Near Desert Center in Riverside County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Palen Pass

Palen Maneuver Area

Photographed by Tim Wilcox

1. Palen Pass Marker

Inscription. The Palen Pass Maneuver Area was the largest training zone within the Desert Training Center/California-Arizona Maneuver Area. Various exercises occurred, including the mock battles of Palen Pass and Southern California, which involved two Divisions and supporting units divided into two teams. One team's goal was to move forward through the Palen Pass, while the other team was to prevent passage. This training served to test the various skills and tactics that had been achieved by troops during the 13 weeks of training they received. Upon completion, soldiers were transferred to WWII battlefronts.

The relatively calm and deserted setting of this area that has persisted throughout time, is in stark contrast to thousands of soldiers manning guns, tanks, artillery, and airplanes that rumbled through this area from 1942-1944.

A total of 7 armored divisions and 13 infantry divisions were trained here in the desert plus many non-divisional units. Over one million men were trained in this harsh environment.

This monument is dedicated to all of the soldiers that served here, and especially those that gave their lives

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in battle, ending the holocaust and defeating the armed forces of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Imperial Japan.

Erected 2017 by Billy Holcomb Chapter; E Clampus Vitus; California Desert District of the Bureau of Land Management.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Military • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1942.

Location. 33° 54.5′ N, 115° 14.861′ W. Memorial is near Desert Center, California, in Riverside County. It is at the intersection of Rice Road (Route 177) and Coxcomb Monument Road, on the left when traveling south on Rice Road. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Desert Center CA 92239, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Greater Los Angeles,

in the Coachella Valley,

and in the Peninsular Ranges.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was

Photographed by Tim Wilcox

2. Palen Pass Marker

once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within 19 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Granite Divisional Camp (approx. 13.6 miles away); Iron Mountain Divisional Camp (approx. 13.8 miles away).

Other markers no longer nearby. Coxcomb Divisional Camp (was within shouting distance of this marker); Eagle Mountain Iron (was approx. 16.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing); 36th Evacuation Hospital (SM) (was approx. 18.3 miles away).

Credits. This page was last revised on April 29, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2021, by Tim Wilcox of Los Angeles, California. This page has been viewed 1,472 times since then and 102 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 28, 2021, by Tim Wilcox of Los Angeles, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.