In 1942 with the world at war, the United States government acquired a mountain and the surrounding land in Toccoa, GA as a training facility for a new type of soldier, the paratrooper. Young men from across the nation who had little in common except a shared future, descended on the small north Georgia town to train to defend their country...
In 1942 with the world at war, the United States government acquired a mountain and the surrounding land in Toccoa, GA as a training facility for a new type of soldier, the paratrooper. Young men from across the nation who had little in common except a shared future, descended on the small north Georgia town to train to defend their country.
To honor the men of at Camp Toccoa and as a show of appreciation for the sacrifices they made, the 6th Annual Currahee Military Weekend and Reunion is planned for the weekend of Oct. 3-5. The event is hosted by The Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce and the Stephens County Historical Society.
It is estimated that as many as 17,000 soldiers from the 501st, 506th, 511th, 517th Parachute Infantry Regiments trained at Camp Toccoa during WWII. With the paratrooper population being greater than the town’s population, one can imagine the impact of the soldiers on the community. The once sleepy town was now a booming military town and quickly became a regional financial, medical and transportation hub for northeast Georgia. Camp Toccoa reshaped the town and the soldiers training there ultimately became the inspiration for the Home Box Office mini-series The Band of Brothers, movies Saving Private Ryan and The Dirty Dozen as well as the History Channel’s Los Banos Prison Raid.
“We hope the paratroopers who trained at Camp Toccoa and their families will come back to Toccoa for the reunion and reminisce about their experiences with their friends who shared this very significant time in their lives,” says Brenda Carlan, Historical Society Executive Director.
Chamber of Commerce President, Wendi Bailey, says the military weekend is one of the most important annual events for the town. “There are a number of activities planned in conjunction with the reunion. Visitors can meet some of the paratroopers who trained at Camp Toccoa and listen to their stories. Guests can also visit the Currahee Military Museum and walk through the actual stable that housed some of the soldiers while they were fighting in Aldbourne, England; run or walk in the Currahee Challenge, a three-mile course that takes participants up and back down Currahee Mountain which served as the paratroopers’ base camp and training facility; see an assortment of military vehicles, ride in a vintage WWII aircraft, experience a WWII camp site and living history exhibits. There will be something for kids of all ages!”
The majority of the weekend’s events will take place in close proximity to the historic district of downtown Toccoa where the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce and Welcome Center, the Historical Society and Currahee Military Museum are all housed in a restored train depot. “This event is a great opportunity to showcase the progress of our downtown revitalization as well as thank the downtown merchants and restaurants for being there,” said Main Street Events Coordinator, Sharon Crosby. “We are also thrilled to feature the second t-shirt design of Currahee Mountain created by local artist Carl Fennell exclusively for the 2008 Currahee Military Weekend.”
Scheduled events include a book signing with Jake McNiece author of The Filthy 13, a WWII paratrooper novel, The Currahee Challenge Run/Walk, a bar-be-que, a patriotic musical review and a banquet. There will also be weapons and battle demonstrations at the previous location of Camp Toccoa, a memorabilia show and sale with items from the Civil War, Indian Wars, WWI, WWII and the Vietnam War. Vintage military vehicles will also be on display.
The Currahee Military Weekend serves to honor the veterans who trained at Camp Toccoa and to celebrate their commitment to America. The event is also a celebration of Toccoa’s rich military history. For additional information contact Currahee Military Museum at 706-282-5055 or the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce at 706-886-2132.
6th Annual Currahee Military Weekend Schedule of Events
Times are subject to change:
Thursday, October 2
10:00am–6:00pm: Museum Open, Registration, Train Depot, Mitchell Allen Conference Room
Friday, October 3:
10:00am–6:00pm: Museum Open, Registration, Train Depot, Mitchell Allen Conference Room
10:00am–9:00pm: Hospitality Suite for registered guests only.
11:30am–1:30pm: Chicken BBQ Lunch at the Toccoa First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, $7 per plate, benefiting the Chamber of Commerce. Local businesses are encouraged to pre-order plates for their employees by Friday, September 26th and if 10 or more plates are ordered they will be delivered to their worksite. Individuals can purchase tickets at the Chamber or at the door for eat-in or take-out.
1:00pm–4:00pm: Book Signing downtown at Ash-ling Booksellers. Come meet WWII veteran authors: Jake McNiece, author of The Filthy 13 about the paratroopers of WWII and Everett Bullard, author of the Little One and His Guardian Angel.
7:30pm: Toccoa-Stephens County Community Theater presents songs from the 1940’s “A Star Spangled Review” at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center.
Saturday, October 4:
10:00am–1:00pm: Registration, Train Depot, Mitchell Allen Room. Hospitality Suite for registered guests only.
10:00am–5:00pm: Museum Open, Train Depot
7:00am: Day of Registration for the Currahee Challenge Run/Walk: 1 Mile at 7:45am, 3 Mile at 8am, and 6 Mile at 8:30am. Come run the infamous Currahee Mountain trail, “3 miles up and 3 miles down,” that served as part of the rigorous basic training where the men were hardened to become battle-ready paratroopers.
10:00am-1:00pm: World War II Re-enactors will offer “living history” presentations, and weapons and battle demonstrations at Old Camp Toccoa. (Subject to re-enactor availability.)
10:00am–5:00pm: Memorabilia Show & Sale, downtown on Sage St. Over forty tables of military arms and memorabilia of the Civil War, Indian Wars, WWI, WWII, Vietnam and more.
10:00am–5:00pm: Military displays, vintage military vehicles, inflatables for kids downtown.
12:00pm: Toccoa Falls College Brass Band on Doyle St.
3:00pm: North Georgia College and State University Blue Ridge Rifles presentation at Sage and Doyle.
10:00am-5:00pm: Commemorative Air Force, Dixie Wing WWII fighter planes at the Stephens County Airport.
7:00pm: Banquet and Auction at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center featuring special guest and speaker Colonel Ed Shames of Easy Company, a Camp Toccoa Veteran. A fundraiser auction benefiting the TSC Historical Society will follow the dinner.
Sunday, October 5:
8:30am: Remembrance Service with Dr. Ken Freshour. Meet at the Parachute Infantry Regimen Memorial, Currahee Mountain. Take highway 123 to the Patterson Pump and Milliken-Humphrey plants.
10:00am–4:00pm: Museum Open
This is a community-wide collaboration and celebration of Toccoa’s rich military history. The event would not be possible without broad support from our sponsors, volunteers and Civic Clubs including the Pilot and Anchor Clubs, Rotary, American Legion, the VFW Post 4346, Elks Lodge 1820, Toccoa YMCA and Boy Scouts of America. The Historical Society and the Chamber are grateful for the energy and enthusiasm from everyone involved. A special thank you goes to our major sponsors: Acree Davis Funeral Home, Stephens Federal Bank, Acree Oil, First Citizens, Georgia Baptist Conference Center, Stephens County Middle School, Dr. Ken Schneider, Quincy’s of Toccoa and the law firm of McClure, Ramsay, Dickerson & Escoe, Frames & Things, Toccoa Clinic, Stephens County Hospital, Eaton Corporation.