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My newest book “A Snapshot of Kinston & Lenoir County During WWII” is scheduled for release on Friday May 3, 2024. The book debut will be celebrated with a book signing and WWII display, featuring some Kinston/Lenoir County specific photos and memorabilia. My 1943 WWII Jeep will be on display outside the Queen Street Deli, where the debut events will be centered. I’m also hoping to arrange a couple of WWII “soldiers” to dress out and add a little ambiance to the day’s activities. Plans are still tentative and could change due to publishing demands; such as final edits, etc.

6:00 PM… Queen Street Deli… I will be addressing the local Civil War Roundtable on Tuesday Feb. 27. My topics will be various aspects of “A Snapshot of Kinston & Lenoir County During the Civil War.” Slavery, free blacks, women and social changes on the late-war home front will all be discussed in a 30 minute PowerPoint presentation.

Thursday Feb. 8- Missiles and More Museum, Topsail Beach, NC

I will be addressing the Topsail Island Historical Society on Thursday Feb. 8 @ 11:00 am. My topic will be Camp Davis, the installation’s basic history, with a focus on new research and discoveries concerning the military base. Topics will construction delays caused by a labor strike, secret weapons and technology, 54th Coast Artillery Regiment, Artist Romare Beardon, and new information on the disposition of base chapels.

Saturday March 2, 2024

Join us for a first-time, unique experience in downtown Kinston on Saturday March 2. Kinston, one of the oldest towns in Eastern NC, has a fascinating history ranging from the Revolutionary War to the 20th Century (WWII). A group of historians, including me, will be conducting a walking tour of downtown Kinston along Queen Street with discussions of various businesses, infrastructure development, and architecture…and we’ll enter several of the buildings as never done before. The tour cost includes lunch and a special presentation by me on my new book on WWII in Kinston and Lenoir County. (anyone with mobility issues, there are accommodations planned.)

My new book entitled “A Snapshot of Kinston & Lenoir Country During WWII” is now scheduled for a release date of Saturday March 2, 2024! The release of the book will coincide with a talk and book signing at the CSS Neuse State Historic Site in downtown Kinston that day. I will also be assisting with the first ever walking architectural tours of downtown Kinston. Contact the CSS Neuse State Historic site for more information!

For more information on the event, contact Rachel Kennedy at the CSS Neuse:

rachel.kennedy@dncr.nc.gov

Prototype cover of the new book!

I am currently researching Kinston & Lenoir County, NC during World War II. I’ve been utilizing microfilmed copies of the “Kinston Daily Free Press,” Lenoir County’s daily newspaper during the war. I’ve also been perusing records at the National Archives, both in Washington, DC and Atlanta, GA., in addition to records at the NC State Archives, Search Rm. When time and schedule permit, I have also begun interviewing Lenoir County citizens who lived during that period. Be on the lookout for upcoming articles and a book on this subject matter.

WWII-era train & bus station in Kinston. This structure no longer exists.

April 8, 2023: Despite poor weather, the long-planned event commemorating the 82nd anniversary of the Opening of WWII Camp Davis was a successful & fun day! Heavy rain forced the relocation of the event into the Holly Ridge Volunteer Fire Dept. Bldg, which was adjacent to the outside areas planned for the living history displays. Volunteers set up their displays, exhibits, and even two WWII jeeps inside the Fire Dept. Many thanks to the HRVFD who made our “plan B” successful! The HRVFD held a hot dog lunch as a fund raiser and the event planners coordinated with the firefighters for all volunteers to enjoy a complimentary lunch. The weather, though miserable, really did not hamper visitation as between 400-500 people stopped by and perused the many great displays featuring uniformed WWII living history reenactors. Besides Antiaircraft troops, WACs (Women’s Army Corps) and British troops were represented. The Topsail Island Historical Society set up an exhibit on the WASPs. Two WWII jeeps were also placed in the fire department for visitors to enjoy. Terrible weather-great program! A sincere “thank you” to all the volunteers who made this special day a success!

BIG News! Mark your calendars! A big event commemorating the 82nd anniversary of the “opening” of Camp Davis is being organized as you read this post. The event will be a living history “encampment” along Highway US 17, in front of the Holly Ridge Fire Dept., which is within the original confines of WWII Camp Davis; featuring WWII reenactors, vehicles, tents, displays and exhibits. We hope to relate as much Camp Davis history as possible; including the role of WACs (Womens Army Corps), WASPs (Womens Air Force Service Pilots), civilian construction & base personal, African American soldiers, US Marine Corps, etc…

We are hoping to recruit as many WWII military vehicles as possible for a series of convoys through Holly Ridge during the day of April 8. The event will also feature short Powerpoint lectures on Camp Davis and self-guided driving & walking tours. This the first time that an event of this scope has been planned for Camp Davis and uniquely we are having all activities within the camp’s original boundaries in present-day Holly Ridge.

If you’re interested in attending the program as a living history soldier or if you own a WWII military vehicle or 1930s civilian vehicle, please contact us via this website’s contact information. This is going to be a unique program honoring one of America’s most fascinating WWII US Army training camps and we’d love for you to participate!