Camp Bouse

The 526th A.I.B.

Canal Defense Light Project Desert Training Center California-Arizona Maneuver Area Camp Bouse was established in Butler Valley 30 miles behind this momument in Sept of 1943. It was one of twelve such camps built in the southwestern deserts to harden and train United States troops for service in the battlefields of World War II. The desert training center was a simulated theater of operations that included portions of california and Arizona. The other camps were Young, Coxcomb, Granite, Iron Mountain, Ibis, Clipper, Pilot Knob, Laguna, Horn, Hyder and Rice. Camp Bouse was the home of the 9th Tank Group which consisted of six tank battalions, one armored infantry battalion, an ordinance company and a station hospital. The group trained in absolute secrecy mainly at night, the light device consisted of a high powered search light, mounted in an armored housing on a tank. Its purpose was to temporarily blind the enemy at night. The role of the 526th infantry was to defend the operation of the CD tanks and attack if security of the tanks was being threatened. The 526th AIB was separated from the 9th Tank Group in France, August 1944 and was assigned to the 12th Army Group HDQ under command of Gen. Omar Bradley, "C" company became a security unit for Gen Bradley in Luxembourg. The remainder of the Battalion was heavily involved during the Battle of the Bulge, fighting the enemy in the Belgian towns of Trois-Ponts, Stavelot, Malmedy, Hedomont, Bougnee, and Geromont. After the Bulge and until VE Day the 526th became part of "T" Force. The purpose of the "T" Force Missions were to seize, safeguard and process enemy documents, archives and material of intelligence or counter-intelligence and capture enemy agents, military officers and key collaborators. This monument is dedicated to all the soldiers that served here and especially for those who gave their lives in battle, ending the Holocaust & defeating the armed forces of Nazi Germany. Plaque placed by the Lost Dutchman, Billy Holcomb, John P. Squibob Chapters, of the Ancient & Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus, the 526th Armored Infantry Battalion Assoc and in co-operation with the Bouse Chamber of Commerce. January 1th, 1997