Camp Dawson is a West Virginia Army National Guard facility in Preston County, West Virginia, USA. Camp Dawson was established on May 7, 1909 when the West Virginia Legislature authorized the purchase of of land on Dunkard Bottom along the Cheat River. The camp was named in honor of William M. O. Dawson, a native of Preston County, who had served as governor of the state from 1905-1908. Troops first trained at Camp Dawson during that summer and continued until the entry of the U.S. into World War I in 1917. The camp was not used again until 1928 when it was reestablished as a training site for the West Virginia State Militia. Units trained regularly at the camp until the outbreak of World War II at which time the state government leased the camp for use as a prisoner of war facility.