Fort Barfoot (Blackstone, Virginia)

Blackstone · Virginia · World War II

Quick BriefEstablished in 1942 near Blackstone, Virginia, this Army installation was originally built on land purchased from a former Civilian Conservation Corps camp spanning four Virginia counties. The 79th Infantry Division was based at Camp Pickett, and multiple divisions—including the 3rd Infantry, 3rd Armored, and the 28th through 78th divisions—trained here before deployment to Europe and the Pacific.

Active base today

History & Significance

Camp Pickett was created in 1942 on a site near Blackstone, Virginia, comprising over 40,000 acres across Nottoway, Dinwiddie, Lunenburg, and Brunswick counties. The Army constructed 1,000 barracks and supporting infrastructure for enlisted soldiers.

In January 1942, less than one month after the United States declared war on Japan and Germany, the federal government ordered the construction of the camp. The facility trained multiple major units, including the 79th Infantry Division and divisions numbered 3rd, 28th, 31st, 45th, 77th, and 78th, which deployed to Europe and New Guinea.

A Medical Replacement Training Center operated on-post, converting barracks into medical wards that held up to 2,700 beds for returning wounded soldiers, plus four dental clinics. After the North Africa campaign, approximately 6,000 German prisoners of war were held at Camp Pickett following the war's end.

The Blackstone Army Airfield was completed in late 1942 with four runways capable of accommodating the Douglas C-47 transport aircraft. The Virginia National Guard Maneuver Training Center was organized and stationed at Pickett in 1961 to store and maintain equipment for visiting units. The regular Army garrison was inactivated in 1997, with the Virginia National Guard assuming full control of the post.