Near Vidal in San Bernardino County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Granite Divisional Camp

Camp Granite

— Desert Training Center, California-Arizona Maneuver Area —

Granite Divisional Camp Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, December 26, 2010

1. Granite Divisional Camp Marker

Inscription. Camp Granite was established at this site in the spring of 1942. It was one of fifteen such camps built in the southwestern deserts to harden and train United States troops for service on the battlefields of World War II. The Desert Training Center was a simulated theater of operations that included portions of California, Arizona and Nevada. The other camps were Young, Coxcomb, Iron Mountain, Ibis, Clipper, Pilot Knob, Laguna, Horn, Hyder, Bouse, Desert Center and Needles.

A total of 13 infantry divisions and 7 armored divisions plus numerous smaller units were trained in this harsh environment. The Training Center was in operation for almost 2 years and was closed early in 1944 when the last units were shipped overseas. During the brief period of operation over one million American soldiers were trained for combat.

This monument is dedicated to all the soldiers that served here and especially those who gave their lives in battle, ending the holocaust and defeating the armed forces of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Imperial Japan.

Erected 2015 by Billy Holcomb Chapter of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus, the Southern California Chapter of the Military Vehicle Collector's Club, and the Society of Vituscan Missionaries, in co-operation with The Bureau

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of Land Management, Needles Resource Area. (Marker Number 153.)

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

Location. 34° 4.828′ N, 115° 7.988′ W. Marker is near Vidal, California, in San Bernardino County. Marker is on California Route 62 at milepost 90.5, on the right when traveling east. On I-10, about 46 miles east of Indio at Desert Center, take SR-177 north. In 27 miles turn right onto SR-62. In another 5.4 miles the marker is at a turnout on the right. It is about 60 miles east of Twentynine Palms. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Vidal CA 92280, 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. Iron Mountain Divisional Camp (approx. ¼ mile away); Palen Pass (approx. 13.6 miles away).

More about this marker. The 90th Infantry Division was stationed at Camp Granite, one of the least preserved camps of the DTC/CAMA. The 90th Infantry fought in the Battles of Normandy, The Falaise Pocket, Metz and Czechoslovakia.
SOURCE: Billy Holcomb Chapter 1069 35th Anniversary Plaque Book by Phillip Holdaway

Also see . . .

Photographed By Jeff McKaughan,

2. Granite Divisional Camp Marker

1. Desert Training Center, California-Arizona Maneuver Area. This was the largest Army base in the world covering some 18,000 square miles. It stretched from the outskirts of Pomona, California eastward to within 50 miles of Phoenix, Arizona, southward to the suburbs of Yuma, Arizona and northward into the southern tip of Nevada. It existed primarily to train U.S. forces in desert warfare for the North African campaign. (Submitted on January 4, 2011, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.)

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

Photographed By William Pearson, March 21, 2015

3. Granite Divisional Camp Marker

Dennis Parker, Eric Nielsen, Bill Pearson, Jeff McKaughan, and Chris Shendrick were responsible for restoring this monument.

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, December 26, 2010

4. Granite Divisional Camp Marker

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, December 26, 2010

5. Granite Divisional Camp Marker

Map of Camp Granite and Vicinity (ca. 1943) image. Click for full size.

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

6. Map of Camp Granite and Vicinity (ca. 1943)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 4, 2011, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,179 times since then and 16 times this year. Last updated on May 6, 2015, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. Photos: 1. submitted on January 4, 2011, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 2. submitted on April 15, 2015, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 3. submitted on March 27, 2015, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 4, 5. submitted on January 4, 2011, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 6. submitted on December 30, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.