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.
Palen Pass. Palen Maneuver Area. 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 world war two 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 in battle, ending the holocaust and defeating the armed forces of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Imperial Japan.
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 in battle, ending the holocaust and defeating the armed forces of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Imperial Japan.
Erected 2017 by Billy Holcomb Chapter;
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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. Marker is near Desert Center, California, in Riverside County. Memorial 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. Marker is in this post office area: Desert Center CA 92239, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within 14 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).
Photographed By Tim Wilcox
2. Palen Pass Marker
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 597 times since then and 76 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.
