Marker Inscription
(3.5 mi. S) A prisoner of war camp, used primarily for Italian soldiers, was in operation near this site during World War II. Known as the Hereford Military Reservation and Reception Center, it was first used in 1943 for prisoners captured in an invasion of North Africa. Many of the approximately 7000 Italian soldiers imprisoned here became friends with local residents and with American troops. Since the war, some have returned for visits and others have settled in the region. The camp chapel, constructed by the prisoners, is the only building remaining at the site. (1982)
About this site
Prisoner of War Camp Chapel is a historical marker in Hereford, Deaf Smith County, dedicated in 1982. It is one of 15 historical markers documented in Deaf Smith County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 20 historic sites cataloged across the county.
The site sits at 34.7977, -102.4230 near Hereford. The nearest cataloged historic site is Town Without a Toothache (historical marker), about 1.6 miles away. Others within a short drive include The E.B. Black Residence, Black, E. B., House, and West Park.
This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5117004123. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.
