Camp Roberts is a California National Guard post in central
California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the ...
, located on both sides of the
Salinas River in
Monterey
Monterey (; es, Monterrey; Ohlone: ) is a city located in Monterey County on the southern edge of Monterey Bay on the U.S. state of California's Central Coast. Founded on June 3, 1770, it functioned as the capital of Alta California under bo ...
and
San Luis Obispo counties,
now run by the
California Army National Guard
The California Army National Guard (CA ARNG) is one of three components of the California National Guard, a reserve of the United States Army, and part of the National Guard of the United States. The California Army National Guard is composed ...
. It was opened in 1941 and is named after Corporal
Harold W. Roberts, a
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor ...
recipient.
Nearby communities include
San Miguel, Heritage Ranch (
Lake Nacimiento
Lake Nacimiento is an long lake on the Nacimiento River in northern San Luis Obispo County, California. The lake contains many arms including Snake Creek and Dip Creek, nearer the dam, and the central Las Tablas and Franklin Creeks.
Due to th ...
), Oak Shores (Lake Nacimiento), and
Bradley, all unincorporated. The nearest incorporated city is
Paso Robles
Paso Robles ( ), officially El Paso de Robles (Spanish language, Spanish for "The Pass of Oaks"), is a city in San Luis Obispo County, California, San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. Located on the Salinas River (California), Sal ...
. Camp Roberts is roughly southeast of
Fort Hunter Liggett.
Camp Roberts is host to annual training for California Army National Guard units and the
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gur ...
.
As of 2014, Camp Roberts is undergoing major renovations, including demolition of World War II-era barracks. Demolition of the World War II-era structures facing
US Route 101
U.S. Route 101, or U.S. Highway 101 (US 101), is a north–south United States Numbered Highway that runs through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, on the West Coast of the United States. It is also known as (The Royal Roa ...
began in 2012. To contain the hazardous materials from the demolished barracks, a large hazardous waste landfill was created.
History
Under the leadership Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Martson the camp was built is 1940, as a
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
training center. At its peak it housed 45,000 troops in 1945. The camp opened as the Camp Nacimiento Replacement Training Center, but the name was changed, to honor Corporal
Harold W. Roberts, a tank driver in
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...
who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. For World War II 436,000 Infantry and Field Artillery troops were trained at the camp. Camp Roberts was one of the largest training camps during World War II. At the camp a 750 bed Army hospital was built to serve the troops. The camp also held
prisoners of war
A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held Captivity, captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610.
Belligerents hold priso ...
. German and Italian prisoners of war were held at the camp during WW2. Italian prisoners of war were given the option to volunteer to work in special
Italian Service Unit
The Italian Service Units or ISUs were military units composed of Italian prisoners of war (POWs) that served with the Allies during World War II against Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan from May 1944 to October 1945. The armed forces of the Un ...
and work at Camp Roberts' 10th Italian Quartermaster Service Company. After the war the camp was inactive, but for the few National Guard and Army Reserve troops that used it for summer training. In 1950 for the
Korean War
{{Infobox military conflict
, conflict = Korean War
, partof = the Cold War and the Korean conflict
, image = Korean War Montage 2.png
, image_size = 300px
, caption = Clockwise from top: ...
the camp became active again. After the Korean War the camp was inactive again. The US Army's Combat Development Experimental Command began to operate the camp for weapons testing. The US Navy used the vast camp training gunners with live fire. In April 1970 the US Army closed the army camp. The camp was turned over to the California National Guard in 1971 for a training center.
*Camp Roberts Historical Museum is on the base.
* From 1955 to 1990 at the US Army operated Camp Roberts Main Army Airfield. This was a single northwest/southeast paved runway and a control tower. The runway was on the southeast side of the Camp Roberts parade ground. The runway today is vacant, has one building left on it and is partly used for a parking lot.
* From 1951 to 1955 at the US Army operated Camp Roberts Army Airfield. This was a single northwest/southeast dirt runway. The runway was on the southeast side of the base, running parallel to the
Salinas river. There is no trace of this original base runway today, just brush alongside the river.
Camp Roberts Original Army Airfield
/ref>
See also
* Camp Laguna Arizona proving ground in WW2
*Yuma Test Branch
Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) is a United States Army series of environmentally specific test centers with its Yuma Test Center being one of the largest military installations in the world. It is subordinate to the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Com ...
Arizona proving ground in WW2
* Yuma Proving Ground current Arizona proving ground
* California during World War II
References
Further reading
*
External links
Camp Roberts official website
Camp Roberts Historical Museum website
Camp Roberts Hunting Info (JHO)
Camp Roberts Fishing Info (JHO)
* ttp://www.pasoroblesdowntown.org/ Local Shopping and Local Events Near Camp Roberts
{{Salinas River, state=collapsed
Forts in California
Installations of the United States Army in California
Buildings and structures in Monterey County, California
Buildings and structures in San Luis Obispo County, California
Salinas River (California)
Military and war museums in California
Museums in San Luis Obispo County, California
*
Military history of California
Military installations established in 1940
1940 establishments in California