The History of the Base Commanders at Kearns.
I The History of the Base Commanders
Locating a lost history consumes a lot of your time, it can be rewarding and sometimes you learn that the new information that one has located can bring about a lot of unexpected emotions. And this is one of those items; it has long been written, and thought that Kearns only had four Base Commanders. Colonel Leo Post who opened the base, John Monahan, Converse Lewis and Walter Sigmund who we always believed closed the base.
I have learned only through research and other military records that Kearns had other Base Commanders, and oddly enough Kearns had changed Base Commanders a total of 5 times within the first five months.
All the personally histories of these Colonels came from their families, they assisted me in making sure the facts were straighten out and were in order. I could not reach one of the Base Commanders family for their input so that bio was directly from the internet.
I would like to offer a special thanks and acknowledgement to the families of Colonel Waldon Doe, without whose help most of this history would have never been located. They loaned me a scrapbook that Colonel Doe and his wife had put together, it was full of leads that other wise would have never been known about or located. A special thanks goes out to Colonel Siegmunds daughter and a grandson who made sure that his history was right. I could almost write a book on his life and sadly, I regret that a lot of it has not been added here due to the lack of space. The history of Colonel Converse R Lewis was a tough one, for the mare reason he had a son that was also in the military with the same name at the same time who almost mirrored his fathers military career and crossed paths many times throughout both of their careers.
This section is not only the history of the Base Commanders but will be listed in the order that they were at Kearns. Realize also this is not a complete list there were others,that I have not located yet.
Leo F. Post
Leo F. Post was born August 13, 1895 in St. Petersburg Russia. He was the son of a famous Russian aviator and balloonist pioneer, Fedor Alexis Postnikov, who had used balloons during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. It was due to the family embarrassment at that time that the family immigrated to the United States in 1905. The hot air balloon had failed badly and Fedor not only took its failure personally, but also felt that his and his family safety was in harms way. After entering in to the United States the name was shorten to Post.
The Census show that Leo having already served in WWI was a Lieutenant in the Army in 1930, and he had not became a naturalized citizen, his military career lasted nearly 35 years.
One of the first records that can be found is on October 5, 1917; showing Leo had tested for his pilot license, this test was conducted on a Curtis J.N. 4 at San Diego. On November 14, 1917, Leo Post received his Aero Club of America Pilot License No. 931. By June 8, 1917, Leo was a Private by December 10 1917 he had been promoted to a Private 1st class in the US. Army Signal Corps under the Aviation Section. From this point on he moved up the ranks in the military rather fast, January 11, 1918 he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. July 1920 he was 1st Lieutenant of Air Service and was stationed at Crissy Field located in San Francisco California. From 1924-1926 Leo Post, was stationed at Luke Field in Honolulu, Hawaii, his military record’s show that he was on leave in late 1926- early 1927. In early 1927 he was stationed at Brooks Field in Texas then at Kelly Filed in Texas. By November 1927 he was stationed at March Field in Riverside California and remained there until the spring of 1932, known as a top rated air pilot. By October 1, 1930 he was promoted to a Captain two years later he was sent to Mitchell Field, Hempstead Long Island New York in July 1932 and remained there until mid 1938. It was while there he obtained the rank of Major, temporarily on April 20, 1935. By October 1938 he received orders and was then sent to Maxwell Field in Montgomery Alabama and remained there until mid 1939. By June of that same year he was promoted permanently to a Major. It appears that he was then sent to Scott Field in Belleville Illinois and remained there until mid 1941, while there he graduated from Air Corps Technical School. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, temporary on June 23, 1940, and became a permanent Colonel in October 1941 when he was then sent to Keesler Field, in Biloxi Mississippi. He was at Keesler Field on December 7, 1941; when Pearl Harbor was attacked he was promoted to the rank of Colonel. As Colonel his first obligation was being sent to Kearns Utah to open up the new base there on July 17, 1942. The only information about Colonel Post being at Camp Kearns can be found in the following Salt Lake Telegram Newspapers articles.
Salt Lake Telegram June, 20, 1942
Officers Inspect Air Training Center
An inspection of the new United Stares air corps replacement training center being constructed near Kearns Utah, about 12 miles southwest of Salt Lake City, was made early Saturday by Major General W. R. Weaver of Knollwood field, Southern Pines N. C., chief of the air force technical training command.
The General, who was accompanied by seven high ranking officers of his command conferred with Colonel Leo F Post, commander of the new center.
General Weaver and his party arrived in the city Friday evening and left early Saturday for Denver Colo., and St. Louis Mo. He and his staff have been inspecting technical schools on the west coast.
Included in the general's party were Lieutenant Colonel J. P. McConnell, Major R. E. Daley, Colonel Paul Hanley, Captain C. H. Morgan and Lieutenant Raymond Firestone.
Salt Lake Telegram July 22, 1942
Utah's New Town (To be Third Largest) Starts with Arrival of Quartermaster Corps Unit.
KEARNS, Utah, July 22- Utah's new community- to be the third largest from a population standpoint-was in the making Wednesday when a detachment from the quartermaster corps was first to report for duty at the new site here of the replacement training center, army air force technical command; said Colonel Leo F. Post, commander.
Under command of Major Jesse H. Davidson, the detachment is in operation and ready to supply every need of the thousands of soldiers who will be trained for air corps duty here.
The center will be a city complete within its confines said Colonel Post. It is located at approximately forty-eight (4900) West and Forty-fifth (4500) South streets.
There will be utilities, stories, chapels, theaters, hospitals, a post office and police and fire departments. It will differ only from other municipalities in that it will be governed by military law.
Major Davidson and his detachment, in keeping with 150 years of quartermaster corps tradition will provide all equipment and supplies for nearly every department, Colonel Post said.
Part of the task of the quartermaster corps detachment will be to supply subsistence of the enlisted men, which will include procurement and storage of large quantities of food selected to meet strict government specifications the colonel said.
The quartermaster corps, he said enjoys the distinction of being the oldest branch of the army and its insignia was the first to be adopted by the continental army 166 years ago.
Salt Lake Telegram July 29, 1942
Army Training Center Operates 60 Days after Plans Drawn
KEARNS, Utah, July 29- From blueprints to an actual operating base within two months is the story of the army air forces replacement cent here, said Colonel Leo F. Post, commander, whose personal motto is, “It can be done.”
The motto has been adopted by the personnel stationed at the center, located approximately 12 miles from Salt Lake City in southwest Salt Lake County, and attests to the spirit and determination of the personnel in making it one of the larger components of the fast growing army air force.
Headquarters of the unit, until recently maintained at Fort Douglas have been transferred to Kearns and expansion is continuing as officers, enlisted men and a large civilian force are adjusting themselves to the site.
Within a few weeks, several squadrons of soldiers wills tart the training designed to teach them to man the ground forces of one of America's strongest striking units-the army air force said Major Augustus M. Minton, executive officer.
The training will consist of military principles and courtesy drill, manual of arms, instruction in the use of various small arms, firing on the range and physical fitness.
Upon arrival at the center, recruits will be put through a comprehensive aptitude test and classified according to abilities. On completion of the training program, every effort will be made to assign the new soldier to duties to which he is best adapted. The best qualified men will be entered in one of the many air force technical schools, Major Minton said.
Salt Lake Telegram Aug. 8, 1942
Soldiers to Study For Teaching Physical Training
KEARNS, Utah- The first physical education school in the US. Army air forces designed to train enlisted men for duty as physical training instructors will open here Monday, Colonel Leo F Post commander , announced Saturday.
The class will be under supervision of Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Groh, plans and training officer. Frank F. Noble, who prior to his call to the army as a civilian director was on the physical education staff of Western Michigan Teachers college, will direct the classes.
Soldiers much have a college manor or minor n physical education or the equivalent in experience. Upon completing the course students will become instructors and will be eligible for commissions by attending an officers' training school.
Colonel Post retired from the United States Air Force on December 31, 1951. He and his family moved back to Riverside California.
Colonel Post had two children, a daughter, Mary and a son by the name of Leo F. Post Jr.; he entered the United States Air Force in 1952 he passed away in February 1958. On April 18, 1978 Colonel Leo F Post past away, still living in Riverside California.
John W. Monahan
Colonel John W. Monahan became Commander of Kearns on September 12, 1942 after the first formal review was held.
John William Monahan was born September 25, 1891 in Amboy Illinois, a small railroad town an acre large, established in 1876. The family soon moved after his birth to Chicago and he grew up at 12031 Wallace St. He entered the military on June 5, 1917. By 1920 he was stationed at Carlstrom Field located in DeSoto Florida as a Lieutenant in the Army Air Service. Soon after WWII had ended the field was abandoned, leaving the state of Florida to purchase the land for a dollar and turning the field into a state mental hospital, G Wood Pierce State Mental Hospital. The original buildings were reconstructed and the hospital is still in use today. The next record we find is that on July 12, 1924 he left New Yoke for San Francisco California aboard a US Army Transport known as St. Mihiel they arrived in San Francisco July 28, 1924.
John William Monahan is a common name, making it almost impossible to locate very much information on him; about the only record that could be located was his birth record, second to having located the following information.
The history written on the Kearns Army Air Base; found on micro films that he was the Base Commander somewhere from mid September to the end of September. When Col. Monahan received orders and was transferred out of Kearns only to return to Kearns on December 21, 1943 with the 34th Bombardment group, as Colonel over this unit. They left Kearns in the early morning hours on Christmas day, making their journey off to war. After he brought home his men from the war that was the last time anyone had seen or heard of him. No one from the 34th Bombardment Group could remember him ever making any of their reunions up to 2003, when it was held in Salt Lake City Utah.
Colonel John William Monahan passed away May 15, 1959 and was laid to rest at the Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery; he had served his country in both WWI and WWII.
The following was found in the Salt Lake Telegram about Colonel Monahan.
Salt Lake Telegram August 20, 1942
Mayor offers Fire Study to Air Center
Salt Lake City fire department facilities will be offered for training of a corps of fire fighters at the army air forces replacement training center, Kearns Utah said Mayor Ab Jenkins Thursday.
The announcement was made as a counter proposal to a request of Colonel John W. Monahn commandant of the army center, seeking assignment of three experienced firemen to the cantonment to train fire fighters.
“It is doubtful if the request can be granted,” the mayor said. “We have had so many firemen leave for the armed service and to take better paying jobs that we find ourselves in a position of being short-handed in experienced men. The city must be protected. However, we'll do anything in our power to provide men and equipment to be used in training their own staff of firemen.”
Salt Lake Telegram August 26, 1942
Army Repeats Plea for Aid
Reconsideration by Salt Lake City commissioners of a request to assign experienced firemen to the army air force basic training center, Kearns, Utah to train fire fighters in the new cantonment was asked Wednesday by Colonel John W. Monahan commanding officer.
On advice of Mayor Ab Jenkins and Fire Chief LaVere M. Hanson, commissioners rejected a similar request last week, pointing out that the depleted ranks of the fire department make it impossible to spare more men, and suggesting that camp firemen be sent to Salt Lake fire stations to receive training.
“We want to do whatever we can to help with the situation and at the same time protect millions of dollars' worth of property in Salt Lake City,” the mayor said.
This second request was referred to the mayor for study.
Salt Lake Telegram September 5, 1942
Chief at Kearns Transferred to Washington
Colonel John W Monahan commander of the army air force basic training center at Kearns Utah announced Saturday that he has been transferred to Washington D. C. For duty on Lieutenant General H. H. Arnold's air corps staff.
Colonel Monahan who came here from Denver a month ago said he appreciated the cooperation given by city, county and state officials in helping to get the training center functioning the way it is. Colonel and Mrs. Monahan will leave Sunday.
Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Groh is acting commander of the center.
Ernest Groh
At the time that Colonel Monahan had transferred, Lieutenant Colonel Groh was the highest ranking man at Kearns at that time. He performed the duties of Base Commander for one week September 7, 1942 -September 14, 1942. The following article was found in the Salt Lake Telegram about this change.
Salt Lake Telegram September 12, 1942
Review held at Kearns
KEARNS, Utah- Formal review, first of a weekly series to be held at be held at this air forces basic training center, was conducted Saturday morning before Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Groh, acting commander and eight other staff officers.
Also witnessing the review in an official capacity was Colonel L. A. Lawson, command of Buckley Field, Colo, who is making an inspection of this center.
Colonel Groh expressed satisfaction at the manner in which the men handled themselves, and Colonel Lawson said it was impressive in view of its being the initial review.
Leading the center's 56-piece band was Technical Sergeant John E. Lane, bandmaster.
Leo F Post
Colonel Post returned to Camp Kearns on September 14, 1942 until Colonel Lewis could arrive to take command of Kearns. Colonel Post was the commander of Camp Kearns from September 14, 1942 - September 17, 1942
Salt Lake Telegram September 14, 1942
Chief Returns to Air Center
KEARNS, Utah – Colonel Leo F Post, commanding office of this army air forces replacement training center, had returned to duty Monday after a month's temporary duty at Keesler field, Mississippi.
During his absence the center was commanded by Colonel John W Monahan who left last week to join the air forces staff of Lieutenant General H. H.. Arnold.
Locating a lost history consumes a lot of your time, it can be rewarding and sometimes you learn that the new information that one has located can bring about a lot of unexpected emotions. And this is one of those items; it has long been written, and thought that Kearns only had four Base Commanders. Colonel Leo Post who opened the base, John Monahan, Converse Lewis and Walter Sigmund who we always believed closed the base.
I have learned only through research and other military records that Kearns had other Base Commanders, and oddly enough Kearns had changed Base Commanders a total of 5 times within the first five months.
All the personally histories of these Colonels came from their families, they assisted me in making sure the facts were straighten out and were in order. I could not reach one of the Base Commanders family for their input so that bio was directly from the internet.
I would like to offer a special thanks and acknowledgement to the families of Colonel Waldon Doe, without whose help most of this history would have never been located. They loaned me a scrapbook that Colonel Doe and his wife had put together, it was full of leads that other wise would have never been known about or located. A special thanks goes out to Colonel Siegmunds daughter and a grandson who made sure that his history was right. I could almost write a book on his life and sadly, I regret that a lot of it has not been added here due to the lack of space. The history of Colonel Converse R Lewis was a tough one, for the mare reason he had a son that was also in the military with the same name at the same time who almost mirrored his fathers military career and crossed paths many times throughout both of their careers.
This section is not only the history of the Base Commanders but will be listed in the order that they were at Kearns. Realize also this is not a complete list there were others,that I have not located yet.
Leo F. Post
Leo F. Post was born August 13, 1895 in St. Petersburg Russia. He was the son of a famous Russian aviator and balloonist pioneer, Fedor Alexis Postnikov, who had used balloons during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. It was due to the family embarrassment at that time that the family immigrated to the United States in 1905. The hot air balloon had failed badly and Fedor not only took its failure personally, but also felt that his and his family safety was in harms way. After entering in to the United States the name was shorten to Post.
The Census show that Leo having already served in WWI was a Lieutenant in the Army in 1930, and he had not became a naturalized citizen, his military career lasted nearly 35 years.
One of the first records that can be found is on October 5, 1917; showing Leo had tested for his pilot license, this test was conducted on a Curtis J.N. 4 at San Diego. On November 14, 1917, Leo Post received his Aero Club of America Pilot License No. 931. By June 8, 1917, Leo was a Private by December 10 1917 he had been promoted to a Private 1st class in the US. Army Signal Corps under the Aviation Section. From this point on he moved up the ranks in the military rather fast, January 11, 1918 he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. July 1920 he was 1st Lieutenant of Air Service and was stationed at Crissy Field located in San Francisco California. From 1924-1926 Leo Post, was stationed at Luke Field in Honolulu, Hawaii, his military record’s show that he was on leave in late 1926- early 1927. In early 1927 he was stationed at Brooks Field in Texas then at Kelly Filed in Texas. By November 1927 he was stationed at March Field in Riverside California and remained there until the spring of 1932, known as a top rated air pilot. By October 1, 1930 he was promoted to a Captain two years later he was sent to Mitchell Field, Hempstead Long Island New York in July 1932 and remained there until mid 1938. It was while there he obtained the rank of Major, temporarily on April 20, 1935. By October 1938 he received orders and was then sent to Maxwell Field in Montgomery Alabama and remained there until mid 1939. By June of that same year he was promoted permanently to a Major. It appears that he was then sent to Scott Field in Belleville Illinois and remained there until mid 1941, while there he graduated from Air Corps Technical School. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, temporary on June 23, 1940, and became a permanent Colonel in October 1941 when he was then sent to Keesler Field, in Biloxi Mississippi. He was at Keesler Field on December 7, 1941; when Pearl Harbor was attacked he was promoted to the rank of Colonel. As Colonel his first obligation was being sent to Kearns Utah to open up the new base there on July 17, 1942. The only information about Colonel Post being at Camp Kearns can be found in the following Salt Lake Telegram Newspapers articles.
Salt Lake Telegram June, 20, 1942
Officers Inspect Air Training Center
An inspection of the new United Stares air corps replacement training center being constructed near Kearns Utah, about 12 miles southwest of Salt Lake City, was made early Saturday by Major General W. R. Weaver of Knollwood field, Southern Pines N. C., chief of the air force technical training command.
The General, who was accompanied by seven high ranking officers of his command conferred with Colonel Leo F Post, commander of the new center.
General Weaver and his party arrived in the city Friday evening and left early Saturday for Denver Colo., and St. Louis Mo. He and his staff have been inspecting technical schools on the west coast.
Included in the general's party were Lieutenant Colonel J. P. McConnell, Major R. E. Daley, Colonel Paul Hanley, Captain C. H. Morgan and Lieutenant Raymond Firestone.
Salt Lake Telegram July 22, 1942
Utah's New Town (To be Third Largest) Starts with Arrival of Quartermaster Corps Unit.
KEARNS, Utah, July 22- Utah's new community- to be the third largest from a population standpoint-was in the making Wednesday when a detachment from the quartermaster corps was first to report for duty at the new site here of the replacement training center, army air force technical command; said Colonel Leo F. Post, commander.
Under command of Major Jesse H. Davidson, the detachment is in operation and ready to supply every need of the thousands of soldiers who will be trained for air corps duty here.
The center will be a city complete within its confines said Colonel Post. It is located at approximately forty-eight (4900) West and Forty-fifth (4500) South streets.
There will be utilities, stories, chapels, theaters, hospitals, a post office and police and fire departments. It will differ only from other municipalities in that it will be governed by military law.
Major Davidson and his detachment, in keeping with 150 years of quartermaster corps tradition will provide all equipment and supplies for nearly every department, Colonel Post said.
Part of the task of the quartermaster corps detachment will be to supply subsistence of the enlisted men, which will include procurement and storage of large quantities of food selected to meet strict government specifications the colonel said.
The quartermaster corps, he said enjoys the distinction of being the oldest branch of the army and its insignia was the first to be adopted by the continental army 166 years ago.
Salt Lake Telegram July 29, 1942
Army Training Center Operates 60 Days after Plans Drawn
KEARNS, Utah, July 29- From blueprints to an actual operating base within two months is the story of the army air forces replacement cent here, said Colonel Leo F. Post, commander, whose personal motto is, “It can be done.”
The motto has been adopted by the personnel stationed at the center, located approximately 12 miles from Salt Lake City in southwest Salt Lake County, and attests to the spirit and determination of the personnel in making it one of the larger components of the fast growing army air force.
Headquarters of the unit, until recently maintained at Fort Douglas have been transferred to Kearns and expansion is continuing as officers, enlisted men and a large civilian force are adjusting themselves to the site.
Within a few weeks, several squadrons of soldiers wills tart the training designed to teach them to man the ground forces of one of America's strongest striking units-the army air force said Major Augustus M. Minton, executive officer.
The training will consist of military principles and courtesy drill, manual of arms, instruction in the use of various small arms, firing on the range and physical fitness.
Upon arrival at the center, recruits will be put through a comprehensive aptitude test and classified according to abilities. On completion of the training program, every effort will be made to assign the new soldier to duties to which he is best adapted. The best qualified men will be entered in one of the many air force technical schools, Major Minton said.
Salt Lake Telegram Aug. 8, 1942
Soldiers to Study For Teaching Physical Training
KEARNS, Utah- The first physical education school in the US. Army air forces designed to train enlisted men for duty as physical training instructors will open here Monday, Colonel Leo F Post commander , announced Saturday.
The class will be under supervision of Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Groh, plans and training officer. Frank F. Noble, who prior to his call to the army as a civilian director was on the physical education staff of Western Michigan Teachers college, will direct the classes.
Soldiers much have a college manor or minor n physical education or the equivalent in experience. Upon completing the course students will become instructors and will be eligible for commissions by attending an officers' training school.
Colonel Post retired from the United States Air Force on December 31, 1951. He and his family moved back to Riverside California.
Colonel Post had two children, a daughter, Mary and a son by the name of Leo F. Post Jr.; he entered the United States Air Force in 1952 he passed away in February 1958. On April 18, 1978 Colonel Leo F Post past away, still living in Riverside California.
John W. Monahan
Colonel John W. Monahan became Commander of Kearns on September 12, 1942 after the first formal review was held.
John William Monahan was born September 25, 1891 in Amboy Illinois, a small railroad town an acre large, established in 1876. The family soon moved after his birth to Chicago and he grew up at 12031 Wallace St. He entered the military on June 5, 1917. By 1920 he was stationed at Carlstrom Field located in DeSoto Florida as a Lieutenant in the Army Air Service. Soon after WWII had ended the field was abandoned, leaving the state of Florida to purchase the land for a dollar and turning the field into a state mental hospital, G Wood Pierce State Mental Hospital. The original buildings were reconstructed and the hospital is still in use today. The next record we find is that on July 12, 1924 he left New Yoke for San Francisco California aboard a US Army Transport known as St. Mihiel they arrived in San Francisco July 28, 1924.
John William Monahan is a common name, making it almost impossible to locate very much information on him; about the only record that could be located was his birth record, second to having located the following information.
The history written on the Kearns Army Air Base; found on micro films that he was the Base Commander somewhere from mid September to the end of September. When Col. Monahan received orders and was transferred out of Kearns only to return to Kearns on December 21, 1943 with the 34th Bombardment group, as Colonel over this unit. They left Kearns in the early morning hours on Christmas day, making their journey off to war. After he brought home his men from the war that was the last time anyone had seen or heard of him. No one from the 34th Bombardment Group could remember him ever making any of their reunions up to 2003, when it was held in Salt Lake City Utah.
Colonel John William Monahan passed away May 15, 1959 and was laid to rest at the Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery; he had served his country in both WWI and WWII.
The following was found in the Salt Lake Telegram about Colonel Monahan.
Salt Lake Telegram August 20, 1942
Mayor offers Fire Study to Air Center
Salt Lake City fire department facilities will be offered for training of a corps of fire fighters at the army air forces replacement training center, Kearns Utah said Mayor Ab Jenkins Thursday.
The announcement was made as a counter proposal to a request of Colonel John W. Monahn commandant of the army center, seeking assignment of three experienced firemen to the cantonment to train fire fighters.
“It is doubtful if the request can be granted,” the mayor said. “We have had so many firemen leave for the armed service and to take better paying jobs that we find ourselves in a position of being short-handed in experienced men. The city must be protected. However, we'll do anything in our power to provide men and equipment to be used in training their own staff of firemen.”
Salt Lake Telegram August 26, 1942
Army Repeats Plea for Aid
Reconsideration by Salt Lake City commissioners of a request to assign experienced firemen to the army air force basic training center, Kearns, Utah to train fire fighters in the new cantonment was asked Wednesday by Colonel John W. Monahan commanding officer.
On advice of Mayor Ab Jenkins and Fire Chief LaVere M. Hanson, commissioners rejected a similar request last week, pointing out that the depleted ranks of the fire department make it impossible to spare more men, and suggesting that camp firemen be sent to Salt Lake fire stations to receive training.
“We want to do whatever we can to help with the situation and at the same time protect millions of dollars' worth of property in Salt Lake City,” the mayor said.
This second request was referred to the mayor for study.
Salt Lake Telegram September 5, 1942
Chief at Kearns Transferred to Washington
Colonel John W Monahan commander of the army air force basic training center at Kearns Utah announced Saturday that he has been transferred to Washington D. C. For duty on Lieutenant General H. H. Arnold's air corps staff.
Colonel Monahan who came here from Denver a month ago said he appreciated the cooperation given by city, county and state officials in helping to get the training center functioning the way it is. Colonel and Mrs. Monahan will leave Sunday.
Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Groh is acting commander of the center.
Ernest Groh
At the time that Colonel Monahan had transferred, Lieutenant Colonel Groh was the highest ranking man at Kearns at that time. He performed the duties of Base Commander for one week September 7, 1942 -September 14, 1942. The following article was found in the Salt Lake Telegram about this change.
Salt Lake Telegram September 12, 1942
Review held at Kearns
KEARNS, Utah- Formal review, first of a weekly series to be held at be held at this air forces basic training center, was conducted Saturday morning before Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Groh, acting commander and eight other staff officers.
Also witnessing the review in an official capacity was Colonel L. A. Lawson, command of Buckley Field, Colo, who is making an inspection of this center.
Colonel Groh expressed satisfaction at the manner in which the men handled themselves, and Colonel Lawson said it was impressive in view of its being the initial review.
Leading the center's 56-piece band was Technical Sergeant John E. Lane, bandmaster.
Leo F Post
Colonel Post returned to Camp Kearns on September 14, 1942 until Colonel Lewis could arrive to take command of Kearns. Colonel Post was the commander of Camp Kearns from September 14, 1942 - September 17, 1942
Salt Lake Telegram September 14, 1942
Chief Returns to Air Center
KEARNS, Utah – Colonel Leo F Post, commanding office of this army air forces replacement training center, had returned to duty Monday after a month's temporary duty at Keesler field, Mississippi.
During his absence the center was commanded by Colonel John W Monahan who left last week to join the air forces staff of Lieutenant General H. H.. Arnold.
Converse R Lewis
Converse R Lewis was born January 30, 1882 in Montana. He became the Commanding Officer of the Basic Training Center #5 located in Kearns Utah.
He arrived at Kearns September 15, 1942 only 3 months after Kearns was officially dedicated and accepting the soldiers he was lucky enough to set many mile stones for the base. He was the commander for the first Thanksgiving at Kearns, Christmas and Memorial Day was at Kearns for the one year celebration of the opening of the base. He sat the example during the fist year for many of the celebrations that the base carried on with for the next four years.
During this first year twenty-six men that had been through Kearns had been killed in action by Memorial Day, in which he honored their memories, for their sacrifices for their country.
The base was still under construction during his time at Kearns, and he was in charge of all the problems of Kearns being new, mainly the dust problems because of the wind blowing and the steam shovels moving up and down dirt roads. His comment he is best known for at Kearns was, “Welcome to Kearns where we are honored to serve you your daily requirements of dirt, dust and grim.”
His term at Kearns was short lived having to bid farewell September 15, 1943 by all accounts Colonel Lewis was a highly respect man, and highly thought of by the men he served with. One of his drivers when asked what he remembered most about Colonel Lewis reported he was a very caring and giving individual. He loved to read and when he found something that he thought the others would like to hear he always shared it with us. His motto was a day of waste was when nothing was learned. So he would make sure those who worked closely with him learned something new each day.
From 1936 - 1937 he was part of the Commandant at Texas A&M University. From there, he went to Ft. Leavenworth for a short time before becoming reactivated and sent to Kearns, after leaving Kearns he went back to Fort Leavenworth, as the Commander of Fort Leavenworth being a Federal Officers.
He passed away March 20, 1956 at the age of 74 years. He was laid to rest at the Arlington National Cemetery.
Colonel Lewis had a son and a grandson who also carried his name. The son Converse R Lewis was also in the military serving the same time as his father. In an effect of making sure the history was right with the correct Converse R. Lewis it took several months with the family to figure it all out. Both of their birthdays were just days apart, born in the same area, both men's military service mirrored the other one. For example when Colonel Lewis was stationed at Camp Kearns Utah, his son was stationed at Fort Douglas Utah just a few miles apart. It was not until the first thanksgiving menu from Camp Kearns was located could the correct Converse R Lewis be identified. Both men retired from the same branch of the service with the same rank as Colonel. The name Converse R Lewis also appears on the Viet Nam Memorial Wall. This young man was Colonel Lewis's grandson.
Salt Lake Telegram September 17, 1942
Colonel Lewis takes Command of Kearns Training Center
KEARNS, Utah- Coming here from his post as commander of the disciplinary barracks at Fort Leavenworth Kan., Colonel Converse R Lewis Thursday had taken command of the army air forces replacement training center here.
Colonel Lewis succeeds Colonel Leo F Post now project construction officer at Kearns.
With 39 years of army service back of him, Colonel Lewis has served in the Philippines and other outposts. In action against Moors early in the century he won an award of the Distinguished Service Cross. He also holds the Purple Heart and victory medals for service in the Mexican campaign.
His army career began on February 17, 1903, when he was commissioned a second lieutenant and detailed to the Philippines. He was commissioned a colonel on October 1, 1934 while serving as a professor of military science and tactics at the University of Iowa. From that position he was assigned to command of the thirteenth infantry and post at Fort Devens, Mass.
He was assigned to Fort Leavenworth in May, 1941.
Converse R Lewis was born January 30, 1882 in Montana. He became the Commanding Officer of the Basic Training Center #5 located in Kearns Utah.
He arrived at Kearns September 15, 1942 only 3 months after Kearns was officially dedicated and accepting the soldiers he was lucky enough to set many mile stones for the base. He was the commander for the first Thanksgiving at Kearns, Christmas and Memorial Day was at Kearns for the one year celebration of the opening of the base. He sat the example during the fist year for many of the celebrations that the base carried on with for the next four years.
During this first year twenty-six men that had been through Kearns had been killed in action by Memorial Day, in which he honored their memories, for their sacrifices for their country.
The base was still under construction during his time at Kearns, and he was in charge of all the problems of Kearns being new, mainly the dust problems because of the wind blowing and the steam shovels moving up and down dirt roads. His comment he is best known for at Kearns was, “Welcome to Kearns where we are honored to serve you your daily requirements of dirt, dust and grim.”
His term at Kearns was short lived having to bid farewell September 15, 1943 by all accounts Colonel Lewis was a highly respect man, and highly thought of by the men he served with. One of his drivers when asked what he remembered most about Colonel Lewis reported he was a very caring and giving individual. He loved to read and when he found something that he thought the others would like to hear he always shared it with us. His motto was a day of waste was when nothing was learned. So he would make sure those who worked closely with him learned something new each day.
From 1936 - 1937 he was part of the Commandant at Texas A&M University. From there, he went to Ft. Leavenworth for a short time before becoming reactivated and sent to Kearns, after leaving Kearns he went back to Fort Leavenworth, as the Commander of Fort Leavenworth being a Federal Officers.
He passed away March 20, 1956 at the age of 74 years. He was laid to rest at the Arlington National Cemetery.
Colonel Lewis had a son and a grandson who also carried his name. The son Converse R Lewis was also in the military serving the same time as his father. In an effect of making sure the history was right with the correct Converse R. Lewis it took several months with the family to figure it all out. Both of their birthdays were just days apart, born in the same area, both men's military service mirrored the other one. For example when Colonel Lewis was stationed at Camp Kearns Utah, his son was stationed at Fort Douglas Utah just a few miles apart. It was not until the first thanksgiving menu from Camp Kearns was located could the correct Converse R Lewis be identified. Both men retired from the same branch of the service with the same rank as Colonel. The name Converse R Lewis also appears on the Viet Nam Memorial Wall. This young man was Colonel Lewis's grandson.
Salt Lake Telegram September 17, 1942
Colonel Lewis takes Command of Kearns Training Center
KEARNS, Utah- Coming here from his post as commander of the disciplinary barracks at Fort Leavenworth Kan., Colonel Converse R Lewis Thursday had taken command of the army air forces replacement training center here.
Colonel Lewis succeeds Colonel Leo F Post now project construction officer at Kearns.
With 39 years of army service back of him, Colonel Lewis has served in the Philippines and other outposts. In action against Moors early in the century he won an award of the Distinguished Service Cross. He also holds the Purple Heart and victory medals for service in the Mexican campaign.
His army career began on February 17, 1903, when he was commissioned a second lieutenant and detailed to the Philippines. He was commissioned a colonel on October 1, 1934 while serving as a professor of military science and tactics at the University of Iowa. From that position he was assigned to command of the thirteenth infantry and post at Fort Devens, Mass.
He was assigned to Fort Leavenworth in May, 1941.
Colonel Walter F Siegmund was born May 18, 1887, in St. Louis Missouri. He learned as a young boy the significance of being free, and held freedoms merits high from those values which were installed in him from his parents who had immigrated to America from Germany. He spent most of his life defending those freedoms, as he began his military career as a second lieutenant in the 1st Missouri Infantry in the year 1914. He held the rank of full Colonel for 22 years when he retired from active duty July 4, 1944 at Lincoln Army Air Field in Nebraska. The years of his military assignments have included infantry, field artillery, cavalry and air corps.
In 1938 after years in the service he requested to be transferred to the inactive reserve. In private life he was an executive of the Western Cartridge Co., East Alton Ill, and its subsidiary, Winchester Repeating Arms Co. He was also a sales manager of Stifel, Nicolaus and Company of St Louis an investment bankers in 1930.
St Louis was proud of their son, when there was a parade going on in town they always called on Colonel Walter Siegmund, he would don his Colonel’s uniform and take his place as the grand marshal at the head of the line and gave the town a real procession.
After his recall to active duty on September 5, 1942, he was transferred form the Cavalry to the Air Corps and was assigned to the staff of the Commanding General of the Technical Training Command at Headquarters, Knollwood Field in North Carolina.
Colonel Siegmund was given the mission to proceed to the various Basic and Overseas Training Centers of the Technical Training Command for the purpose of instituting courses of instruction leading to the qualification of Army Air Force personnel in the use of weapons, physical preparations for personal and close combat and general combat training, to render it capable of successfully defending Army Air Force Installations and Fields if attacked by paratroopers, airborne infantry, raiders and commandos.
In November 1942, he was transferred to the Kearns Field in Utah and assigned to command the Overseas Replacement Training Center. At his own request he was then transferred to the Second Air Force by General Arnold in May of 1943, and after completing a trip to the various aerial gunnery centers on training matters he was appointed Plans and Training Offices of the 18th Wing, Second Air Force in Salt Lake City Utah. In addition to his other duties he designed, developed and supervised several aerial gunnery training at the Army Air Bases in Utah. Kearns was known for one of the best and the largest gunnery training ranges in the West. He was highly commended for his accomplishments by the Commanding General of the 18th Replacement Wing of the Second Air Force.
On October 1, 1943 he once again returned to Kearns, by the time he was 63 years old, and was assigned the Commanding Officer of the Kearns Army Air Base when the base was taken over from the Technical Training Command by the Second Air Force. Schools of the various specialties of the Air Forces were established and small arms training were given and many other functions performed in the processing and training the men for overseas duty. In addition, the Overseas Replacement Training Center of the Training Command was located on the Base; thus it created a dual function and responsibility of the Base Commander.
On April 15, 1944, the Second Air Force mission at Kearns was complete and the Base was then turned over to another command to become the Overseas Replacement Dept No. 2. When Colonel Sigmund received word that he would be leaving Kearns, it broke his heart. Upon reading the letter that his mission at Kearns had been completed he laid the latter down on his secretary’s desk and without saying a word he walked into his office shutting the door behind him.
He loved Kearns, and it was at Kearns that he wanted to retire from as the last Colonel of Kearns, as word had it Kearns was to be deactivated soon. He was perhaps one of the strictest of all Colonels that was sent to Kearns he did love his job, Kearns, and so proud of all the boys that was at Kearns. Those few men that we have found that knew the Colonel have always spoken of him fondly and have said, "You never left his office without first seeing his gun collection and hearing about some of his more special guns."
Colonel Walter Sigmund was well known for his gun collection and was the owner of the famous Winchester 73’ belonging to Buffalo Bill Cody. On July 4, 1950 the Colonel present it to the director of the Buffalo Bill Museum who happened to be his niece Mary Jester Allen. He was also the owner of the famous "Old Betsy" the gun that belonged to David Crockett. He obtained the gun through a long line of exchanges; until finely the gun ended up in the hands of his uncle Henry Koch who was then Mayor of St. Louis.
Colonel Siegmund then restored the gun and for 20 years it was on exhibition at the Jefferson Memorial in St. Louis until the Colonel took it home to Texas, presented it to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas custodians of the Alamo on Nov. 2, 1947. Having a keen eye for history he also left the State of Utah with a gift, a beloved Scrapbook telling of his time he spent in Utah at the Kearns Base. Colonel Siegmund was also an author, he wrote "How to be a Successful Soldier" incorporating 21 points for men in the service which was widely distributed among the men entering the armed forces from civilian life.
He was a versatile athletic and sportsman, expert horseman, swordsman, rifle, pistol, wing, trap and skeet shooter, and won 3 national professional skeet shooting championships in San Francisco in 1939, and the world all-gauge professional skeet shooting championship in Asheville North Carolina in 1940.
Colonel Walter F Siegmund past away on a Friday afternoon, December 11, 1964 at Brookes General Hospital in San Antonio Texas, he was 84 year old. He was laid to rest in the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with full military honors.
In 1938 after years in the service he requested to be transferred to the inactive reserve. In private life he was an executive of the Western Cartridge Co., East Alton Ill, and its subsidiary, Winchester Repeating Arms Co. He was also a sales manager of Stifel, Nicolaus and Company of St Louis an investment bankers in 1930.
St Louis was proud of their son, when there was a parade going on in town they always called on Colonel Walter Siegmund, he would don his Colonel’s uniform and take his place as the grand marshal at the head of the line and gave the town a real procession.
After his recall to active duty on September 5, 1942, he was transferred form the Cavalry to the Air Corps and was assigned to the staff of the Commanding General of the Technical Training Command at Headquarters, Knollwood Field in North Carolina.
Colonel Siegmund was given the mission to proceed to the various Basic and Overseas Training Centers of the Technical Training Command for the purpose of instituting courses of instruction leading to the qualification of Army Air Force personnel in the use of weapons, physical preparations for personal and close combat and general combat training, to render it capable of successfully defending Army Air Force Installations and Fields if attacked by paratroopers, airborne infantry, raiders and commandos.
In November 1942, he was transferred to the Kearns Field in Utah and assigned to command the Overseas Replacement Training Center. At his own request he was then transferred to the Second Air Force by General Arnold in May of 1943, and after completing a trip to the various aerial gunnery centers on training matters he was appointed Plans and Training Offices of the 18th Wing, Second Air Force in Salt Lake City Utah. In addition to his other duties he designed, developed and supervised several aerial gunnery training at the Army Air Bases in Utah. Kearns was known for one of the best and the largest gunnery training ranges in the West. He was highly commended for his accomplishments by the Commanding General of the 18th Replacement Wing of the Second Air Force.
On October 1, 1943 he once again returned to Kearns, by the time he was 63 years old, and was assigned the Commanding Officer of the Kearns Army Air Base when the base was taken over from the Technical Training Command by the Second Air Force. Schools of the various specialties of the Air Forces were established and small arms training were given and many other functions performed in the processing and training the men for overseas duty. In addition, the Overseas Replacement Training Center of the Training Command was located on the Base; thus it created a dual function and responsibility of the Base Commander.
On April 15, 1944, the Second Air Force mission at Kearns was complete and the Base was then turned over to another command to become the Overseas Replacement Dept No. 2. When Colonel Sigmund received word that he would be leaving Kearns, it broke his heart. Upon reading the letter that his mission at Kearns had been completed he laid the latter down on his secretary’s desk and without saying a word he walked into his office shutting the door behind him.
He loved Kearns, and it was at Kearns that he wanted to retire from as the last Colonel of Kearns, as word had it Kearns was to be deactivated soon. He was perhaps one of the strictest of all Colonels that was sent to Kearns he did love his job, Kearns, and so proud of all the boys that was at Kearns. Those few men that we have found that knew the Colonel have always spoken of him fondly and have said, "You never left his office without first seeing his gun collection and hearing about some of his more special guns."
Colonel Walter Sigmund was well known for his gun collection and was the owner of the famous Winchester 73’ belonging to Buffalo Bill Cody. On July 4, 1950 the Colonel present it to the director of the Buffalo Bill Museum who happened to be his niece Mary Jester Allen. He was also the owner of the famous "Old Betsy" the gun that belonged to David Crockett. He obtained the gun through a long line of exchanges; until finely the gun ended up in the hands of his uncle Henry Koch who was then Mayor of St. Louis.
Colonel Siegmund then restored the gun and for 20 years it was on exhibition at the Jefferson Memorial in St. Louis until the Colonel took it home to Texas, presented it to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas custodians of the Alamo on Nov. 2, 1947. Having a keen eye for history he also left the State of Utah with a gift, a beloved Scrapbook telling of his time he spent in Utah at the Kearns Base. Colonel Siegmund was also an author, he wrote "How to be a Successful Soldier" incorporating 21 points for men in the service which was widely distributed among the men entering the armed forces from civilian life.
He was a versatile athletic and sportsman, expert horseman, swordsman, rifle, pistol, wing, trap and skeet shooter, and won 3 national professional skeet shooting championships in San Francisco in 1939, and the world all-gauge professional skeet shooting championship in Asheville North Carolina in 1940.
Colonel Walter F Siegmund past away on a Friday afternoon, December 11, 1964 at Brookes General Hospital in San Antonio Texas, he was 84 year old. He was laid to rest in the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with full military honors.
Weldon W. Doe
Weldon W. Doe was born April 11, 1892 in North Carolina. His military records can start to be found when in 1910 he was a student at West Point Military Reservation in New York. He graduated from their on June 12, 1914. And then on June 12, 1915 he was assigned to the 15th Infantry U.S Army.
The following was found in the Denver Post
FT. LOGAN TO BE CONVALESCENT
CENTER STARTING AT MIDNIGHT
New Chapter in History of Military Unit to Be Written When Army Air Service Command Takes Over From Training Branch
A new chapter in the 57-year-old history of Fort Logan will begin at midnight Friday when the army air service command will take over the post from the army air forces western technical command, which has operated it since March 1, 1941, as a clerical school. Under the air service command, Fort Logan will become a center for the training of convalescent air force service men returning from overseas.
An announcement from western technical training command headquarters in Denver Friday said Col. Weldon W. Doe, who has been the commanding officer at Fort Logan, is being transferred to Camp Kearns, Salt Lake City, where he will be in command of a training depot.
All other members of the administrative personnel at Fort Logan will remain and will be transferred to the air service forces when the fort changes hands.
Lieut. Col. Clarence C. Wilson, who has been executive officer at Fort Logan since he was transferred there in June, 1942, is the new commanding officer, succeeding Colonel Doe.
When Fort Logan is transferred, the western technical training command will take back from the Second air force the Utah post which Colonel Doe will head.
The training command also will deactivate its Lincoln, Neb., air base and turn it over to the Second air force, which has headquarters in Colorado Springs.
The air service command also has headquarters at Patterson field, Fairfield O., and is under the command of Maj. Gen. Walter H. Frank. Headquarters of the local air service forces area is at Hill field, Ogden, Utah, under the command of Brig. Gen. Morris Berman.
Another article was found no date and no newspapers name was on the clipping.
WOUNDED TO GET VOCATIONAL TRAINING.
Wounded service men sent to the new center at fort Logan will be given both medical care and vocational training.
Colonel Doe has been at Fort Logan since March 11, 1943, when he came here from an air forces mechanics school at Gulfport, Miss., where he was executive officer.
During his administration at Fort Logan, many improvements were made at the post, including landscaping of the grounds, erection of many new buildings and development of an intensive training program.
Thousands of administrative, operational and engineering clerks trained at Fort Logan are serving at bases all over the world.
Colonel Doe was graduated from the United States Military academy in 1914. He saw service in World War I and later served with the Fifteenth infantry in China.
In 1923 he left the army to enter business. With the outbreak of the present war he returned to the army as executive officer of the Gulfport school.
Colonel Wilson was administrative inspector at Lowry field from January, 1941, to June, 1942, when he was transferred to Fort Logan.
The next two articles were found in Colonel Walter F. Siegmund's scrapbook again no date was found attached to the pages or the article.
Technical Training Command To Take Over Kearns Saturday
ARMY AIR FORCES GROUND TRAINING INSTALLATION: Kearns- The second air force will turn over the army air forces ground training installation Kearns, to the western Technical training command of the army air forces Saturday. Colonel Walter F. Sigmund, commanding officer of the installation said Wednesday.
Colonel Weldon W. Doe will become the new commanding officer. Colonel Sigmund said he was being transferred to an undisclosed assignment. The camp originally was under command of the technical training command and came under supervision of the 2nd. Air Force early last fall
Kearns Awaits Transfer To New Command
The Western Technical Training Command will assume jurisdiction of the of the army air forces ground training installation at Kearns Saturday with Colonel Weldon W. Doe as commanding officer it was announced Wednesday. The move is in accord with previously announced plans. Originally a technical training command installation, the camp was placed under the Second air force last fall.
Colonel Walter F. Sigmund commanding officer, AAFGTI, Kearns, said he would leave shortly for an undisclosed destination.
Colonel Doe was graduated from West Point in 1914 and served with the army until 1920. A veteran of World War I, he entered civil life in 1920. In 1942, he was called to active duty and served at Gulfport Field, Miss. A year ago he was assigned to Fort Logan, Colo.
The colonel has a son, Major Weldon W. Doe, Jr., in the army air corps. His wife will accompany him to Kearns. Col. and Mrs. Doe have made their home at 2418 Walkers land during their stay in Salt Lake City. They have a son, Maj. Weldon W. Doe Jr., now stationed in Okinawa with the air forces.
Colonel Doe arrived at Kearns in July of 1944 and took over the command of the Base. Up until the year 2000 his name had been completely removed form any written history about the Kearns Base. After locating his name a search was done and it was then we learned that Colonel Doe had passed away in May 1980 while he was living in North Carolina. He also had a home in Montgomery Alabama and would travel there to live during the winter months.
His son also, Weldon W Doe was for a short time stationed at Kearns during the time his father was commander of Kearns. He was kind enough to loan his father's scrapbook to us so that we could scan it and put it on a CD. for our future use. He is responsible for a lot of this father's history ever coming back to Kearns. Finally in 2009 other newspaper articles were located from the Salt Lake Telegram which enabled a timeline of history to be created as to what was going on at Camp Kearns at that time.
BRIGADIER GENERAL RICHARD C. SANDERS
The Youngest General in US. Air Force history is Brig. General Richard C. Sanders of WWII; born Aug 19, 1915, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was promoted to Brig Gen in June, 1944, at 28 years old making him the youngster General in the US Air Force.
He graduated from the University of Utah in 1937 with a Bachelor of Science degree and was appointed a second lieutenant, Field Artillery Reserve, Sept. 4, 1936, while still in college. He served on extended active duty from July 28, 1937, to June 30, 1938, and from July 5, 1938, to Sept. 30, 1938. He then enlisted as a flying cadet on Oct. 4, 1938, and upon completion of his training was commissioned a second lieutenant, Air Reserve, on Aug. 25, 1939. He was called to active duty the next day and was commissioned a second lieutenant, Air Corps, Regular Army, on July 1, 1940.
In July 1937, he was ordered to Fort Lewis, Wash., serving with the 10th Field Artillery as battalion reconnaissance and supply officer. He was with the 5th Infantry Brigade on Civilian Conservation Corps duty at Camp Soda Springs, Yakima, Wash., from July to September 1938, when he began his primary flying training at Randolph Field, Texas. Upon graduation from the Air Corps Primary Flying School, he went to Kelly Field, Texas, for advanced training, and upon graduation from the Air Corps Advanced Flying School in September 1939, was assigned to Mitchel Field, Long Island, N.Y., as assistant squadron adjutant, 18th Reconnaissance Squadron. He later served at Langley Field, Va., and Greenville Army Air Base, S.C., with the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron as intelligence and engineering officer. In February 1942, he was assigned to the Tenth Air Force at Patterson Field, Ohio, and Fort Myers, Fla. He was assigned to the IX Bomber Command in August 1942, and served overseas in the North African and European Theater of Operations as executive officer of a Bombardment Group, chief of staff, XX Bomber Command, and in November 1943, became commanding officer of a bombardment group. In January 1944, he was named administrative officer of the IX Bomber Command in the European Theater of Operations, and in November 1944, was announced as chief of staff of the IX Bomber Command which was then serving in France. In December of 1945 he became the Base Commander at Camp Kearns Utah. In August 1945, he became commanding general of the 99th Bomb Wing in Germany and three months later, was assigned to Headquarters Air Forces Personnel Distribution Command, Louisville, Ky. In March 1946, he was announced as commanding that installation. He retired from Military duty July 1, 1950. Among his many awards were the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal and Distinguished Service Medal. Brigadier General Sanders passed away on September 20, 1976.
The following was located in the Salt Lake Telegram November 27, 1945
Gen. Sander to take Command at Kearns
Command of the A.A.F overseas replacement depot, Kearns will be assumed Dec. 3, by Brig Gen. Richard C Sanders, Col Weldon W Doe present commanding officer announced Tuesday.
Col. Doe will return to civilian status on that date. He plans to return to his machinery and hardware business in Montgomery Ala.
Gen. Sanders is a graduate of the University of Utah and was called to active duty with the field artillery as a second Lieutenant in July 1937. He transferred to the air forces and won his wings in 1939. Going overseas in June 1942, he participated in the Tunisian campaign as a B-24 pilot.
He was transferred to England as commander of a bombardment group and flew 10 missions before he was promoted to his present rank and maned chief of staff of the Ninth air force.
Gen. Sanders is a son of Mr. And Mrs. Richard Sanders, 274-1st ave.
Col Doe, who has commanded Kearns since April, 1944 is a native of Asheville, N.C. He entered the US. Military academy at West Point in 1910 and was graduated in 1914.
He served two years in China, one year on the Mexican border and during World War I; he served 17 months in France at a machine gun training school.
He opened a machinery and hardware business in Montgomery in 1920, after returning to civilian life.
Recalled to active duty in August, 1942 he was stationed at Gulfport, Miss., army air base later becoming commanding officer at Fort Logan, Colo; then came Command of the A.A.F overseas replacement depot, Kearns will be assumed Dec. 3, by Brig Gen. Richard C Sanders, Col Weldon W Doe present commanding officer announced Tuesday.
Weldon W. Doe was born April 11, 1892 in North Carolina. His military records can start to be found when in 1910 he was a student at West Point Military Reservation in New York. He graduated from their on June 12, 1914. And then on June 12, 1915 he was assigned to the 15th Infantry U.S Army.
The following was found in the Denver Post
FT. LOGAN TO BE CONVALESCENT
CENTER STARTING AT MIDNIGHT
New Chapter in History of Military Unit to Be Written When Army Air Service Command Takes Over From Training Branch
A new chapter in the 57-year-old history of Fort Logan will begin at midnight Friday when the army air service command will take over the post from the army air forces western technical command, which has operated it since March 1, 1941, as a clerical school. Under the air service command, Fort Logan will become a center for the training of convalescent air force service men returning from overseas.
An announcement from western technical training command headquarters in Denver Friday said Col. Weldon W. Doe, who has been the commanding officer at Fort Logan, is being transferred to Camp Kearns, Salt Lake City, where he will be in command of a training depot.
All other members of the administrative personnel at Fort Logan will remain and will be transferred to the air service forces when the fort changes hands.
Lieut. Col. Clarence C. Wilson, who has been executive officer at Fort Logan since he was transferred there in June, 1942, is the new commanding officer, succeeding Colonel Doe.
When Fort Logan is transferred, the western technical training command will take back from the Second air force the Utah post which Colonel Doe will head.
The training command also will deactivate its Lincoln, Neb., air base and turn it over to the Second air force, which has headquarters in Colorado Springs.
The air service command also has headquarters at Patterson field, Fairfield O., and is under the command of Maj. Gen. Walter H. Frank. Headquarters of the local air service forces area is at Hill field, Ogden, Utah, under the command of Brig. Gen. Morris Berman.
Another article was found no date and no newspapers name was on the clipping.
WOUNDED TO GET VOCATIONAL TRAINING.
Wounded service men sent to the new center at fort Logan will be given both medical care and vocational training.
Colonel Doe has been at Fort Logan since March 11, 1943, when he came here from an air forces mechanics school at Gulfport, Miss., where he was executive officer.
During his administration at Fort Logan, many improvements were made at the post, including landscaping of the grounds, erection of many new buildings and development of an intensive training program.
Thousands of administrative, operational and engineering clerks trained at Fort Logan are serving at bases all over the world.
Colonel Doe was graduated from the United States Military academy in 1914. He saw service in World War I and later served with the Fifteenth infantry in China.
In 1923 he left the army to enter business. With the outbreak of the present war he returned to the army as executive officer of the Gulfport school.
Colonel Wilson was administrative inspector at Lowry field from January, 1941, to June, 1942, when he was transferred to Fort Logan.
The next two articles were found in Colonel Walter F. Siegmund's scrapbook again no date was found attached to the pages or the article.
Technical Training Command To Take Over Kearns Saturday
ARMY AIR FORCES GROUND TRAINING INSTALLATION: Kearns- The second air force will turn over the army air forces ground training installation Kearns, to the western Technical training command of the army air forces Saturday. Colonel Walter F. Sigmund, commanding officer of the installation said Wednesday.
Colonel Weldon W. Doe will become the new commanding officer. Colonel Sigmund said he was being transferred to an undisclosed assignment. The camp originally was under command of the technical training command and came under supervision of the 2nd. Air Force early last fall
Kearns Awaits Transfer To New Command
The Western Technical Training Command will assume jurisdiction of the of the army air forces ground training installation at Kearns Saturday with Colonel Weldon W. Doe as commanding officer it was announced Wednesday. The move is in accord with previously announced plans. Originally a technical training command installation, the camp was placed under the Second air force last fall.
Colonel Walter F. Sigmund commanding officer, AAFGTI, Kearns, said he would leave shortly for an undisclosed destination.
Colonel Doe was graduated from West Point in 1914 and served with the army until 1920. A veteran of World War I, he entered civil life in 1920. In 1942, he was called to active duty and served at Gulfport Field, Miss. A year ago he was assigned to Fort Logan, Colo.
The colonel has a son, Major Weldon W. Doe, Jr., in the army air corps. His wife will accompany him to Kearns. Col. and Mrs. Doe have made their home at 2418 Walkers land during their stay in Salt Lake City. They have a son, Maj. Weldon W. Doe Jr., now stationed in Okinawa with the air forces.
Colonel Doe arrived at Kearns in July of 1944 and took over the command of the Base. Up until the year 2000 his name had been completely removed form any written history about the Kearns Base. After locating his name a search was done and it was then we learned that Colonel Doe had passed away in May 1980 while he was living in North Carolina. He also had a home in Montgomery Alabama and would travel there to live during the winter months.
His son also, Weldon W Doe was for a short time stationed at Kearns during the time his father was commander of Kearns. He was kind enough to loan his father's scrapbook to us so that we could scan it and put it on a CD. for our future use. He is responsible for a lot of this father's history ever coming back to Kearns. Finally in 2009 other newspaper articles were located from the Salt Lake Telegram which enabled a timeline of history to be created as to what was going on at Camp Kearns at that time.
BRIGADIER GENERAL RICHARD C. SANDERS
The Youngest General in US. Air Force history is Brig. General Richard C. Sanders of WWII; born Aug 19, 1915, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was promoted to Brig Gen in June, 1944, at 28 years old making him the youngster General in the US Air Force.
He graduated from the University of Utah in 1937 with a Bachelor of Science degree and was appointed a second lieutenant, Field Artillery Reserve, Sept. 4, 1936, while still in college. He served on extended active duty from July 28, 1937, to June 30, 1938, and from July 5, 1938, to Sept. 30, 1938. He then enlisted as a flying cadet on Oct. 4, 1938, and upon completion of his training was commissioned a second lieutenant, Air Reserve, on Aug. 25, 1939. He was called to active duty the next day and was commissioned a second lieutenant, Air Corps, Regular Army, on July 1, 1940.
In July 1937, he was ordered to Fort Lewis, Wash., serving with the 10th Field Artillery as battalion reconnaissance and supply officer. He was with the 5th Infantry Brigade on Civilian Conservation Corps duty at Camp Soda Springs, Yakima, Wash., from July to September 1938, when he began his primary flying training at Randolph Field, Texas. Upon graduation from the Air Corps Primary Flying School, he went to Kelly Field, Texas, for advanced training, and upon graduation from the Air Corps Advanced Flying School in September 1939, was assigned to Mitchel Field, Long Island, N.Y., as assistant squadron adjutant, 18th Reconnaissance Squadron. He later served at Langley Field, Va., and Greenville Army Air Base, S.C., with the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron as intelligence and engineering officer. In February 1942, he was assigned to the Tenth Air Force at Patterson Field, Ohio, and Fort Myers, Fla. He was assigned to the IX Bomber Command in August 1942, and served overseas in the North African and European Theater of Operations as executive officer of a Bombardment Group, chief of staff, XX Bomber Command, and in November 1943, became commanding officer of a bombardment group. In January 1944, he was named administrative officer of the IX Bomber Command in the European Theater of Operations, and in November 1944, was announced as chief of staff of the IX Bomber Command which was then serving in France. In December of 1945 he became the Base Commander at Camp Kearns Utah. In August 1945, he became commanding general of the 99th Bomb Wing in Germany and three months later, was assigned to Headquarters Air Forces Personnel Distribution Command, Louisville, Ky. In March 1946, he was announced as commanding that installation. He retired from Military duty July 1, 1950. Among his many awards were the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal and Distinguished Service Medal. Brigadier General Sanders passed away on September 20, 1976.
The following was located in the Salt Lake Telegram November 27, 1945
Gen. Sander to take Command at Kearns
Command of the A.A.F overseas replacement depot, Kearns will be assumed Dec. 3, by Brig Gen. Richard C Sanders, Col Weldon W Doe present commanding officer announced Tuesday.
Col. Doe will return to civilian status on that date. He plans to return to his machinery and hardware business in Montgomery Ala.
Gen. Sanders is a graduate of the University of Utah and was called to active duty with the field artillery as a second Lieutenant in July 1937. He transferred to the air forces and won his wings in 1939. Going overseas in June 1942, he participated in the Tunisian campaign as a B-24 pilot.
He was transferred to England as commander of a bombardment group and flew 10 missions before he was promoted to his present rank and maned chief of staff of the Ninth air force.
Gen. Sanders is a son of Mr. And Mrs. Richard Sanders, 274-1st ave.
Col Doe, who has commanded Kearns since April, 1944 is a native of Asheville, N.C. He entered the US. Military academy at West Point in 1910 and was graduated in 1914.
He served two years in China, one year on the Mexican border and during World War I; he served 17 months in France at a machine gun training school.
He opened a machinery and hardware business in Montgomery in 1920, after returning to civilian life.
Recalled to active duty in August, 1942 he was stationed at Gulfport, Miss., army air base later becoming commanding officer at Fort Logan, Colo; then came Command of the A.A.F overseas replacement depot, Kearns will be assumed Dec. 3, by Brig Gen. Richard C Sanders, Col Weldon W Doe present commanding officer announced Tuesday.