Camp Barkeley was one of the United States Army’s largest training installations during World War II, located southwest of Abilene, Texas, near what is now Dyess Air Force Base. Named for World War I Medal of Honor recipient David B. Barkley, the camp covered 70,229 acres and reached a peak population of 50,000. Construction began in December 1940 and was completed in July 1941, and before completion the 19,000-man 45th Infantry Division had begun to occupy the camp. Other units trained there included the 11th Armored Division and the 12th Armored Division. The Medical Administrative Officer Candidate School was established at Barkeley in May 1942, and on February 1, 1944, the 1846th Unit POW Camp was activated there. At its peak in March 1945, the POW camp held 840 German prisoners. Camp Barkeley officially closed in September 1945 and was dismantled, and because the land had been leased, it reverted to the original landowners. Today, only the original concrete roads remain at the site.