[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 59 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 59

 Recognizing the 75th anniversary of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 22, 2017

 Mr. Issa (for himself, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Peters, Mr. Vargas, Mrs. Davis 
 of California, Mr. Jones, Mr. Cook, Mr. Knight, Mr. Himes, Mr. Byrne, 
 Mrs. Hartzler, Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Calvert, Mr. Moulton, Mr. Duncan of 
 South Carolina, Mr. Pittenger, Mr. Wittman, Mr. Roe of Tennessee, Mr. 
  Chabot, Mr. Cole, Mr. LaMalfa, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Bost, Mr. Coffman, 
 Mrs. Mimi Walters of California, Mr. Hill, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Correa, 
     Mr. Kilmer, and Mr. Banks of Indiana) submitted the following 
  concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed 
                                Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the 75th anniversary of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

Whereas Camp Pendleton, California, has been a critical training base for the 
        United States Marines for 75 years, and upon the anniversary of its 
        three-quarters of a century of service, it is deserving of the highest 
        commendations and the heartiest congratulations;
Whereas in March 1942, Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores was purchased for 
        $4.2 million and officially named after retired Major General Joseph 
        Henry Pendleton, who lived in southern California and was a strong 
        advocate for a Marine Corps west coast training base before his death in 
        February 1942;
Whereas, on September 25, 1942, in an unpublicized visit to the base, President 
        Franklin D. Roosevelt officially dedicated the new training base as 
        Marine Barracks, Camp Joseph H. Pendleton; Mary Fay Pendleton, the widow 
        of Major General Pendleton, assisted with the raising of the flag; 
        Gunnery Sergeant Carl A. Ostrom presented the Colors; and Governor 
        Culbert L. Olson of California was also in attendance;
Whereas throughout the next few years as the base was growing, Marines trained 
        for combat in the Pacific, and Pendleton-trained Marines fought at 
        Bougainville, Tarawa, Cape Gloucester, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, Saipan, 
        Guam, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa;
Whereas a group of American Indians known as the Navajo Code Talkers were 
        trained at Camp Pendleton during World War II, and these communication 
        specialists successfully confused the Japanese who were unable to 
        decipher their unique code based on their unwritten native tongue;
Whereas in 1946, Camp Pendleton was declared a permanent installation and became 
        the permanent home to the 1st Marine Division in 1947, and in July 1950, 
        the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, commanded by Brigadier General 
        Edward Craig, left Camp Pendleton for combat in Korea;
Whereas in fall 1951, to train the Marines for the extremes of temperature found 
        in Korea, a satellite camp was established at Pickel Meadows in the High 
        Sierras, which continues today to train Marines in severe cold weather 
        situations and in mountain warfare techniques;
Whereas, on September 1, 1953, Camp Joseph H. Pendleton was redesignated as 
        Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California;
Whereas in 1965, Camp Pendleton Marines were again called upon to test their 
        training on the battlefield, this time in the jungles of Southeast Asia; 
        the 1st Marine Division headquarters would be gone from Camp Pendleton 
        until its return in 1971; and Staging Battalion at the base became the 
        training pipeline for replacement troops going to Vietnam;
Whereas in April 1975, Camp Pendleton became home to more than 50,000 Southeast 
        Asian refugees, who were housed in 8 massive tent camps which were 
        erected in the northern part of the base, and the camp operated this 
        refugee housing for 6 months;
Whereas in August 1990, Camp Pendleton Marines found themselves the first combat 
        troops on the scene in Southwest Asia preparing to fight against the 
        superior numbers of Saddam Hussein's military forces, and they returned 
        home 9 months later, victorious, and proud of being the world's finest 
        fighting force;
Whereas in 2001, Camp Pendleton's 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted 
        combat operations against the Taliban and Al Qaeda during the opening 
        days of Operation Enduring Freedom after the September 11 terrorist 
        attacks in New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia; and Camp Pendleton 
        provided the training ranges and other support facilities to all I 
        Marine Expeditionary Force Units who deployed to Afghanistan;
Whereas in early 2003, the I Marine Expeditionary Force with supporting units to 
        include the 1st Marine Division, the 1st Force Service Support Group, 
        and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing deployed in support of Operation Iraqi 
        Freedom for operations in Iraq; and in a high-speed attack, and in 
        conjunction with the Army's 1st Armored Division and 3rd Infantry 
        Division, 1st Marine Division conducted the longest ground march in 
        Marine Corps history;
Whereas Camp Pendleton has a daytime population of 70,000 military and civilian 
        personnel, with more than 38,000 military family members occupying base 
        housing complexes;
Whereas in 2017, Camp Pendleton is celebrating its 75th anniversary in service 
        to the Nation, the Marine Corps, and the citizens of southern 
        California; and
Whereas Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and its marines and sailors will 
        continue to conduct and advance their training and technology to enhance 
        their skills as the Nation's premier fighting force, always at the 
        ready, to operate in any climate or place: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) commemorates the service, dedication, and sacrifice of 
        our armed service members and their families who served at 
        Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton;
            (2) recognizes the fighting force of the I Marine 
        Expeditionary Force, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Logistics 
        Group, Marine Corps Installation-West, 1st Marine Raider 
        Battalion, Wounded Warriors Battalion-West, Marine Corps Air 
        Station at Munn Field, Marine Aircraft Group 39, Marine Corps 
        Tactical Systems Support Activity, Marine Corps Recruit Depot 
        San Diego's Weapons & Field Training Battalion, Marine Corps 
        School of Infantry-West, Marine Corps and Army Reserve Forces, 
        the Navy's Assault Craft Unit 5, Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, 
        and 1st Dental Battalion;
            (3) commends the brave members of the Armed Forces who 
        deployed from Camp Pendleton to fight in World War II and the 
        Korean, Vietnam, Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan wars; and
            (4) reaffirms its commitment to continue to honor the 
        memory of Camp Pendleton and its critical role in the security 
        of our Nation.
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