Answering the call of Duty

1917 The September 21 edition of The Volusia County Record featured an article, Volusia's Select On Way to Camp Jackson. "The main body of Volusia's selects for the federal army are now on their way to Camp Jackson, Columbia, S. C." The article informed readers of the men who left on September 19 and 20, and listed the names of other West Volusians, including a number of Black American men, who had been certified and were waiting for orders to Camp Jackson or another base. Recruits from West Volusia towns large and small were called to serve. Camp Jackson, now called Fort Jackson, had just opened in June 1917, shortly after the United States declared war on Germany. The situation in Europe was becoming dire, and American soldiers were quickly recruited and trained for battle. The DeLand Memorial Hospital on North Stone Street was later named in honor of local WWI servicemen. A Memorial Wall that lists the names of these brave men stands in front of the same building, now called The DeLand Memorial Hospital and Veterans Museum. 

Resource: Volusia County Record digital archives at DeLand Public Library. The 1917 photo shows local Doughboys on the march.