Camp O'Donnell | |
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Sta. Lucia, Capas, Tarlac, Philippines | |
Type | Military base |
Site information | |
Controlled by | Philippines |
Site history | |
Built | 1941 |
In use | 1941–present |
Materials | Concrete and Metal |
Battles/wars | |
Garrison information | |
Garrison |
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Camp O'Donnell is a current military base and former United States military reservation in the Philippines located on Luzon island in the municipality of Capas in Tarlac. It housed the Philippine Army's newly created 71st Division and after the Americans' return, a United States Army camp. During World War II, the reservation was used as a prisoner-of-war camp for Filipino and American soldiers captured by Japan during its successful invasion of the Philippines. About 60,000 Filipino and 9,000 Americans were housed at the camp. During the few months in 1942 that Camp O'Donnell was used as a prisoner-of-war camp, about 20,000 Filipinos and 1,500 Americans died there of disease, starvation, neglect, and brutality.[1][2]
After World War II, it became a base of the United States Air Force and the location of the U.S. Naval Radio Station, Tarlac, with the Philippine Army installation occupying its eastern side. It housed the Training Command's Philippine Army Officer Candidate School, NCO Academy, and Headquarters Service Battalion.[3]