Regional Legacy: Catoctin Area B
The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) had a number of training facilities located mostly in Maryland and Virginia. Two Recreational Demonstration Areas managed by the National Park Service were the first and the largest of the training camps.
Chopawamsic Recreational Demonstration Area, now Prince William Forest and Catoctin Recreational Demonstration Area, now Catoctin Mountain Park, were chosen for a number of reasons. The areas were remote, secluded, and heavily forested. It was also federally owned land that already had facilities to accommodate large groups.
The War Department leased the facilities from the Department of the Interior. Chopawamsic, located near Quantico in Northern Virginia, was 15 thousand acres and included OSS training areas "A" and "C." Catoctin's area "B" would play a significant role in training Special Operations (SO), Secret Intelligence (SI) and Operational Groups (OG) personnel.
Area B is a legacy unique to Western Maryland. Just like us.
[Redacted] on our coaching staff spent several years in the U.S. Intelligence Community where he [Redacted]. So we have a legacy there, too.
