Currahee Mountain & Military Museum, GA (1-22-13)

Prior to 2001 I would venture to guess that no one save a few hard core World War 2 buffs had heard of the small north Georgia town of Toccoa or its neighboring peak named Currahee. Until that year, the significant role the community had played in that great conflict had been all but forgotten. All that changed with the release of the miniseries Band of Brothers. Suddenly the names Currahee and Toccoa were known world-wide. I have to admit, I hadn't heard about either before the film. As of this trip I became one of the thousands since who have made a pilgrimage of sorts to the place where the American airborne was born.

In 1940, Camp Toombs (as Camp Toccoa was first known) was completed in the hills about 5 miles outside of the sleepy town of Toccoa, Georgia. In 1942 the U.S. Army took control of the facility for the training of its brand new 'airborne infantry' regiments. Contrary to what is widely believed, the first paratroopers were not all volunteers. Many were drafted for service before opting to join the paratroopers. A total of four regiments were trained at the facility, the 501st, 511th, 517th, and the now-famous 506th. The recruits were at Camp Toccoa primarily for physical conditioning of which the neighboring peak of Currahee Mountain figured prominently. The repeated, tortuous runs and marches to the summit fostered an intense pride reflected in the phrase "3 Miles Up, 3 Miles Down!" and the 506th motto, Currahee!, which means 'stands alone'. The men actually spent very little time at Camp Toccoa in relation to their military service, less than a year in most cases. Jump training was done to the south, at Fort Benning. The four paratroop infantry regiments saw action in every theater of World War Two. Although the 506th gets most of the recognition due to Band of Brothers it suffered neither the most casualties (the 501st has that dubious honor) nor did it have the most combat jumps (2 compared to the 511th's 5). Every one of the Camp Toccoa Regiments distinguished themselves over the course of the war and all deserve to be called heroes.

After the war, Camp Toccoa was closed (it had only been operational for 22 months!) and for a short time served as a youth prison camp. Today, the only remaining trace of the camp is a single structure which, according to the helpful folks at the museum, was likely the base P.O.X. The land is privately owned though recently there have been plans to develop a 'new' Camp Toccoa as a youth camp. In 1990 a small memorial was erected at the former entrance to the camp commemorating the regiments who trained here and their sacrifices over the course of the war. Also, the old trail up Currahee used by the young paratroopers has been dedicated the Colonel Robert Sink Memorial Trail who was the original commander of the 506th. It was to this trail I was headed on this glorious winter day, to retrace the steps of those men I had learned so much about in the previous years and to a small degree experience first hand (though I wouldn't be running or under the weight of a full pack!) what it was like to train here. "3 Miles Up, 3 Miles Down...Hi-Yo Silver!" let's go...

PS.

I discovered just before I left that one of the 'Camp Toccoa Boys' had passed away the previous day. There is now only one surviving veteran of Camp Toccoa.

Now more than ever, this place must be remembered...for once all those young men are gone we will be the only ones able to carry on and honor their memories...

Toccoa, GA Train Depot - Built in 1915, the train depot at Toccoa was where the paratroopers training began. Some of the lucky volunteers, after a long ride, got an immediate taste of things to come as they were instructed to grab their gear and proceed to march the five miles to camp. The old depot now houses the county and military museums...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
Entering the museum display area...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
One of the first displays you pass is a 'Band of Brothers' movie poster. The signatures were added by the veterans, above the actors who portray them in the film...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
Flash photography was prohibited in the museum so I was a bit limited as to the pictures I could take. Here you can see a mannequin dressed up in period paratroop garb. The case in front of him contains an original Camp Toccoa training T-shirt...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
This simple, sobering, display is dedicated to the men of Camp Toccoa who lost their lives in the war...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
The centerpiece of the museum is the Aldbourne Stable. Rediscovered on a farm in western England, the stable was deconstructed, transported, and then reassembled here in 2005. It has been confirmed that a number of paratroopers from Toccoa were actually housed in this building during the war. Most notably were David Webster and Denver "Bull" Randleman of Band of Brothers fame...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
One of the rooms in the stable has been decorated to appear as it did during the war...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
There was even this old foot locker with period items stored in it which, I thought, was a nice touch...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
Each of the other rooms is dedicated one of the Camp Toccoa regiments and contains numerous mementos from before, during, and after the war. This one, as you may have noticed, is the 506th PIR room...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
Currahee Mountain as viewed on my approach from the east. The name Currahee is a Cherokee word meaning 'stand alone'. This is appropriate as the peak sits rather conspicuously detached from the neighboring ridges to the north. During the war the paratroop trainees adopted the mountains name as their motto, along with the phrase "3 Miles Up, 3 Miles Down" in reference to the training runs they were required to do on it slopes. I was quite excited to have this opportunity to walk in their footsteps...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
Before heading up the mountain I stopped to pay my respects at the Camp Toccoa Airborne memorial which is just a short distance up the road from the trailhead. The simple memorial was dedicated by the remaining survivors of the camp in 1990. The simple marble monument in front details the cost each regiment paid in the war while the memorial walk beyond, in the shape of a deployed parachute, contains monuments to each individual regiment...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
The price paid by the men of Toccoa... The inscription reads: In honor of those who trained here 506th PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT 501st PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT 511th PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT 517th PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT 457th PARACHUTE FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION 506th - KIA: 509 MIA: 305 WOUNDED: 1735 501st - KIA: 517 MIA: 328 WOUNDED: 1639 511th - KIA: 211 MIA: 10 WOUNDED: 960 517th - KIA: 217 MIA: --- WOUNDED: 1178
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
506th Parachute Infantry Regiment Monument...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
517th Parachute Infantry Regiment Monument...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
501st Parachute Infantry Regiment Monument...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
511th Parachute Infantry Regiment Monument...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
The Colonel Robert Sink Memorial Trailhead...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
This nice plaque honors the service of Col. Robert Sink, first commander of the 506th PIR (the "Five-O-Sinks")...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
Well, here we go...3 miles up, 3 miles down...hi-yo silver!...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
The trail starts out climbing almost immediately. To the left in this shot is the only remaining structure from Camp Toccoa which, according to the folks at the museum, was likely a POX...
IMG 6726p World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
At the top of the first rise is an opening in the trees that provides a good look over the former grounds of Camp Toccoa...
IMG 6651p World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
Now for a little marching cadence inspired by 'Band of Brothers'... "We pull upon the risers..."
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
"We fall upon the grass..."
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
"We never land upon our feet..."
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
"We always hit our ass..."
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
"Hide tidee, Christ almighty..."
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
"Who the hell are we?..."
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
"Zim zam, goddamn!..."
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
"We're airborne infantry!"
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
Unlike what you might have seen on film you can't actually see Currahee from Camp Toccoa. It isn't until about halfway up the road that you get a good look at it through the trees...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
I can't be for certain on the age of this old home alongside the trail but it's a good bet it was witness to many airborne training marches once upon a time...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
Back to the march... "The eagle is our brother..."
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
"Symbol of our land..."
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
"When we go into battle..."
IMG 6666p World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
"He's there to lend a hand..."
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
"He gives us inspiration..."
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
"He gives us courage too..."
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
"Mess with our dear brother..."
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
"We're coming after you..."
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
"Hi-dee, di-tee, Christ Almighty, Who the hell are we? Wham, bamm, we're Uncle Sam's, Airborne Infantry!"
IMG 6678p World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
This was a brutal climb considering the size of the mountain. I quickly had to admit there's little hope that I will ever make a successful run to the top, walking was enough...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
Just beneath the summit the road switches back at a large rock outcrop with some amazing views to the east. Remembering, though, that Lt. Sobel would have had little patience for sightseeing on these marches I continued my climb saving the views for later...
IMG 6683p World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
The route doesn't let up a bit near the summit, if anything it gets steeper...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
A gap in the trees provided by these power lines gives about the only views you get from Currahee to the north and west...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
The end of the 3 Mile Up portion of the march finally is in sight...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
Back during the 1940's Currahee was a wooded summit that may have contained an old, abandoned fire lookout...things have changed a bit and, as so often is the case, not for the better...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
The last few steps to the top...
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial
Currahee Mountain Summit...1,874'
World War 2 Band of Brothers Camp Toccoa Easy Company 506th PIR 501st PIR 511th PIR 517th PIR Cherokee Blue Ridge paratrooper Army Currahee Military Museum Last Mountain military history museum Adlebourne Normandy Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Pacific Okinawa Speilburg Tom Hanks rock climbing hike memorial

dwhike

Currahee Mountain & Military Museum, GA (1-22-13)