World War 2 in Color: 16mm footage of 261st Coast Artillery at Fort DuPont in Delaware City

This video is 16mm film footage in color taken at Fort DuPont and surrounding area in 1941 by a member of the 261st Coast Artillery Battalion, Delaware Army National Guard. This digital copy of the original 16mm film was given to me by a descendant of the soldier, who served in the 261st during World War Two. It features the building of the cantonment barracks, which later served as housing for German POWs in 1944 and 1945. The footage also shows a baseball game at an unknown location and marching on the parade grounds at Fort DuPont. The area where soldiers are conducting war exercises is likely the dredge spoil area near the Finnegan farm, which is located across Port Penn Road, southwest from the main gate at Fort DuPont.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Delaware
• Army
• National
• Guard
• Military
• Soldiers
• Marching
• City
• WW2
• WWII
• World
• War
• II
• 1941
• 16mm
• vintage
• film

[Comopegarletanto]

Thanks for this video,,my respect for this men who lived and died for their cause.

[destihado1]

@snakemanmike iraqi freedom... lol!

[snakemanmike]

I spent 30 years in the Army, from Vietnam to Iraqi Freedom. I can relate to these young men, living in the prime of their lives, the joy of youth and good health. I also wonder how many of them lost their lives in their youth, never to know the melancholy happiness of old age, grandchildren, and the passing of the torch. Thanks for publishing this video of this small forgotten snapshot of a forgotten moment in time.

[youknowyouright1]

These men were key to our harbor's defenses. Thats why my ww2 impression is Coast Artillery. God bless these men and may their souls rest peacefully knowing how stellar a job they did.

[vincent7520]

what a good time those men seemed to have : that was before serious things started to happen