Monmouth Timeline

U.S. Army Signal Corps Arrives In Little Silver To Begin Construction Of Fort Monmouth

June 3, 1917
Ft. Monmouth
Little Silver
Camp Little Silver, first home of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, photo courtesy Library of Congress, public domain.
Camp Little Silver, first home of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, photo courtesy Library of Congress, public domain.

On June 3, 1917, 32 soldiers of the U.S. Army Signal Corps first arrived at the site of what would become Fort Monmouth in two Model T Ford trucks. Originally named Camp Little Silver due to its location, they built a cantonment, quartermaster facilities, and a camp hospital, all under canvas. The installation was originally responsible for training the 1st and 2nd Reserve Signal Battalions. It was renamed Camp Alfred Vail shortly after its establishment in 1917. The Chief Signal Officer authorized the purchase of Camp Vail in 1919. The Signal Corps School relocated to Camp Alfred Vail from Fort Leavenworth that year.

 

The Signal Corps advance party arriving in Little Silver. Photo courtesy U.S. Army CECOM Public Affairs Office, public domain.
The Signal Corps advance party arriving in Little Silver. Photo courtesy U.S. Army CECOM Public Affairs Office, public domain.

 

The first Signal Corps troops arriving in Little Silver. Photo courtesy U.S. Army CECOM Public Affairs Office, public domain.
The first Signal Corps troops arriving in Little Silver. Photo courtesy U.S. Army CECOM Public Affairs Office, public domain.

 

 

Signal Corps members feeding horses at Camp Little Silver. Photo courtesy U.S. Army CECOM Public Affairs Office, public domain.
Signal Corps members feeding horses at Camp Little Silver. Photo courtesy U.S. Army CECOM Public Affairs Office, public domain.

 

U.S. Signal Corps troops arriving at the Little Silver train station. Signal Corps members feeding horses at Camp Little Silver. Photo courtesy U.S. Army CECOM Public Affairs Office, public domain.
U.S. Signal Corps troops arriving at the Little Silver train station. Photo courtesy U.S. Army CECOM Public Affairs Office, public domain.

 

Camp Vail poster. Camp Vail map, 1919. Camp Vail East Gate, 1923. U.S. Signal Corps troops arriving at the Little Silver train station. Signal Corps members feeding horses at Camp Little Silver. Photo courtesy U.S. Army CECOM Public Affairs Office, public domain.
Camp Vail poster, 1919. Photo courtesy U.S. Army CECOM Public Affairs Office, public domain.

 

Camp Vail map, 1919. Camp Vail East Gate, 1923. U.S. Signal Corps troops arriving at the Little Silver train station. Signal Corps members feeding horses at Camp Little Silver. Photo courtesy U.S. Army CECOM Public Affairs Office, public domain.
Camp Vail map, 1919. Photo courtesy U.S. Army CECOM Public Affairs Office, public domain.

 

Camp Vail telegraphy class, 1920. Photo courtesy U.S. Army CECOM Public Affairs Office, public domain.
Camp Vail telegraphy class, 1920. Photo courtesy U.S. Army CECOM Public Affairs Office, public domain.

 

Camp Vail East Gate, 1923. U.S. Signal Corps troops arriving at the Little Silver train station. Signal Corps members feeding horses at Camp Little Silver. Photo courtesy U.S. Army CECOM Public Affairs Office, public domain.
Camp Vail East Gate, 1923. U.S. Photo courtesy U.S. Army CECOM Public Affairs Office, public domain.

 

It gained permanent status in 1925, and was named Fort Monmouth in honor of the patriots who died in the Battle of Monmouth. In 2005, the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission mandated the closing of Fort Monmouth, and its flag was lowered on September 10, 2010.

Sources:

A Concise History of Fort Monmouth, NJ and the U.S. Army CECOM Life Cycle Management Command. (2009). Prepared by the Staff of the CECOM LCMC Historical Office, U.S. Army CECOM Life Cycle Management Command, Fort Monmouth, N.J., Fall 2009. Available: http://www.fortmonmouthnj.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Concise-History-of-Fort-Monmouth.pdf

CECOM History. (2024). U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, Md. Available: https://www.cecom.army.mil/Historian/History.

Fort Monmouth History. Available: https://www.fortmonmouthnj.com/about-us/history/

Image: Signal Corps camp, Monmouth Park. Bain News Service, publisher, created/published between ca. 1915 and ca. 1920. George Grantham Bain Collection, Library of Congress, public domain. Available: https://www.loc.gov/item/2014704859/

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