BASE HOUSING:
From Quonset Huts to Now
Camp Pendleton has seen many variations in housing facilities for its Marines, Sailors, and their families. Over the past 75 years, a wide spectrum of bachelor and family housing programs resulted in a mixed array of living accommodations. Starting with the initial base construction in March 1942, a portion of the reported 5,000 civilian workers building the base lived in barracks specifically constructed for them while lived aboard the expansive former rancho. As a lure to workers, the Navy built temporary barracks and messing facilities for 500 and established a trailer camp. For Marines of the 9th Marine Regiment who marched from Camp Elliott and initially occupied the base in early September 1942, the newly constructed “temporary” wood-framed H-Style barracks provided superior accommodations. Housing for Marines in the other infantry units, who would eventually occupy the three “tent camps” in the central and northern areas of the base, was exactly that...tents. In July 1943, the contractors’ barracks was relocated and reconstructed in order to house the Women Marines who had arrived aboard the base. In 1944, forty Homoja housing units were built in Area 24 near the base headquarters; these units provided furnished two bedroom family units in each 20 foot by 48 foot Quonset hut, complete with kitchen and toilet facilities, including a bath. It was not until 1944 when housing was specifically constructed for families of Camp Pendleton Marines and Sailors. Work began on the initial 448 units, consisting of one-, two-, and threebedroom apartments,
Quonset Hut family housing, March 1946; photo courtesy of Camp Pendleton Archives
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CAMP PENDLETON – Celebrating 75 years
in December 1944 and in May 1945, the first sixteen families moved into Sterling Housing, located off base in Oceanside. Soon after construction began, the number of units to be built was increased to 648. This $1.65 million family housing complex would remain until 1988 when it was demolished as part of a $23-million agreement, resulting in the construction of the 632 Serra Mesa housing units just inside the San Luis Rey gate. In 1947, Camp Pendleton underwent numerous changes to make it a more permanent facility. Marines tore down tents and replaced them with Quonset huts in the outlying camp areas and renovated numerous barracks, including thirteen 17 Area barracks which were converted into married officers’ apartments. In the 1950s, available family housing options included the Homoja Area, Sterling, South Mesa Trailer Housing, and Wherry housing (DeLuz and Wire Mountain consisted of 1,324 homes). Camp Pendleton’s first ten permanent barracks were built in 1952 in the Chappo area. Four new camps (San Mateo, Las Pulgas, Horno, Margarita) housing 13,000 Marines each were constructed; new “flat top” barracks were built using pre-cast or ‘tilt-up’ construction. These reinforced concrete buildings were considered more efficient and economical than wood framed barracks or Quonset huts. In the 1960s, the base began replacing “temporary” construction and building permanent facilities. Permanent bachelor enlisted and officer quarters and family housing was built at Camp Del Mar. When 5th Marine Division was activated in 1966, nearly two-thirds of the 6,500 new arrivals occupied 16 foot by 32 foot tents while permanent barracks
Tent Camp #1, Las Pulgas, 1944; photo courtesy of Camp Pendleton Archives
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