1940s
1950s
Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese attack Pearl Harbor
June 1950 Outbreak of the Korean war sees peacetime activities come to an end; Reserve Marines arrive at the base and begin processing and training for subsequent deployment to Korea. Over 200,000 Marines would pass through Camp Pendleton on their way to Korea.
March 1942 U. S. Navy announces the purchase of 132,000 acres of Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores. Construction of Camp Pendleton begins soon thereafter. July 1942 Federal Court condemnation order gives the U.S. Marine Corps immediate possession of Ranch Santa Margarita y Las Flores; the U.S. Government pays $4,110,035 for the land September 1942 Sept. 1–4, 1942 - 9th Marine Regiment, under command of Col. Lemuel Shepherd, Jr. and Marines from 1st Battalion, 12th Marines, march from Camp Elliott (San Diego) to Camp Joseph H. Pendleton. Sept. 25, 1942 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt visits Camp Pendleton to officially dedicate the base as Marine Barracks, Camp Joseph H. Pendleton. 1943 Women Marine Reserves arrive at Camp Pendleton
June 1950 – July 1953 Korean War 1953 Camp Pendleton officially designated as Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton in September 1953. 1956 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment marches over 100 miles of the base to show their readiness.
1960s 1st Marine Division deploys to Southeast Asia for involvement in the war in Vietnam. Marines rotating to Vietnam arriving at Camp Pendleton were assigned to Staging Battalion and were provided with 12 to 15 intensive training days before deployment to Vietnam. President Roosevelt receives a lariat from Pancho Brown at the historic Ranch House, Sept. 1942
1944 Camp Pendleton declared a “permanent” installation in October 1944.
1945 June 22, 1945 - Americans secure Okinawa Aug. 15, 1945 - Victory over Japan (VJ) Day 1946 U.S. Marine Corps Commandant, Gen. Alexander A. Vandegrift, announces Camp Pendleton will be the center of all West Coast Marine Corps activities and home of the 1st Marine Division. 1947 The 1st Marine Division arrives at Camp Pendleton after combat and occupation duty in the Pacific. 1947 – 1950 Base commanding general, Maj. Gen. Erskine, battles for the base’s ‘Little Red School House’ 8
September 1950 Marines participate in invasion of Inchon.
CAMP PENDLETON – Celebrating 75 years
Aug. 7, 1964 Congress passes resolution giving President Johnson free hand in Vietnam. June 1966 1st Marine Division is headquartered in South Vietnam.
1970s 1971 I Marine Amphibious Force (I MAF) is relocated to Camp Pendleton. 1975 1st Marine Division supports evacuation of Saigon Refugees from Vietnam arrive at Camp Pendleton from April through October 1975. Over 50,000 Vietnamese refugees were processed through Camp Pendleton and located at eight different camps in the northern portion of the base.
A tent city at Camp Talega built by Marines to house an expected 18,000-20,000 refugees
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