Camp Leroy Johnson
Encyclopedia
Camp Leroy Johnson in New Orleans, Louisiana
, formerly known as the New Orleans Air Base, is located on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain
in the area bounded west by London Ave. south by Leon C. Simon Dr. and east by Inner Harbor Navigation Canal. The area is occupied today by the University of New Orleans
. One former building of the base still remain. The "smokestack" was incorporated into an Alumni Building. An accent barrack was used as a record storage building until 2007 when it was torn down.
The base used jointly with the New Orleans Airport
for training during World War II
. It was transferred to the Air Service Command and became part of the New Orleans Port of Embarkation facilities. Signal and Quartermaster
units were trained on the post and it housed a Transportation Corps
Officer Candidate School and a Replacement Training Center.
The base was named after World War II Medal of Honor
recipient Leroy Johnson. He was a native of Caney Creek
, Louisiana
and served as a Sergeant, U.S. Army. He died on December 15, 1944 near Limon
, Leyte, Philippine Islands shortly after he threw himself on two enemy grenades saving two comrades. In 1947 the New Orleans Navy Air Base was renamed Camp Leroy Johnson in his honor.
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, formerly known as the New Orleans Air Base, is located on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain
Lake Pontchartrain
Lake Pontchartrain is a brackish estuary located in southeastern Louisiana. It is the second-largest inland saltwater body of water in the United States, after the Great Salt Lake in Utah, and the largest lake in Louisiana. As an estuary, Pontchartrain is not a true lake.It covers an area of with...
in the area bounded west by London Ave. south by Leon C. Simon Dr. and east by Inner Harbor Navigation Canal. The area is occupied today by the University of New Orleans
University of New Orleans
The University of New Orleans, often referred to locally as UNO, is a medium-sized public urban university located on the New Orleans Lakefront within New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is a member of the LSU System and the Urban 13 association. Currently UNO is without a proper chancellor...
. One former building of the base still remain. The "smokestack" was incorporated into an Alumni Building. An accent barrack was used as a record storage building until 2007 when it was torn down.
The base used jointly with the New Orleans Airport
New Orleans Lakefront Airport
Lakefront Airport is a public use airport located four nautical miles northeast of the central business district of New Orleans, in Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States...
for training during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was transferred to the Air Service Command and became part of the New Orleans Port of Embarkation facilities. Signal and Quartermaster
Quartermaster
Quartermaster refers to two different military occupations depending on if the assigned unit is land based or naval.In land armies, especially US units, it is a term referring to either an individual soldier or a unit who specializes in distributing supplies and provisions to troops. The senior...
units were trained on the post and it housed a Transportation Corps
United States Army Transportation Corps
The Transportation Corps was established 31 July 1942 by Executive Order 9082. The Transportation Corps is a combat service support branch of the U.S. Army, and was headquartered at Fort Eustis, Virginia, but has now moved to Fort Lee, Virginia. The Transportation Corps is responsible for the...
Officer Candidate School and a Replacement Training Center.
The base was named after World War II Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient Leroy Johnson. He was a native of Caney Creek
Caney Creek
There are numerous streams named Caney Creek in Texas, including:*Caney Creek *Caney Creek...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
and served as a Sergeant, U.S. Army. He died on December 15, 1944 near Limon
Limon
Limon or Limón, Spanish for "lemon", may refer to:Places:* Limon, Colorado, a town in the United States* Limon, Nièvre, a commune in the Nièvre department of France* Limón, Honduras, a municipality in the department of Colón in Honduras...
, Leyte, Philippine Islands shortly after he threw himself on two enemy grenades saving two comrades. In 1947 the New Orleans Navy Air Base was renamed Camp Leroy Johnson in his honor.