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 USMC Sept 25, 1942 |
Location Camp Pendleton (Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton) is located in northern San Diego County in California in the United States of America (USA). Borders San Clemente to the north, Fallbrook to the east and Oceanside to the south. Between 1851 until 1923 the 133,400 acre Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores was located at this location. In 1923 became the 132,000 acre Santa Margarita Ranch (Rancho Santa Margarita) with 17 miles of coastline. Still in use today as Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Wartime History On March 10, 1942 the U.S. government purchased the Santa Margarita Ranch to develop into a training area for the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC). On March 23, 1942 the Secretary of Navy designated the new Marine Corps Training Area at Santa Margarita Ranch as Camp Joseph H. Pendleton for Major General Joseph H. Pendleton who had long advocated for a west coast training base for Marines and died earlier in the year. During April 1942, construction of a temporary facility began with wood frame buildings. On August 3, 1942 the base was officially authorized by the Secretary of the Navy. At the time, it was considered to be a temporary installation for wartime training purposes. During September 1942 the 9th Marine Regiment arrived as the first U.S. Marines stationed at the new base. On September 25, 1942 in the afternoon U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt arrives at Camp Pendleton by car with his sons John and James and their wives to offiicially dedicate the new camp. The visit begins with a U.S. flag raising ceremony attended by Mary Fay Pendleton, the widow of Major General Pendleton watches a U.S. flag raising ceremony, visits the Santa Margarita Ranch home and is presented a lariat (lasso) from ranch hand "Pancho" Brown. During World War II, expanded to include a landing craft school, amphibious tractor school, beach battalion school, amphibious communications school, Naval Construction Battalion (NCB) "Seabee" training center and a medical school and Naval Hospital at Santa Margarita Ranch (today Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton). By October 1944, Camp Pendleton was declared a permanent installation. At the end of World War II, also used as a discharge base for military personnel. Postwar During 1946, Camp Pendleton became the home base for the 1st Marine Division. During the Korean War, Camp Pendleton was expanded and upgraded including the construction of Camp Horno. On April 30, 1971 during the Vietnam War, U.S. President Richard M. Nixon welcomed 1st Marine Division back to Camp Pendleton. Today Known as Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. On a daily basis, roughly 100,000 work on the base. Today the original Santa Margarita Ranch home and the Las Flores Adobe are National Historic Sites. Camp Pendleton is home to The I Marine Expeditionary Force including the 1st Marine Division (1st MARDIV), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, 1st Marine Logistics Group, 11th, 13th and 15th Marine Expeditionary Units, the MEF Headquarters Group, 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade. Basilone Road A portion of I-5 is named "Basilone Road" in honor of Gy/Sgt John Basilone. World War II/Korea LVT Museum Located inside a Quonset hut-style building on Camp Pendleton References FindAGrave - MG Joseph Henry Pendleton (photo, grave photo) Franklin D. Roosevelt Day by Day - September 25, 1942 "2:25pm Camp Pendelton [sic] (New Marine Base)" Franklin D. Roosevelt Day by Day - September 1942 "President Roosevelt arrived at Douglas Aircraft Corp at Long Beach, CA., inspected it with Governor Olson. He was joined on board the train at 9:55 am by Lt. and Mrs. John Roosevelt and Mrs. James Roosevelt. They drove from San Juan Capistrano to Camp Pendleton, which he inspected and helped dedicate and place in commission. They then drove to San Diego, inspected the Naval Hospital, the Naval Training Station, the Marine Base and Consolidated Aircraft Corp." Oceanside Daily Blade-Tribune "President Dedicates Camp" October 1, 1942 page 1 California State Parks - Santa Margarita Ranch House California State Parks - Las Flores Adobe Camp Pendleton Historical Society - World War II/Korea LVT Museum Camp Pendleton Historical Society Groundbreaker "Dedication of Camp Joseph H. Pendleton" Vol 16, No. 2 2022 [PDF] Contribute Information Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated March 23, 2026 |
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