Camp Roberts (Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties, California)
Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties · California · World War II
History & Significance
Construction of the main garrison area began on November 15, 1940, directed by Lieutenant Colonel Marston, who rented office space in the Bank of America building in Paso Robles. The project involved over 8,000 workers to create a facility capable of housing 30,000 trainees at once.
Originally named Camp Nacimiento, it was renamed to honor Corporal Harold W. Roberts, a World War I tank driver from San Francisco who died in France and was awarded the Medal of Honor—making Camp Roberts the only major Army military installation named for a non-commissioned officer. The installation featured the world's largest parade field, the length of 14 football fields, and hosted Infantry and Field Artillery Replacement Training Centers.
Peak population reached 45,000 troops in 1944; besides the two training centers, the camp maintained a 750-bed hospital and internment facilities where many Italian POWs swore allegiance to America and became service unit workers. During the Korean War, Camp Roberts was reactivated with an Armored Replacement Training Center added, and the terrain proved suitable for Korea-specific training, with approximately 300,000 troops completing training by September 1953.
In the 1960s, the Army's first satellite network was constructed here for strategic communications, while the Navy trained river patrol boat crews. The Army formally closed Camp Roberts in April 1970; the California Army National Guard received control on April 2, 1971, to establish a Reserve Component training facility.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
Sources
- https://militaryyearbookproject.org/references/base-histories/army-replacement-centers/camp-roberts-ca
- https://camprobertshistoricalmuseum.com/history-of-the-base/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Roberts,_California
- https://militarymuseum.org/campbob.html
- https://www.kcbx.org/travel/2021-05-13/journeys-of-discovery-military-history-showcased-at-camp-roberts
- https://calguard.ca.gov/cr/
- https://www.army.mil/article/235501/california_army_national_guard_maintains_historical_integrity