, has been the state’s cultural resource manager for five years. He said the reason soldiers learn about military history hinges on its mission to preserve the historic district for the betterment of the public.
“Guard members deserve to know about, and have a better understanding and appreciation for (the camp’s history),” he said. He added that any modifications made to the camp for weapons training, land navigation and training for future Wyoming Guard soldiers for basic training need to meet goals that complement the original designs dating back to 1940.
Humphrey talked about the Guard’s first days as a militia and the Laramie Grays and Cheyenne Guards as units formed a few years before statehood in 1890. Several conflicts including the Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II drove the construction at Camp Guernsey. The camp’s design was based on supporting cavalry training by the state’s first troops and some of that remains. The motor pool, like stables, was kept separate from where soldiers worked and slept.
For more information on Wyoming Guard history or to arrange briefings, contact Humphrey at 307-772-5044, and kenneth.f.humphrey.nfg@mail.mil.