In my innocence of youth, I felt the land was my own. Little did I know, I was walking through the same foothills and fields as fifty-two thousand soldiers had as they rushed through the area and camped on my great-grandparents land during the 1939 military maneuvers-the largest peacetime war readiness games in history.

The Soldier's Arrival

Maneuvers soon became the center for military preparation efforts that had

been growing in anticipation of the second world war. As political pressure among nations increased, government officials began drills in an effort to prepare national soldiers for another possible world war. Clinton County served as a key geographic area for military activity in the past, and was once again chosen for the location because of similar geographic attributes and weather as in Eastern Europe.

During the dry heat of the Adirondacks in late August, soldiers began arriving to Plattsburgh by train every twenty minutes. Clinton County soon contained over fifty thousand soldiers within a few days. By the weeks end, there were fourteen thousand regular army soldiers and over thirty-eight thousand National Guardsmen-members of the United States First Army. The City of Plattsburgh soon established a 9:30 p.m. curfew and hired additional policemen to prepare for the start of the games. The army contributed a dozen military police to assist with efforts to maintain order in the small town.

In addition to the large number of men rushing to the area, the military sent five hundred machinery pieces to complete the maneuvers. The machinery filled the local streets with frequent military convoys and became the center of attention for locals at the Open House a few days later. During the Open House, local residents were able to visit with soldiers and view the equipment.

The troops quickly spread across Clinton County from Plattsburgh and Morrisonville, to Blackbrook and Malone. The military created many tent cities across the county, while other enlisted men camped on land with permission from local farmers.

“Tents are springing up like mushrooms on level farmlands in the foothills of the Adirondacks,” said one Plattsburgh Press Republican article.

As the soldiers began the move across county, so did foreign dignitaries and national officials. Over five hundred members of the media also made the trek to the Adirondacks to cover the games.

The war games are now the largest peacetime war games on record in United States history.

Human Losses of the Games

Despite the increased safety measures taken by local officials and the military, the maneuvers ended with losses for both civilians and enlisted men. One soldier died in a traffic accident on the way to the games and another two perished in a plane crash on their way to Plattsburgh. Four more soldiers died in an automobile accident in Cadyville during the maneuvers. The only maneuver-related deaths occurred when four soldiers were struck by lightening during action, as they crouched under a tree to escape Mother Nature's wrath.

The maneuvers included a variety of basic combat training including target practice, trench digging, and survival training. The military focused on providing the First Army soldiers with the basic skills of shooting, defense, and survival training.

“They did a lot of things while they were here,” explained Ken Wray, a local resident and eleven year volunteer at the Clinton County Historical Museum. “They practiced digging trenches and shooting to improve their skills. I've seen proof of them at the old rifle range near Macomb Park.”

The soldiers packed up for home and left as swiftly as they had arrived. Within days of the final games, the roads and farms cleared out-with the exception of a few forgotten equipment pieces. In addition to leftover bunkers, some locals found abandoned firearm shell casings. Unbeknownst to them, some of the ammunition was still active.

“I remember when I was younger, my father always told us not to touch anything that looked like old ammunition,” said Andy Guynup, my father, who had grown up in Cadyville.

“I think there are still about eight or nine leftover bunkers throughout the area. They look just like the old German bunkers.”

The only civilian injury came after the games had completed; when a fourteen year old boy from Saranac found a live piece of ammunition. As the boy ran home to show his newly found treasure, the cartridge exploded, causing severe injuries. At the time, doctors expected the boy to live, assuming severe infection didn't set in.

Today, many locals still reminisce about the war games, while others drive through the streets of Plattsburgh clueless that the small town was once flooded with thousands of soldiers.

Have you found any relics from the maneuvers?

Brief History of other military activity in Clinton County:

-Battle of Valcour: In 1776, Lake Champlain became the center of military activity. Benedict Arnold led his fleet through the passageway between Vermont and New York. The battle against the British has made its mark on our local history.

-Battle of Plattsburgh in 1814: The Battle of Plattsburgh was the biggest naval warfare activity on Lake Champlain. The French and British continued their fight over the growing American nation. In addition to the later battle on the shores of the lake, Plattsburgh had become a key military point at the beginning of the War of 1812.

-Plattsburgh Air Force Base: The base was established based on the regions key role in military history. Throughout its existing years the base played an important role in national military efforts. Officers and officials actively participated in several military activities, including Operation Desert Storm and Operation Deny Flight in 1994.

Hidden Missile Silos in the Adirondacks:

Scattered throughout the Adirondacks are several old missile silos. Built during the period of tension in the late 1960s and 1970s, these silos were often hidden from plain view. Officials built the silos in the surrounding areas of the old Plattsburgh Air Force Base, as a preventive measure in case of an attack. For safety purposes, it was safer for the communities to have additional security measures established in case of an attack on the base. The silos allowed a longer distance defense system to help protect the Northeast.

One of the nine estimated missile silos that still exist is hidden underground in the bottom floor of a residential home on the Standish Road in Redford, New York. Homeowners have since remodeled the home, but the silo remains hidden behind a closed door. Today, all that remains of the old missile silo is a rusty, metal set of winding stairs that goes down into a deep, empty black hole.