Camp O ' Ryan Camp O ' Ryan , a former New York United States National Guard training area , also known as the North Java Rifle Range and the Wethersfield Rifle Range , located east of North Java , in the Town of Wethersfield , in the County of Wyoming in New York State . History . Camp O ' Ryan , which was opened in late 1949 or early 1950 , was initially called the Wethersfield training area . It was designed for the New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs by the Army Corps of Engineers , and was almost completely built by the end of 1949 . The New York National Guard was the primary occupant , but it has also been used by the Naval Militia , the Army Reserves , Air Force and the New York State Police . It was later renamed Camp O ’ Ryan in honor of Major General John F . O ' Ryan at a dedication ceremony on June 7 , 1952 , with General O ' Ryan in attendance . Major General Karl F . Hausauer , chief - of - staff to Governor Thomas E . Dewey and commanding general of the NYNG spoke at the occasion . He described the Wethersfield camp at that time as " the home grounds of the present 27th Infantry Division . " He then read a letter from Governor Dewey which said in part " I know that your name — given to this New York National Guard camp — will serve to keep those soldierly qualities which you represent forever present in the minds of all the young and patriotic citizen - soldiers who will train here through future years . " Also in attendance was the First Battalion of the 174th Infantry Regiment , the 27th Infantry Division Military Police Company , the 27th Infantry Division Band , as well as Brig . Gen . William H . Kelly , vice chief - of - staff to the governor and state adjutant general , Brig . Gen . Hampton A . Anderson , deputy vice chief - of - staff to the governor , Brig . Gen . Gerard W . Kelley , chief - of - staff , headquarters , NYNG , and Brig . Gen . Alfred H . Doud , commander 105th Anti - aircraft Artillery Brigade . During the Korean and Vietnam Wars , the use of Camp O ' Ryan increased as many National Guardsmen trained at the site . A multipage article in the Buffalo Courier - Express , run on November 10 , 1968 , depicted some of the training done at this camp . This included rifle target practice as well as pistol training . Training there ceased in 1974 , although may have been used by other agencies as late as the mid - 1980s . Originally a rifle range , it was later expanded for wider activities over the following years . The property was owned by Edward N . George Jr . ( a . k . a . Ed Don George ) , wrestler , promoter , and naval commander . He leased it to the Federal Government for 25 years almost immediately after purchasing the property from Charles R . Greenan in 1949 . Environmental concerns . Photographs of this site indicate there was an active burial site of approximately 200 by in the mid - 1950s through the mid - 1960s . In addition to these alleged burial sites , the 1954 aerial photograph shows the remnants of some type of construction , possibly a tank driving course , of approximately in width and in length . Besides the alleged burials , from expended ammunition is still present at the abandoned rifle range as of Spring 2007 . It is possible this waste has contaminated local water supplies but this has not been documented . The Corps of Engineers ' ( New York ) District were unable to locate the engineering and architectural plans for the camp in response to a freedom of information act request . The plans were produced by the Corps of Engineers ' ( New York ) District Engineer in 1949 .