Community Corner
A Camp Shanks Story About Its History & Orangetown's.
It was the largest Port of Embarkation in the world for 1.3 million GI's from all over America headed to Europe to fight nazis in WW II
When WW II came into being, ROCKLAND COUNTY did not have a bridge to Westchester or the Palisades Parkway to NYC. It was known for its farms, the two huge human care facilities, Letchworth Village and the Rockland Psychiatric Hospital, the Brick Industry, a dozen orphanages from NYC seeking open space and fresh air for the NYC orphans, etc.
Ergo, the US Army chose 2,000 + acres of mostly farms in Orangetown to create the world's largest Port of Embarkation to hold & prepare 1.3 million new GI's to take a short railroad trip or a ship ride to the New Jersey ports when the giant passenger ships were awaiting to take them to war.
After the war, Camp Shanks was the largest veteran housing in the USA for a short time when the 2,000 + acres were ultimately handed the land back to the town, with one exception of 15 acres. It took more years for these 15 acres to be declared surplus, but only for the homeless or two other less commanding purposes.
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As a few of us had some expertise in Special Needs housing, we created a Not-For-Profit 501[c]3 Charity named "Rockland Homes For Heroes" in tribute to those 1.3 million GIs. We secured he lease for the 15 acres and we built 8 permanent, affordable, Supportive apartments, which have turned lives around and now we are adding 14 more apartments.
Which brings me to one of the mythical happenings. A very generous check arrived to help the construction cost by a gentleman named John J. Shay who lived in Blauvelt, near the Camp Shanks footprint, when he joined the Army. He served in Vietnam from June 1968 to June 1969 in the 23rd Infantry Division. The Division was heralded in both wars, the WW II & Viet Nam. Can you see the links ?
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But wait a second if you are not impressed.
When the "Rockland Homes for Heroes" Charity was created, it needed a Board of Directors and a gentleman named John Manifold was elected. John moved to Tappan as a young fellow in 1960 when Camp Shanks was still here, but being dismantled. John got to know his way around the Camp Shanks Footprint.
John also wound up in Viet Nam Vietnam from 1967 to 1968 with the Ninth Infantry Division 15th Engineer Battalion. John received a Purple Heart on April 16, 1968.
So what's so unusual ? John & John became Brothers-In-Laws, think about it, living as young men in the same footprint, fighting in the same war, now both supporting building homes for homeless Veterans on a parcel of earth drenched in blood. Now can you see the links ?
