California Center for Military History - Camp Roberts

Chief warrant officer Mark J. Denger, a talented military historian, once again deserves the credit for conceiving the idea of publishing our commands second in a series of photographic history books. We are indebted to him for providing the inspiration, guidance, and scholarly leadership that led to the success of this and other projects. Each chapter of this book has been written as a collaborative effort by different members of the California Center for Military History. Lt. Col. Donald L. Urquidez and WO1 Brett A. Landis, both teachers in civilian life, contributed to the initial research as well as the writing of the history of this facility. We are also beholden to Maj. Roger D. McGrath, history professor and noted author, and CW2 Denger, who contributed their time and talents to the final editing of this work.

While the photographs utilized here came principally from the collections of the California National Guard, Camp Roberts, and the California State Military Museum, we would like to extend a special thanks to John Campos of Whittier, California, for his donation of several historical World War II photographs of Camp Roberts. We also wish to thank Franco M. Federici, Derk Hale, Gary McMaster, and the staff at the Camp Roberts Historical Museum for their assistance in this endeavor. Special recognition goes to CW2 Denger and WO1 Brett A. MacDonald, who were tasked with the most time-consuming part of this work, the scanning of the hundreds of historical photographs for historical preservation as well as for their use in this book. Lt. Col. John R. Justice, who recently assumed command of the Naval History Research and Study Element, provided the necessary operational and logistics support for the southern area, and Capt. George J. Albert Jr., similarly provided operational support in the northern area of the state, each contributing their particular talents to the operational needs of this command.

On behalf of all of the members of the California Center for Military History, I wish to acknowledge the support of Arnold Schwarzenegger, governor of the State of California, and Brig. Gen. John R. Alexander, the Acting Adjutant General (TAG) of the State Military Forces, who made these opportunities possible. The California Center for Military History also extends our gratitude to Brig. Gen. (Ret.) William G. Hamilton of the California Military Museum Foundation, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Donald E. Mattson and the staff at the California State Military Museum, Major General Walter P. Story Memorial Library and Research Center, and the Sons of the Revolution Library and Museum for their courteous assistance. Finally, I would like to express my humble gratitude to Col. Kenneth Nielsen, commanding officer, California Center for Military History and each member of this command. The dedication, devotion to duty, and talent of the members of this command has resulted in yet another fine contribution to the preservation of Californias military history.

Col. Norman S. Marshall, CA SMR (Ret.)
Naval History Research and Study Element
California Center for Military History

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One

EL RANCHO NACIMIENTO

The ranch owes its name to the river that flows through itthe Nacimiento. Fr. Juan Crespi gave the river its name in September 1769 when the Portola expedition reached its banks after crossing the formidable Santa Lucia Mountains from the coast. Reckoning that the party was close to the rivers headwaters, Fr. Crespi named it Nacimiento, meaning source. A later Spanish expedition assumed the Franciscan had named the river in honor of the Nativityanother meaning for the wordand this understandable misconception gained wide currency.

An American, George Flint, first bought El Rancho Nacimiento in the early 1860s. In the mid-1870s, he built the propertys original ranch house on a mesa above the east bank of the river. He also built a stable, a barn, corrals, storerooms, a granary, and a rodeo ground. Flint sold Nacimiento to an Australian rancher, A. F. Benton, who also owned a large tract of grazing lands 25 miles to the south of Nacimiento. Benton sold most of the ranch to Baron J. H. Schroeder, a German war hero, who, in 1910, sold it to Isais W. Hellman.

Under the ownership of Hellman, and the management of Fred Bixby and M. Wilson, the ranch was fully developed. By 1920, the ranch also included a cofferdam, a large reservoir, and a butcher shop to supply meat to its ranch hands and their families. After 1920, management of the ranch fell to Eli Wright, a native of the Salinas Valley. At the age of 15, Wright had worked on the ranch under George Flint, not imagining that one day he would be managing the vast spread. Wright and his family lived in the original house built by Flint until 1928, when the old house was torn down and replaced by the present ranch house.

The Armys interest in the Nacimiento Ranch began in 1901. Responding to Congressional authorization for development of military posts, a commission was created to consider Nacimiento and several other ranches in central California as sites for building camps. In 1902, in the commissions report to Congress, the Nacimiento property was declared ideal for one regiment of cavalry with excellent sites for artillery and rifle ranges. However, a Salinas Valley physician wrote to Pres. Theodore Roosevelt, stating that there were periodic outbreaks of disease in the valley and that the summertime temperatures were 90 to 120 degrees in the shade. To build a camp at Nacimiento Ranch would be a cruel injustice to our soldiers, concluded the doctor. The letter caused the government to demand further investigation before acquisition of the land. Meanwhile, other properties moved ahead of Nacimiento for consideration.

It was not until 1940, with another world war looming, that Congress finally authorized funds to acquire the Nacimiento Ranch and build a training facility. With the exception of 450 acres that would remain in the hands of the Hellman Estate for grazing cattle, the ranch was turned over to the U.S. government during the fall of 1940. Construction of the Main or West Garrison began on November 15, 1940. Formal change of ownership, however, was not completed until early 1943.

As in the days of old, large numbers of beef cattle grazed on the vast, unfenced acreage. Hellmans managing partners, Fred Bixby and M. Wilson, pictured here on the Nacimiento Ranch in 1920s, kept a watchful eye on the herds.

When Isias W. Hellman purchased the lands that made up El Rancho Nacimiento in the 1920s, he began to build corrals, water tanks, watering troughs, and bunk houses. The original ranch house was to the left of these structures.