[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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