Camp Clipper!

Camp Clipper
Landmark #985-5 San Bernardino County Visited: March 22, 2014 Plaque?  YES! 🙂
What is it? A plaque marking the site of Camp Clipper, one of General Patton’s Desert Training Centers!
What makes it historical? THE GUIDE SAYS: Camp Clipper was established at a site that reached from Essex Road to this location in the Spring of 1942. It was one of twelve 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, Granite, Pilot Knob, Laguna, Horn, Ryder, Bouse and Rice. 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 two 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. The 33rd and 93rd Infantry Divisions were trained here.

OTHER TIDBITS: That pretty well sums it up!

How can I Help the Helpers? HERE’S HOW:

  • Become a member of the General Patton Memorial Museum!
  • Join your local chapter of E Clampus Vitus!
  • Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
Where is this place? LISTED DIRECTIONS:
37 mi W of Needles on I-40 and 115 mi E of Barstow at Fenner Rest Area eastbound

ANNOTATIONS:
This rest stop was shut down when I visited, but was that going to stop me? NO! I pulled over just past the rest stop’s exit, and that gave me just enough time to photograph the plaque and scram!

From Los Angeles: ~223mi (359km) — 3.8hrs
From Sacramento: ~516mi (831km) — 8.6hrs
From San Diego: ~285mi (459km) — 4.8hrs
From San Francisco: ~522mi (841km) — 8.7hrs

When should I go? Whenever the mood strikes you!

Click here to see more California historical landmarks!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.