Many areas of Dugway were renamed 60 years ago-- on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 1965 – to memorialize Army Veterans relating to what is now the Chemical Corps.
Prior to 1965, the administrative, technical, and residential areas were named after the World War II-era military phonetic alphabet: Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog, Easy, Fox.
The renaming honored individuals with distinguished service, including:
- Avery in honor of Brigadier General Ray Longfellow Avery (1884-1965) who served in France during World War I and then was detailed to the Chemical Warfare Service. Throughout World War II he served at Edgewood Arsenal and retired at the end of the war as the Commanding General of Edgewood.
- Baker in honor of Major General Walter Campbell Baker (1877-1957) served in many capacities in the Spanish American War and World War I. He commanded Edgewood Arsenal and the Chemical Warfare School. He retired as Chief of the Chemical Warfare Service and was then recalled to duty during World War II and served in the War Department.
- Carr in honor of Captain Gordon Weldon Carr (1931-1964) who was an artillery officer assigned to the test division at Dugway Proving Ground and who died from injuries sustained in a light aircraft crash near St. John on April 7, 1964. He is buried in the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.
- Ditto in honor of Brigadier General Rollo Curtin Ditto (1886-1947) who served with the 17th Infantry in France during World War I and after the war served in various positions of the Chemical Warfare Service. He was the first Commanding Officer of Huntsville Arsenal and oversaw its construction in the early part of World War II. He was then appointed the Assistant Chief of the Chemical Warfare Service for Materiel.
- English in honor of Brigadier General Paul Xavier English (1888-1964) who served in the Mexican Border Campaign, the Philippines, and the Panama Canal Zone. During World War II he was an assistant to the Chief of Chemical Warfare Service. He retired as the chief of staff of the 7th Service Command.
- Fries Park in honor of Major General Amos Alfred Fries (1873-1963) who began his service as an engineer and served in the Philippines. During World War I he was appointed Chief of Gas Service of the American Expeditionary Forces, later renamed the Chemical Warfare Service. After the war he served as Chief, Chemical Warfare Service.
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