WWI Centennial Talk: Howard Bartholf, “Camp Merritt, An American Portal to the Great War”

As part of the Museum’s World War I Centennial Lecture Series, on Sunday, Nov. 5, at 4 pm, historian and author Howard Bartholf will discuss the topic, “Camp Merritt, An American Portal to the Great War.“

Click here to reserve your spot for this lecture.

Every day, thousands of cars circumnavigate the traffic circle on the border of Cresskill and Dumont, NJ, around the 65-foot-tall monument marking the former site of Camp Merritt. The camp was rapidly built in 1917, on leased farmland, to serve as the largest of three nearby camps serving Hoboken’s port of embarkation.  More than a million soldiers and nurses transited the 770-acre camp assembled from surrounding farms and named for the distinguished Union Army General, Wesley Merritt. Among the many famous people who served there were future president Harry S. Truman; Sgt. Alvin C. York, the first World War’s most decorated veteran; young clerk/typist Arthur Godfrey, later one of the country’s most popular radio and TV personalities; baseball catcher Hank Gowdy, and notorious bootlegger and gangster Jack “Legs” Diamond, who spent time in Camp Merritt’s stockade. It was closed and decommissioned by 1920. 

Howard Bartholf was born in Hoboken in 1947, and grew up in Bergen County. He served in the United States Army from September 1965 until 1971, assigned to Fort Dix New Jersey; Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana; Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Fort Eustis, Virginia, and a year in the Republic of South Vietnam. In Vietnam, he was assigned to the 459^th Signal Battalion, 21^st Signal Group, 1^st Signal Brigade, earning the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm and the Meritorious Unit Citation. Bartholf is also a member and holder of the Order of the Silver Rose, which honors Vietnam Veterans exposed to and affected by Agent Orange. In October 2009, Bartholf was awarded the Bronze Order of Mercury by the United States Army Signal Corps Regimental Association and made an Honorary Member of the Regiment by order of the Secretary of the Army. 

Bartholf is a published author, with articles in “Vietnam Magazine” and in “On Point,” the Journal of the Army Historical Foundation, of which he is a member. He is also a member of the International Naval Research Organization (INRO), the Navy League, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and the 459^th Signal Battalion Association. In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors of the 1^st Signal Brigade Association and is a Charter Member of the National Museum of the United States Army. Bartholf served for six years as President of the battleship U.S.S. South Dakota Second Generation Group. By profession, he is a retired industrial sales engineer with over 43 years in the industrial, municipal and military marketplaces, now residing in Virginia.

Due to popular demand for our previous lecture series, advance reservations are strongly advised. Sign up by clicking the button below. Admission will be collected at the door, lectures are $10 ($5 for members); bus tours are $20 ($10 for members).

The lecture series is funded by a special project grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission.