Chiriaco Summit in Riverside County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Desert Training Center

Desert Training Center/Camp Young Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig

1. Desert Training Center/Camp Young Marker

Inscription.

The Desert Training Center. . , [This is a four sided monument displaying three different markers:] , Desert Training Center , Camp Young , Maj. Gen. George S. Patton Jr., U.S. Army, selected Camp Young as headquarters site for the Desert Training Center in March 1942. Camp Young was the administrative center for a simulated theater of operations that would eventually extend from Pomona, CA. to Phoenix, AZ., from Yuma, AZ to Boulder City, NV., and would include a network of training facilities at Camps Clipper, Coxcomb, Granite, Ibis, Iron Mountain and Pilot Knob in California, and Camps Bouse, Horn, Hyder and Laguna in Arizona. , Between 1942 and 1944 over one million men trained on the surrounding desert and participated in the most realistic war games under the harshest conditions imaginable. In a very important sense, many battles of World War II were won on these desert lands during these maneuvers., This memorial is dedicated to the soldiers of the U.S. Army who participated in these events. The spirit which they displayed generated a spark that spread in every overseas theater in which they served., Lt. Gen. Samuel B. M. Young , January 9, 1840 - September 2, 1924 , The Desert Training Center Headquarters was named in honor of Lt. Gen. Samuel B. M. Young on May 12, 1942. As a Captain he served with distinction with the Army of the Potomac and later with the 8th Calvary along the Mojave Road in California and Arizona. He commanded a brigade during the Spanish-American War in Cuba and later in the Philippine Islands where he was appointed Military Governor of Northwest Luzon. In 1901 he was named President of the War College Board and went on to serve as the first President of the War College. In 1903 he was appointed the first Chief of Staff of the Army. A position he held until his retirement in 1904., Desert Training Center , California - Arizona Maneuver Area. , Map of area showing placement of camps , Dedicated on the 40th anniversary of V-E Day, May 8, 1985 , U. S. Department of the Interior , Bureau of Land Management.

[This is a four sided monument displaying three different markers:]
Desert Training Center
Camp Young
Maj. Gen. George S. Patton Jr., U.S. Army, selected Camp Young as headquarters site for the Desert Training Center in March 1942. Camp Young was the administrative center for a simulated theater of operations that would eventually extend from Pomona, CA. to Phoenix, AZ., from Yuma, AZ to Boulder City, NV., and would include a network of training facilities at Camps Clipper, Coxcomb, Granite, Ibis, Iron Mountain and Pilot Knob in California, and Camps Bouse, Horn, Hyder and Laguna in Arizona.

Between 1942 and 1944 over one million men trained on the surrounding desert and participated in the most realistic war games under the harshest conditions imaginable. In a very important sense, many battles of World War II were won on these desert lands during these maneuvers.

This memorial is dedicated to the soldiers of the U.S. Army who participated in these events. The spirit which they displayed generated a spark that spread in every overseas theater in which they served.

Lt. Gen. Samuel B. M. Young
January 9, 1840 - September 2, 1924
The Desert Training Center Headquarters was named in honor of Lt. Gen. Samuel B. M. Young on May 12, 1942. As a Captain

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he served with distinction with the Army of the Potomac and later with the 8th Calvary along the Mojave Road in California and Arizona. He commanded a brigade during the Spanish-American War in Cuba and later in the Philippine Islands where he was appointed Military Governor of Northwest Luzon. In 1901 he was named President of the War College Board and went on to serve as the first President of the War College. In 1903 he was appointed the first Chief of Staff of the Army. A position he held until his retirement in 1904.

Desert Training Center
California - Arizona Maneuver Area
Map of area showing placement of camps
Dedicated on the 40th anniversary of V-E Day, May 8, 1985
U. S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management

Erected 1985 by Bureau of Land Management.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Military • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Desert Training Center series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 9, 1840.

Location. 33° 39.697′ N, 115° 43.367′ W. Marker is in Chiriaco Summit, California, in Riverside County. It can be reached from Chiriaco Road north of Interstate 10, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Indio CA 92201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker 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 once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers.

Lt. Gen. Samuel B. M. Young Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig

2. Lt. Gen. Samuel B. M. Young Marker

At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Desert Training Center (here, next to this marker); California-Arizona Maneuver Area (a few steps from this marker); Coachella Valley Recipients (a few steps from this marker); 33-barreled Organs (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cannons (about 300 feet away); Scythed Chariots (about 300 feet away); Catapults (about 300 feet away); Romero Pass (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chiriaco Summit.

Also see . . . Historic California Posts: Camp Young. (Submitted on December 30, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California.)

Desert Training Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig

3. Desert Training Center

California-Arizona Maneuver Area

Desert Training Center Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Thomas Chris English, June 16, 2010

4. Desert Training Center Marker

Original layout of Camp Young image. Click for full size.

Courtesy National Archives and Records Administration, Pacific Branch, Laguna Niguel, Calfornia., June 30, 2000

5. Original layout of Camp Young

Credits. This page was last revised on March 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 20, 2010, by Chris English of Phoenix, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,802 times since then and 78 times this year. Last updated on June 22, 2010, by Chris English of Phoenix, Arizona. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 6, 2012, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 4. submitted on June 20, 2010, by Chris English of Phoenix, Arizona. 5. submitted on December 30, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.