“The 1919 Army Convoy & the Interstate Highway System" at the German American Heritage Center -- July 27.
Sunday, July 27, 2 p.m.
German American Heritage Center, 712 West Second Street, Davenport IA
Offered as part of the Davenport venue's popular “Kaffee und Kuchen” series, the German American Center's engaging July 27 program The 1919 Army Convoy & the Interstate Highway System will find presenter George Eaton speaking on the "Truck Train" of the U.S. Army Motor Transport Corps that drove more than 3,000 miles from Washington, D.C. to Oakland, California.
The 1919 Motor Transport Corps convoy was a "Truck Train" of the U.S. Army Motor Transport Corps that drove more than 3,000 miles from Washington, D.C. (departing July 7 and arriving September 6), to Oakland, California, and ferried to San Francisco. In addition to 230 road incidents (stops for adjustments, extrications, breakdowns, and accidents) resulting in nine vehicles retiring, the convoy of 24 expeditionary officers, 15 War Department staff observation officers (e.g., Bvt Lt Col Dwight D. Eisenhower of the Tank Corps), and 258 enlisted men had 21 injured en route who did not complete the trip.
The route taken by the convoy began at the Zero Milestone in Washington, D.C., and the convoy proceeded to Gettysburg, where it met up with the Lincoln Highway. They then followed the Lincoln Highway all the way to San Francisco. The convoy broke and repaired 88 wooden bridges in Wyoming, and practically all roadways were unpaved from Illinois through Nevada. The convoy logged 3,250 miles in 573.5 hours, and six rest days without convoy travel were used. Convoy delays required extra encampments and, at Oakland, California, the convoy was seven days behind schedule, ferrying the next morning on the last travel day.
Program presenter George Eaton is a Quad Cities area military historian who has developed a deep interest, appreciation, and understanding of the role of Rock Island Arsenal in supporting the Army for more than 150 years. In his dozen years in the community, Eaton has worked tirelessly to tell the story of the arsenal and encourage tourism at Arsenal Island.
The 1919 Army Convoy & the Interstate Highway System will be presented at Davenport's German American Heritage Center on July 27, with refreshments for this “Kaffee und Kuchen” event served at 1:30 p.m. and George Eaton's program beginning at 2 p.m. Participation is free for Heritage Center members and $8 for non-members, and more information is available by calling (563)322-8844 and visiting GAHC.org.
