Between 1942 and 1944, Brisbane hosted one of the most significant concentrations of U.S. military personnel in the Pacific Theatre. Central to this presence was Camp Columbia at Wacol—home to 5,000 troops and headquarters for the U.S. Sixth Army under Lt. Gen. Walter Krueger. From here, key campaigns across New Guinea and the Philippines were coordinated in support of General Douglas MacArthur’s wider strategy.
Camp Columbia included barracks, hospitals (including one for African American troops), training facilities, and logistical infrastructure. It was part of a wider American network in the region that included bases at Eagle Farm, Doomben, and Yeronga.
The American presence brought cultural exchange as well as tension—culminating in incidents like the 1942 “Battle of Brisbane.” Nonetheless, this period established strong military ties between Australia and the United States, a legacy still felt today.