213th newsletter summer 2014
DESCRIPTION
Quarterly Newsletter of the 213th Military History Detachment (Deployable) at Camp Roberts, CA. The 213th is a unit of the California Center for Military History charged with preserving, collecting, and sharing the military history of the State of California. The California Center for Military History is a unit of the California State Military Reserve, under the California Military Department which directly supports the California National Guard.TRANSCRIPT
CALIFORNIA STATE MILITARY RESERVE
CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR MILITARY HISTORY
213th MILITARY HISTORY DETACHMENT (Deployable)
Camp Roberts, California
Summer Issue 15 September 2014
Camp Roberts Reveille
Welcome to the Summer
Issue of the 213th Military
History Detachment
(Deployable) Newsletter.
In this Issue:
Commander’s Corner
Museum Changes
East Garrison Part 2
Detachment Odds and
Ends
On the Funny Side
And Much More!
We hope you enjoy this
edition of the Camp Roberts
Reveille!
--CW4 (CA) Henry Leon
Commanding
California Center for Military
History
213th Military History
Detachment (Deployable)
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ON THE COVER:
Top: UH 60 Blackhawks
refueling during the
California National Guard
Annual Training in June
2014, the largest annual
training in over a decade. Photo: Used By Permission of
SFC Mary McDermott
Bottom: The 578th Brigade
Engineering Battalion was
stood up on the 14th of June
2014. The 578th was the
first Brigade Engineering
Battalion to be activated in
the National Guard. Photo: SGT (CA) Jason Orton
Camp Roberts Reveille
Summer 2014 Issue
Publisher:
213th Military History
Detachment (Deployable),
California Center for Military
History
Editor:
SGT (CA) Jason Orton
Contributors:
CW4 (CA) Henry Leon, SFC
(CA) Eddie Colis, SPC (CA)
Carrie McCulley.
Editing and Proofreading:
CW4 Ernest McPherson and
SGM (CA) Carlos Gama
The Camp Roberts Reveille
is the newsletter of the 213th
Military History Detachment
(Deployable) at Camp
Roberts. The newsletter is
published seasonally.
All Rights Reserved.
Material herein may not be
reprinted without express
written consent of the
publisher.
For mail correspondence:
1895 Ironwood Dr.
Santa Maria, CA 93455
Commander’s Corner
The old-timers and I remember how Camp Roberts looked prior
to the recent upgrades. Things are really looking up for the old
post. New roads, new utilities, new training facilities, new
runway surfaces, and the removal of the old structures have really
made the place look great once again.
The historic post is not the only place where things are looking
great these days. The Camp Roberts Museum has undertaken a
massive upgrade program of improvements and new exhibits. Museum
volunteers have been hard at work the last few months creating world class
exhibits.
Camp Roberts continues to be a busy Army base that trains soldiers for
deployment anywhere in the world. “Be ready, train, and go to your mission,
no matter where in the world it takes you,” has been an apt description of
soldiers that have trained on post for generations. It has not changed in the
years that Camp Roberts has been fielding soldiers in the years since it opened
for business. Camp Roberts may not be the showcase of other military posts;
but the old girl is setting the standard for training soldiers to complete the
mission and to go into conflicts anywhere and at anytime.
The post has attracted other military units to its upgraded, state-of-the-art
training facilities and ranges. Army Rangers came here for training earlier in
the year. This summer, the California Army National Guard conducted the
largest annual training in many years at the refurbished post. Upgrades to the
old runway and the conversion of the parade field into an airfield have allowed
for additional aircraft training on the post. Other nations are even taking notice
and looking to send their units to Camp Roberts to train in the future.
The old post that was nearly forgotten by the nation due to time and neglect is
back and better than ever! Camp Roberts is showing the nation and the world
that she still has what it takes to shine in today’s world of modern warfare
training. The attitude she is showing is one that says to all who will look that
California National Guard can do, will do!
.
CW4 HENRY LEON
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The original guard shack that greeted
visitors has been restored and added to
the museum. Museum staff matched the
original paint, added artifacts, and a
uniformed mannequin to depict how it
would have looked during the Korean
War Era. Photo: SGT (CA) Jason Orton
The Camp Roberts Laundry originally
served the 45,000 soldiers training and
serving on the post during World War II.
It employed 1,100 civilian workers in
three shifts making it the largest
commercial laundry west of Chicago.
The laundry carts pictured are original. Photo: SGT (CA) Jason Orton
The improvised explosive device has
been a key weapon of enemy forces
during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The new exhibit tells the story of these
weapons, has several examples, and
illustrates the training U.S. forces
underwent to deal with this threat. Photo: SGT (CA) Jason Orton
Big Changes at Camp Roberts Museum!
By SGT (CA) Jason Orton
A new dining facility, new Combined Arms Collective Training
Facility (mock city training area), new Tactical Unmanned Aircraft
System Facility (drones), new roads and water lines, upgraded
runways, and huge open areas where decaying, World War II era
buildings once stood are some of the major changes that have taken
place at Camp Roberts in the last year. The recent upgrades and
additions to the historic post are not the end of the changes. More
renovations are coming.
Camp Roberts is experiencing a renaissance of building and
upgrades. With $102 million dollars slated for renovating the
historic post over five years, the facility is really starting to look
nice. The upgrades are not sitting idle. During June 2014, over
4,500 soldiers descended on the historic post for the largest annual
training of the California
National Guard in over
12 years!
California National Guard Soldiers are not the only ones coming to
the post for training. In January, members of the 75th Ranger
Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Washington, came to Camp
Roberts. Others have also expressed an interest or are scheduled to
train at Camp Roberts in the future including soldiers from the
United Kingdom!
Not to be outdone, the hard working staff and volunteers at the
Camp Roberts museum have started on their own renovation project
focusing on the
museum’s annex. The
annex was the original
home to the museum
when founder Al Davis
started what would become one of the best military history museums
in the west. The building where the museum started was the original
post office for Camp Roberts during World War II.
Later, the museum would move its primary exhibits to the old Red
Cross headquarters building about a quarter mile up the road. The
former post office was then designated the museum annex and
featured military vehicles and additional exhibits.
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The Navy trained at Camp Roberts?
U.S. Navy Riverines came to Camp
Roberts during the Vietnam War to train
the boat crews in river warfare. The new
exhibit features items, photographs, and
information about the training conducted
by the Navy at Camp Roberts. Photo: SGT (CA) Jason Orton
Items, clothing, uniforms, and pictures
from the recent wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan have been added to the
upgraded Camp Roberts Museum
Annex. The new exhibits honor those
soldiers who have served in more recent
wars. Photo: SGT (CA) Jason Orton
The United Nations estimates there are
over 110 million active landmines
worldwide. Many US service personnel
faced these mines in Afghanistan and in
previous wars throughout the world. The
new exhibit portrays the history of mine
detection. Photo: SGT (CA) Jason Orton
Recent efforts by the museum staff and volunteers have resulted in
some fantastic upgrades to the museum annex. In addition to fresh
paint on the floors and walls, volunteers embarked on an ambitious
effort to create new exhibits. Walls were added to help separate the
large area into more orderly exhibit spaces. Displays were added
recognizing more current conflicts fought by Camp Roberts’ soldiers
including the recent campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. A highlight
of these additions is the new exhibit on Improvised Explosive
Devices (IEDs) and the training soldiers received in dealing with this
challenging weapon of the enemy.
The effort to recognize the service of more recent soldiers has not
lessened the museum’s efforts to recognize the post’s historic past
including its place as the largest basic training facility in World War
II. The exhibit featuring uniforms, weapons, and vehicles used in
the European theater was
upgraded. Also, exhibits
on the Camp Roberts hospital, post office, land mines and mine
detection, laundry during World War II, Navy Riverine training
during the Vietnam War, and other additions were added to help tell
the stories of the post. The old guard shack that many veterans
remember passing through has also been lovingly restored and
allows visitors to step back in time and see how it may have looked
during the Korean War era.
One of the outstanding ways that museum director Gary McMaster
and his staff have told the story of Camp Roberts is the use of
manequins in period
clothing and uniforms.
Unlike many museums,
where uniforms of the
past may only be in
cold, glass cases or on
simple body forms, the Camp Roberts museum utilizes full size
mannequins to give the exhibits a more realistic feeling. The
uniforms are able to be seen as they were worn and the figures add
depth to each exhibit.
The changes did not happen overnight nor did they happen
spontaneously. Several museum volunteers and donations from
individuals and businesses have made possible the many changes
that have taken place. Volunteers Mark Hale, Dirk Hale, Don
Avery, Gary McMaster and others have contributed countless
hours to the renovation efforts. Both corporate and individual donors have purchased memberships or life
memberships in the museum adding much needed funding to the renovation efforts.
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Photo of the Camp Roberts Parade Field after
resurfacing using Envirotac 11, more commonly known
by the name "Rhino Snot". Photo: Used by Permission of SFC Mary McDermott
Mobile control tower at the East Garrison Airfield
being used during the June annual training. Photo: Used By Permission of SFC Mary McDermott
Work continues on the renovations to Camp Roberts and the Historical Museum. The old post and museum are
looking great and are sure to please visitors who have not stopped by in several years. If you have not had a
chance to visit the museum, now is a great time to do so and see all the changes that have taken place. The
museum is open Thursday and Saturday from 9am to 4pm and is open to the public at no charge! For more
information, please vist their website at: http://camprobertshistoricalmuseum.com/
Call Sign: Roberts Radio (Part 2) By: CW4 (CA) Henry Leon
The 213th Military History Detachment
(Deployable) visited the Camp Roberts East
Garrison again in July. They observed Black
Hawks take to the air with loads of soldiers flying
off on their training mission conducted during the
largest annual training the post has seen in some
time. The East Garrison airfield will be sprayed
Envirotac 11, also known as Rhino Snot, some time
in the next few months, which will make the take
offs and landings much simpler and safer for the
crews and soldiers.
The Envirotac 11 is scheduled to go on just as soon
as the parade field is finished with its own treatment
of the ground hardening substance. If you have
not visited the main garrison parade field at Camp Roberts for some time, you will notice a big change in that
part of the field has been sprayed with Envirotac 11 giving it the look and feel of a newly paved air field.
Shortly, the remainder of the parade ground will be sprayed and used as a landing area for even more aircraft.
While visiting the East Garrison, unit members saw a launching involving multiple helicopters with such power
that the Detachment Commander remarked that he had not seen anything like it since the late 60s. Seen from
the control center, it was an added treat. The Black Hawks began to take off towards the main post firing range.
And then, the dust storm created by the rotor wash set in
and blanked out everything that could be seen through
the windows of the control center.
As soon as Main Post Parade Field is finished with the
upgrades, East Garrison will get its turn with the
Envirotac 11 runway coating. When finished, it will be
able to take helicopters more frequently and in great
numbers with fewer problems from dust blown by the
props. The runways, after treatment, will even be able to
handle the four-engine C-130 Hercules aircraft. The
older buildings that are no longer useable on East
Garrison will be torn down around September or October
2014.
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Soldiers in flight operations at the East Garrison
runway. Pictured from left to right are SGT Aeon
Gonzales, SSG Juan Munoz, and SPC Patrick
Gonzalez. Photo: SGT (CA) Jason Orton
Aviation units that took part in the July training at Camp Roberts and neighboring Fort Hunter Liggett were the
1/140th, 340th, and Utah’s Company A 1/211 Aviation Regiment. These units moved soldiers from Camp
Roberts to Fort Hunter Liggett and back again. They also transported soldiers from East Garrison to the firing
range at Camp Roberts. Much time and effort was undertaken to provide high quality training for our nation’s
fighting men and women.
On display, during those weeks in July, was the
might of United States training for war but hoping
for peace in spite of a history of thousands of years
of warfare on earth. These same aircraft may also
be used in the future to help a nation in crises from
manmade and natural disasters, bringing relief and
hope to people around the world.
The helicopters and crews are a visible symbol of a
nation intent on being ready to defend itself and the
soldiers ready to do their duty to complete whatever
mission they are given. The nation has a proud
tradition of citizen soldiers standing ready to go to
war and to protect the innocent. Soldiers of this
nation are dedicated to following the law, the
Constitution, and an unwavering belief in freedom and justice. Ours is a military that prepares for the worst and
hopes for the best.
To the soldiers of the Camp Roberts Aviation Detachment, thank you for your service and your assistance in writing this article.
CPT Brian Hirschkorn CW5 David Clark CW4 Kenneth R. Gatewood SFC Mary McDermott SSG Juan Munoz SGT Aeon Gonzales SGT Javier Ramos SPC Patrick Gonzalez PFC Anthony Marquez
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SFC Eddie Colis emerges from the hatch of
the Nike Missile site at Battery B on Angel
Island during the special tour of the cold war
facility for the California Center for Military
History during an August 2014 visit. Docents
provided special access to areas of the
facility not normally open to the public during
the overnight visit. Photo: Dave Nelson
213th Military History Detachment (Deployable) Odds and Ends
Angel Island History Tour with the California Center for Military History
Detachment soldier, SFC Eddie Colis, visited historic Angel
Island with other soldiers from the California Center for
Military History on August 9th and 10th, 2014. Angel Island
is located in the San Francisco Bay and is only accessible by
ferry.
Today, the island is a California State park but its military
history goes back to the 19th century when it was the site of
Fort McDowell. It served as a discharge depot during the
Spanish American war for returning soldiers. During World
War II it also processed returning troops but the facility was
closed in 1947.
In 1954 a Nike Missile station was added and the island once
again served the nation’s military, this time as part of the Cold
War. The missile site was decommissioned in 1962. The
historic Island also processed immigrants coming to the United
States during the early 20th century up until 1940. Today the
only active military installation still on the island is a light
house operated by the United States Coast Guard. At one point, three light houses existed on the island but only
one remains in use today as an aid to navigation.
The Nike Missile site was the main focus of the visit to Angel Island. Five state park docents provided a special
look at the cold war relic and other areas of the island not normally open to the public. Soldiers from the
California Center for Military History were given a rare insight into the workings of the missile facility during
their overnight trip. The historians shared part of the tour with a group of ghost hunters who spent most of the
night trying to find signs of the supernatural.
Comic Strip Artist Awarded Scholarship by the State Guard Association
Machaela Orton, the artist behind the “Jimmy Brave” comic strip, was awarded a $500 scholarship by the State
Guard Association of the United States. Her photo was featured alongside the other eight recipients of
scholarships in the summer issue of their newsletter. She was the only recipient from California to receive a
scholarship. The artist begins her first semester of college in September but will continue writing the “Jimmy
Brave” comic strip for the “Camp Roberts Reveille”.
213th Military History Detachment (Deployable) Drill Schedule 18 October 2014 1 November 2014 6 December 2014 *CSMR soldiers wishing to perform a SUTA with the 213th should contact CW4 (CA) Henry Leon in advance at: [email protected]. Dates are subject to change. All unit members will be notified of any changes as they occur. First formation time is 0800 at the Camp Roberts Museum Annex.
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Engineers of the newly created 578th
Brigade Engineering Battalion made history
by becoming the first National Guard unit to
be organized as this type of unit. Brigade
Engineering Battalions were created to give
Brigade Combat Teams greater engineering
manpower and resources. Photo: SGT (CA) Jason Orton
SGM (CA) Carlos Gama played the Tuba
with soldiers from the 40th Infantry Division
Band as part of the historic event at Camp
Roberts. The Sergeant Major also supports
the efforts of the 213th Military History
Detachment (Deployable) on post even
though his main duties are with the band. Photo: SFC (CA) Eddie Colis
Historic Unit Creation at Camp Roberts
The 213th Military History Detachment (Deployable)
normally only reports on history being made after the event
has happened, many times years after the historic event has
taken place. On June 14, 2014 they had the privilege of
seeing history made at Camp Roberts when the first Brigade
Engineering Battalion (BEB) in the Army National Guard
was stood up. LTC Zac Delwiche assumed command of the
newly formed 578th Brigade Engineering Battalion.
The BEB’s were first proposed by the Army in 2012 as a
means of increasing the manpower and the number of
engineer assets. Under the old system, each Brigade Combat
Team (BCT) had a Brigade Special Troops Battalion.
The new BEB’s will bring a more robust headquarters staff
and two engineer companies instead of the one engineer
company currently in infantry and Stryker Brigade Combat
Teams. The extra company will allow the BCT’s to be more
capable and more versatile in the theater of operations.
The staff will also be very heavy on engineers. Infantry and
Stryker Brigade Combat Teams gain approximately 120
engineers under the new configuration while heavy BCT’s would
gain about 200 engineers. The new configuration allows for
BCTs to be able to do bridging missions, horizontal construction,
and route clearance.
While the Army has already created Brigade Engineering
Battalions, the ceremony at Camp Roberts on June 14th was
historic as the first to be created in the Army National Guard.
BG Roy S. Webb, Deputy Commanding General of the Army
National Guard spoke at the ceremony about the historic nature
of the event. It was also fitting that this historic event should
take place on the 239th Birthday of the U.S. Army.
Sergeant Major Carlos Gama who has duty with the 40th
Infantry Division Band was on hand to play for the event. Gama
often is at Camp Roberts providing support to the 213th Military
History Detachment (Deployable) and has written for this newsletter in the past. He had alerted the detachment
that the historic event was taking place on post so that field historians could be present to document the event.
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Jokes!
What do you get when you drop a piano at an army base? A Flat Major! But what if it lands on a dependent? A Flat Minor! Billy had just finished up his physical with the doctor prior to joining the Navy. The doctor asked Billy why he wanted to join the Navy. Billy eagerly replied, “My father recommended that I join the Navy!” Curious, the doctor asked, “What does your father do Billy?” Without missing a beat Billy replied, “Oh, he’s in the Army!” A new Second Lieutenant fresh out of OCS ran into a soldier at the PX and asked, “Soldier, do you have change for a dollar.” The young soldier replied, “Sure thing buddy!” The new Lieutenant was furious and yelled, “That’s not the way to address an officer!!! Let’s try this again. Do you have change for a dollar!!?” The soldier went ramrod straight and said, “NO SIR, I DO NOT!”
That’s all for this issue! Be sure to check out the fall 2014 issue coming out in a few months!
Today’s Assignment:
Jimmy and Olive
draw each other…
Mine is way better
than yours!
Seriously? Take
a look at mine!
THAT LOOKS
NOTHING LIKE
ME!!!
Artistic
Interpretation!
Copyright Pending August 2014
By Machaela Orton
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Acknowledgements and Notes: The California State Military Reserve with the California Center for Military History and the 213th Military History Detachment (Deployable) at Camp Roberts, owe thanks to many people for this newsletter. First our thanks to Brigadier General (CA) Timothy E. Albertson, Commander of the CSMR and to Colonel (CA) Fred Rutledge, Acting Commander of the CCMH. Our thanks and appreciation for their support on Post: Gary McMaster (SFC, USA, Ret.), Chairman of the Post Museum Dirk Hale (SFC, USA, Ret.), First Vice Chairman and Treasurer Joan Hussey, Second Vice Chairman Don Avery, Secretary Douglas Baird (COL, USA, Ret.), Advisor Mark Hale, Construction Volunteer Ron Hysell, Vehicle Maintenance Volunteer And all those others past, present, and future who have volunteered or financially supported the museum. To the Camp Roberts Post Management and Leadership, also our gratitude. Post Commander, Colonel John N. Haramalis CW4 Robert T. Rall, Resource Manager CSM James E. Norris, Post Command Sergeant Major To the Unit members of the 213th Military History Detachment (Deployable), past and present, without which this newsletter would never have happened: CW4 Henry L. Leon SFC Eddie Colis, NCOIC SFC Philip Grenado (Ret.) SSG Carl Shultz (Ret.) SGT Jason Orton SPC Carrie McCulley Special thanks to retired CW4 Ernest McPherson and SGM Carlos Gama for help with editing and formatting. Thank you both for your continued support! This newsletter is dedicated to the men and women who have served and to those who carry on that tradition of excellence today in the armed forces. Be sure to check out future installments of the 213th Military History Detachment (Deployable) Newsletter. This issue and past issues can also be found online at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/239057215/213th-Newsletter-Summer-2014. For
best viewing, download the document from the website to your computer. The preview version on the website may not contain all the
photographs.
PLEASE NOTE NEW EMAIL ADDRESS. To receive by email this newsletter, send an email to [email protected] with “subscribe” in the subject line. To unsubscribe repeat the same process with “unsubscribe” in the subject line. Please update the SPAM filter on your email account. Many of our subscribers receive the newsletter through their Army Knowledge Online (AKO) email account. AKO is undergoing some changes that may limit access for some users. If you need to update the email address your subscription is sent to, please let us know at our new email address, [email protected]. For any input or comments, contact CW4 H. L. Leon at [email protected]. All messages will be answered. Suggestions or submissions for future article consideration are welcome. For mail correspondence: 1895 Ironwood Dr. Santa Maria, CA 93455 HENRY L. LEON CW4 (CA), CSMR Commanding
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency of the United States Government, the State of California, the National Guard, the California State Military Reserve, the California Center for Military History, the 213th Military History Detachment (Deployable), Camp Roberts, or the Camp Roberts Historical Museum.