Camp Ellis was a United States World War IIArmy Service Forces Unit Training Center and prisoner-of-war camp between the towns of Bernadotte, Ipava, and Table Grove in Fulton County, Illinois. Construction began on 17 September 1942, and the camp opened on 16 April 1943, with an official dedication 14 July 1943. German prisoners of war were guarded by the 475th and 476th Military Police Escort Guard Companies. Training activities ended in November 1944. According to the Pentagon Report on Camp Ellis, the camp was officially occupied on 1 February 1943 under the Sixth Service Command. It included facilities of: USF Unit Training Center, Engineer and Medical Officers Replacement Pools, Training Center & POW Camp. "Effective as of 1 October 1945 Camp Ellis, Illinois was placed in the Category of surplus. 17,478 acres WD owned at cost to Govt. Shawnee National Forest, Camp Ellis, Illinois maneuver area, transferred to Department of Agriculture 29 November 1945. Effective 11 December 1945 Camp Ellis Military Reservation, Illinois, entire camp 28,557 military housing, 17,455 acres WD owned, at cost to Govt. of $23,076,438 withdrawn from surplus and placed in inactive revocable license to State of Illinois as National Guard Camp-per Monthly Progress Report, OCE, dated 30 January 1946. Camp Ellis, Military Reservation, Ill., designated as Class II installation, subject to re-entry upon 120 days' notice, under the jurisdiction of the Commanding General, Army Ground Forces, March 22, 1946. Effective 25 September 1946 reclassified as a Class I installation under jurisdiction of Commanding General, Fifth Army. Camp Ellis, Table Grove, Ill., inactive 11 December 1945, except housing surplus 8 January 1947. 5013th ASF, Camp Ellis, Ill. reorganized under T/D #205-1013, Fifth Army, Chicago, Ill. December 1947, and 30 June 1948. Effective 30 November 1949, Camp Ellis, Ill., less certain facilities to be retained for use by Illinois National Guard, was declared excess to requirements of Department of Army and was approved for disposal, 1 December 1949." Pentagon Report on Camp Ellis The camp was named after Sergeant Michael B. Ellis, a World War IMedal of Honor recipient from East Saint Louis, Illinois.
