213th Newsletter Summer 2014

CALIFORNIA STATE MILITARY RESERVE

CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR MILITARY HISTORY

213th MILITARY HISTORY DETACHMENT (Deployable)

Camp Roberts, California

Summer Issue 15 September 2014

Camp Roberts Reveille

Welcome to the Summer

Issue of the 213th Military

History Detachment

(Deployable) Newsletter.

In this Issue:

Commander’s Corner

Museum Changes

East Garrison Part 2

Detachment Odds and

Ends

On the Funny Side

And Much More!

We hope you enjoy this

edition of the Camp Roberts

Reveille!

--CW4 (CA) Henry Leon

Commanding

California Center for Military

History

213th Military History

Detachment (Deployable)

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ON THE COVER:

Top: UH 60 Blackhawks

refueling during the

California National Guard

Annual Training in June

2014, the largest annual

training in over a decade. Photo: Used By Permission of

SFC Mary McDermott

Bottom: The 578th Brigade

Engineering Battalion was

stood up on the 14th of June

2014. The 578th was the

first Brigade Engineering

Battalion to be activated in

the National Guard. Photo: SGT (CA) Jason Orton

Camp Roberts Reveille

Summer 2014 Issue

Publisher:

213th Military History

Detachment (Deployable),

California Center for Military

History

Editor:

SGT (CA) Jason Orton

Contributors:

CW4 (CA) Henry Leon, SFC

(CA) Eddie Colis, SPC (CA)

Carrie McCulley.

Editing and Proofreading:

CW4 Ernest McPherson and

SGM (CA) Carlos Gama

The Camp Roberts Reveille

is the newsletter of the 213th

Military History Detachment

(Deployable) at Camp

Roberts. The newsletter is

published seasonally.

All Rights Reserved.

Material herein may not be

reprinted without express

written consent of the

publisher.

For mail correspondence:

1895 Ironwood Dr.

Santa Maria, CA 93455

Commander’s Corner

The old-timers and I remember how Camp Roberts looked prior

to the recent upgrades. Things are really looking up for the old

post. New roads, new utilities, new training facilities, new

runway surfaces, and the removal of the old structures have really

made the place look great once again.

The historic post is not the only place where things are looking

great these days. The Camp Roberts Museum has undertaken a

massive upgrade program of improvements and new exhibits. Museum

volunteers have been hard at work the last few months creating world class

exhibits.

Camp Roberts continues to be a busy Army base that trains soldiers for

deployment anywhere in the world. “Be ready, train, and go to your mission,

no matter where in the world it takes you,” has been an apt description of

soldiers that have trained on post for generations. It has not changed in the

years that Camp Roberts has been fielding soldiers in the years since it opened

for business. Camp Roberts may not be the showcase of other military posts;

but the old girl is setting the standard for training soldiers to complete the

mission and to go into conflicts anywhere and at anytime.

The post has attracted other military units to its upgraded, state-of-the-art

training facilities and ranges. Army Rangers came here for training earlier in

the year. This summer, the California Army National Guard conducted the

largest annual training in many years at the refurbished post. Upgrades to the

old runway and the conversion of the parade field into an airfield have allowed

for additional aircraft training on the post. Other nations are even taking notice

and looking to send their units to Camp Roberts to train in the future.

The old post that was nearly forgotten by the nation due to time and neglect is

back and better than ever! Camp Roberts is showing the nation and the world

that she still has what it takes to shine in today’s world of modern warfare

training. The attitude she is showing is one that says to all who will look that

California National Guard can do, will do!

.

CW4 HENRY LEON

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The original guard shack that greeted

visitors has been restored and added to

the museum. Museum staff matched the

original paint, added artifacts, and a

uniformed mannequin to depict how it

would have looked during the Korean

War Era. Photo: SGT (CA) Jason Orton

The Camp Roberts Laundry originally

served the 45,000 soldiers training and

serving on the post during World War II.

It employed 1,100 civilian workers in

three shifts making it the largest

commercial laundry west of Chicago.

The laundry carts pictured are original. Photo: SGT (CA) Jason Orton

The improvised explosive device has

been a key weapon of enemy forces

during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The new exhibit tells the story of these

weapons, has several examples, and

illustrates the training U.S. forces

underwent to deal with this threat. Photo: SGT (CA) Jason Orton

Big Changes at Camp Roberts Museum!

By SGT (CA) Jason Orton

A new dining facility, new Combined Arms Collective Training

Facility (mock city training area), new Tactical Unmanned Aircraft

System Facility (drones), new roads and water lines, upgraded

runways, and huge open areas where decaying, World War II era

buildings once stood are some of the major changes that have taken

place at Camp Roberts in the last year. The recent upgrades and

additions to the historic post are not the end of the changes. More

renovations are coming.

Camp Roberts is experiencing a renaissance of building and

upgrades. With $102 million dollars slated for renovating the

historic post over five years, the facility is really starting to look

nice. The upgrades are not sitting idle. During June 2014, over

4,500 soldiers descended on the historic post for the largest annual

training of the California

National Guard in over

12 years!

California National Guard Soldiers are not the only ones coming to

the post for training. In January, members of the 75th Ranger

Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Washington, came to Camp

Roberts. Others have also expressed an interest or are scheduled to

train at Camp Roberts in the future including soldiers from the

United Kingdom!

Not to be outdone, the hard working staff and volunteers at the

Camp Roberts museum have started on their own renovation project

focusing on the

museum’s annex. The

annex was the original

home to the museum

when founder Al Davis

started what would become one of the best military history museums

in the west. The building where the museum started was the original

post office for Camp Roberts during World War II.

Later, the museum would move its primary exhibits to the old Red

Cross headquarters building about a quarter mile up the road. The

former post office was then designated the museum annex and

featured military vehicles and additional exhibits.

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The Navy trained at Camp Roberts?

U.S. Navy Riverines came to Camp

Roberts during the Vietnam War to train

the boat crews in river warfare. The new

exhibit features items, photographs, and

information about the training conducted

by the Navy at Camp Roberts. Photo: SGT (CA) Jason Orton

Items, clothing, uniforms, and pictures

from the recent wars in Iraq and

Afghanistan have been added to the

upgraded Camp Roberts Museum

Annex. The new exhibits honor those

soldiers who have served in more recent

wars. Photo: SGT (CA) Jason Orton

The United Nations estimates there are

over 110 million active landmines

worldwide. Many US service personnel

faced these mines in Afghanistan and in

previous wars throughout the world. The

new exhibit portrays the history of mine

detection. Photo: SGT (CA) Jason Orton

Recent efforts by the museum staff and volunteers have resulted in

some fantastic upgrades to the museum annex. In addition to fresh

paint on the floors and walls, volunteers embarked on an ambitious

effort to create new exhibits. Walls were added to help separate the

large area into more orderly exhibit spaces. Displays were added

recognizing more current conflicts fought by Camp Roberts’ soldiers

including the recent campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. A highlight

of these additions is the new exhibit on Improvised Explosive

Devices (IEDs) and the training soldiers received in dealing with this

challenging weapon of the enemy.

The effort to recognize the service of more recent soldiers has not

lessened the museum’s efforts to recognize the post’s historic past

including its place as the largest basic training facility in World War

II. The exhibit featuring uniforms, weapons, and vehicles used in

the European theater was

upgraded. Also, exhibits

on the Camp Roberts hospital, post office, land mines and mine

detection, laundry during World War II, Navy Riverine training

during the Vietnam War, and other additions were added to help tell

the stories of the post. The old guard shack that many veterans

remember passing through has also been lovingly restored and

allows visitors to step back in time and see how it may have looked

during the Korean War era.

One of the outstanding ways that museum director Gary McMaster

and his staff have told the story of Camp Roberts is the use of

manequins in period

clothing and uniforms.

Unlike many museums,

where uniforms of the

past may only be in

cold, glass cases or on

simple body forms, the Camp Roberts museum utilizes full size

mannequins to give the exhibits a more realistic feeling. The

uniforms are able to be seen as they were worn and the figures add

depth to each exhibit.

The changes did not happen overnight nor did they happen

spontaneously. Several museum volunteers and donations from

individuals and businesses have made possible the many changes

that have taken place. Volunteers Mark Hale, Dirk Hale, Don

Avery, Gary McMaster and others have contributed countless

hours to the renovation efforts. Both corporate and individual donors have purchased memberships or life

memberships in the museum adding much needed funding to the renovation efforts.

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Photo of the Camp Roberts Parade Field after

resurfacing using Envirotac 11, more commonly known

by the name "Rhino Snot". Photo: Used by Permission of SFC Mary McDermott

Mobile control tower at the East Garrison Airfield

being used during the June annual training. Photo: Used By Permission of SFC Mary McDermott

Work continues on the renovations to Camp Roberts and the Historical Museum. The old post and museum are

looking great and are sure to please visitors who have not stopped by in several years. If you have not had a

chance to visit the museum, now is a great time to do so and see all the changes that have taken place. The

museum is open Thursday and Saturday from 9am to 4pm and is open to the public at no charge! For more

information, please vist their website at: http://camprobertshistoricalmuseum.com/

Call Sign: Roberts Radio (Part 2) By: CW4 (CA) Henry Leon

The 213th Military History Detachment

(Deployable) visited the Camp Roberts East

Garrison again in July. They observed Black

Hawks take to the air with loads of soldiers flying

off on their training mission conducted during the

largest annual training the post has seen in some

time. The East Garrison airfield will be sprayed

Envirotac 11, also known as Rhino Snot, some time

in the next few months, which will make the take

offs and landings much simpler and safer for the

crews and soldiers.

The Envirotac 11 is scheduled to go on just as soon

as the parade field is finished with its own treatment

of the ground hardening substance. If you have

not visited the main garrison parade field at Camp Roberts for some time, you will notice a big change in that

part of the field has been sprayed with Envirotac 11 giving it the look and feel of a newly paved air field.

Shortly, the remainder of the parade ground will be sprayed and used as a landing area for even more aircraft.

While visiting the East Garrison, unit members saw a launching involving multiple helicopters with such power

that the Detachment Commander remarked that he had not seen anything like it since the late 60s. Seen from

the control center, it was an added treat. The Black Hawks began to take off towards the main post firing range.

And then, the dust storm created by the rotor wash set in

and blanked out everything that could be seen through

the windows of the control center.

As soon as Main Post Parade Field is finished with the

upgrades, East Garrison will get its turn with the

Envirotac 11 runway coating. When finished, it will be

able to take helicopters more frequently and in great

numbers with fewer problems from dust blown by the

props. The runways, after treatment, will even be able to

handle the four-engine C-130 Hercules aircraft. The

older buildings that are no longer useable on East

Garrison will be torn down around September or October

2014.

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Soldiers in flight operations at the East Garrison

runway. Pictured from left to right are SGT Aeon

Gonzales, SSG Juan Munoz, and SPC Patrick

Gonzalez. Photo: SGT (CA) Jason Orton

Aviation units that took part in the July training at Camp Roberts and neighboring Fort Hunter Liggett were the

1/140th, 340th, and Utah’s Company A 1/211 Aviation Regiment. These units moved soldiers from Camp

Roberts to Fort Hunter Liggett and back again. They also transported soldiers from East Garrison to the firing

range at Camp Roberts. Much time and effort was undertaken to provide high quality training for our nation’s

fighting men and women.

On display, during those weeks in July, was the

might of United States training for war but hoping

for peace in spite of a history of thousands of years

of warfare on earth. These same aircraft may also

be used in the future to help a nation in crises from

manmade and natural disasters, bringing relief and

hope to people around the world.

The helicopters and crews are a visible symbol of a

nation intent on being ready to defend itself and the

soldiers ready to do their duty to complete whatever

mission they are given. The nation has a proud

tradition of citizen soldiers standing ready to go to

war and to protect the innocent. Soldiers of this

nation are dedicated to following the law, the

Constitution, and an unwavering belief in freedom and justice. Ours is a military that prepares for the worst and

hopes for the best.

To the soldiers of the Camp Roberts Aviation Detachment, thank you for your service and your assistance in writing this article.

CPT Brian Hirschkorn CW5 David Clark CW4 Kenneth R. Gatewood SFC Mary McDermott SSG Juan Munoz SGT Aeon Gonzales SGT Javier Ramos SPC Patrick Gonzalez PFC Anthony Marquez

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SFC Eddie Colis emerges from the hatch of

the Nike Missile site at Battery B on Angel

Island during the special tour of the cold war

facility for the California Center for Military

History during an August 2014 visit. Docents

provided special access to areas of the

facility not normally open to the public during

the overnight visit. Photo: Dave Nelson

213th Military History Detachment (Deployable) Odds and Ends

Angel Island History Tour with the California Center for Military History

Detachment soldier, SFC Eddie Colis, visited historic Angel

Island with other soldiers from the California Center for

Military History on August 9th and 10th, 2014. Angel Island

is located in the San Francisco Bay and is only accessible by

ferry.

Today, the island is a California State park but its military

history goes back to the 19th century when it was the site of

Fort McDowell. It served as a discharge depot during the

Spanish American war for returning soldiers. During World

War II it also processed returning troops but the facility was

closed in 1947.

In 1954 a Nike Missile station was added and the island once

again served the nation’s military, this time as part of the Cold

War. The missile site was decommissioned in 1962. The

historic Island also processed immigrants coming to the United

States during the early 20th century up until 1940. Today the

only active military installation still on the island is a light

house operated by the United States Coast Guard. At one point, three light houses existed on the island but only

one remains in use today as an aid to navigation.

The Nike Missile site was the main focus of the visit to Angel Island. Five state park docents provided a special

look at the cold war relic and other areas of the island not normally open to the public. Soldiers from the

California Center for Military History were given a rare insight into the workings of the missile facility during

their overnight trip. The historians shared part of the tour with a group of ghost hunters who spent most of the

night trying to find signs of the supernatural.

Comic Strip Artist Awarded Scholarship by the State Guard Association

Machaela Orton, the artist behind the “Jimmy Brave” comic strip, was awarded a $500 scholarship by the State

Guard Association of the United States. Her photo was featured alongside the other eight recipients of

scholarships in the summer issue of their newsletter. She was the only recipient from California to receive a

scholarship. The artist begins her first semester of college in September but will continue writing the “Jimmy

Brave” comic strip for the “Camp Roberts Reveille”.

213th Military History Detachment (Deployable) Drill Schedule 18 October 2014 1 November 2014 6 December 2014 *CSMR soldiers wishing to perform a SUTA with the 213th should contact CW4 (CA) Henry Leon in advance at: [email protected]. Dates are subject to change. All unit members will be notified of any changes as they occur. First formation time is 0800 at the Camp Roberts Museum Annex.

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Engineers of the newly created 578th

Brigade Engineering Battalion made history

by becoming the first National Guard unit to

be organized as this type of unit. Brigade

Engineering Battalions were created to give

Brigade Combat Teams greater engineering

manpower and resources. Photo: SGT (CA) Jason Orton

SGM (CA) Carlos Gama played the Tuba

with soldiers from the 40th Infantry Division

Band as part of the historic event at Camp

Roberts. The Sergeant Major also supports

the efforts of the 213th Military History

Detachment (Deployable) on post even

though his main duties are with the band. Photo: SFC (CA) Eddie Colis

Historic Unit Creation at Camp Roberts

The 213th Military History Detachment (Deployable)

normally only reports on history being made after the event

has happened, many times years after the historic event has

taken place. On June 14, 2014 they had the privilege of

seeing history made at Camp Roberts when the first Brigade

Engineering Battalion (BEB) in the Army National Guard

was stood up. LTC Zac Delwiche assumed command of the

newly formed 578th Brigade Engineering Battalion.

The BEB’s were first proposed by the Army in 2012 as a

means of increasing the manpower and the number of

engineer assets. Under the old system, each Brigade Combat

Team (BCT) had a Brigade Special Troops Battalion.

The new BEB’s will bring a more robust headquarters staff

and two engineer companies instead of the one engineer

company currently in infantry and Stryker Brigade Combat

Teams. The extra company will allow the BCT’s to be more

capable and more versatile in the theater of operations.

The staff will also be very heavy on engineers. Infantry and

Stryker Brigade Combat Teams gain approximately 120

engineers under the new configuration while heavy BCT’s would

gain about 200 engineers. The new configuration allows for

BCTs to be able to do bridging missions, horizontal construction,

and route clearance.

While the Army has already created Brigade Engineering

Battalions, the ceremony at Camp Roberts on June 14th was

historic as the first to be created in the Army National Guard.

BG Roy S. Webb, Deputy Commanding General of the Army

National Guard spoke at the ceremony about the historic nature

of the event. It was also fitting that this historic event should

take place on the 239th Birthday of the U.S. Army.

Sergeant Major Carlos Gama who has duty with the 40th

Infantry Division Band was on hand to play for the event. Gama

often is at Camp Roberts providing support to the 213th Military

History Detachment (Deployable) and has written for this newsletter in the past. He had alerted the detachment

that the historic event was taking place on post so that field historians could be present to document the event.

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Jokes!

What do you get when you drop a piano at an army base? A Flat Major! But what if it lands on a dependent? A Flat Minor! Billy had just finished up his physical with the doctor prior to joining the Navy. The doctor asked Billy why he wanted to join the Navy. Billy eagerly replied, “My father recommended that I join the Navy!” Curious, the doctor asked, “What does your father do Billy?” Without missing a beat Billy replied, “Oh, he’s in the Army!” A new Second Lieutenant fresh out of OCS ran into a soldier at the PX and asked, “Soldier, do you have change for a dollar.” The young soldier replied, “Sure thing buddy!” The new Lieutenant was furious and yelled, “That’s not the way to address an officer!!! Let’s try this again. Do you have change for a dollar!!?” The soldier went ramrod straight and said, “NO SIR, I DO NOT!”

That’s all for this issue! Be sure to check out the fall 2014 issue coming out in a few months!

Today’s Assignment:

Jimmy and Olive

draw each other…

Mine is way better

than yours!

Seriously? Take

a look at mine!

THAT LOOKS

NOTHING LIKE

ME!!!

Artistic

Interpretation!

Copyright Pending August 2014

By Machaela Orton

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Acknowledgements and Notes: The California State Military Reserve with the California Center for Military History and the 213th Military History Detachment (Deployable) at Camp Roberts, owe thanks to many people for this newsletter. First our thanks to Brigadier General (CA) Timothy E. Albertson, Commander of the CSMR and to Colonel (CA) Fred Rutledge, Acting Commander of the CCMH. Our thanks and appreciation for their support on Post: Gary McMaster (SFC, USA, Ret.), Chairman of the Post Museum Dirk Hale (SFC, USA, Ret.), First Vice Chairman and Treasurer Joan Hussey, Second Vice Chairman Don Avery, Secretary Douglas Baird (COL, USA, Ret.), Advisor Mark Hale, Construction Volunteer Ron Hysell, Vehicle Maintenance Volunteer And all those others past, present, and future who have volunteered or financially supported the museum. To the Camp Roberts Post Management and Leadership, also our gratitude. Post Commander, Colonel John N. Haramalis CW4 Robert T. Rall, Resource Manager CSM James E. Norris, Post Command Sergeant Major To the Unit members of the 213th Military History Detachment (Deployable), past and present, without which this newsletter would never have happened: CW4 Henry L. Leon SFC Eddie Colis, NCOIC SFC Philip Grenado (Ret.) SSG Carl Shultz (Ret.) SGT Jason Orton SPC Carrie McCulley Special thanks to retired CW4 Ernest McPherson and SGM Carlos Gama for help with editing and formatting. Thank you both for your continued support! This newsletter is dedicated to the men and women who have served and to those who carry on that tradition of excellence today in the armed forces. Be sure to check out future installments of the 213th Military History Detachment (Deployable) Newsletter. This issue and past issues can also be found online at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/239057215/213th-Newsletter-Summer-2014. For

best viewing, download the document from the website to your computer. The preview version on the website may not contain all the

photographs.

PLEASE NOTE NEW EMAIL ADDRESS. To receive by email this newsletter, send an email to [email protected] with “subscribe” in the subject line. To unsubscribe repeat the same process with “unsubscribe” in the subject line. Please update the SPAM filter on your email account. Many of our subscribers receive the newsletter through their Army Knowledge Online (AKO) email account. AKO is undergoing some changes that may limit access for some users. If you need to update the email address your subscription is sent to, please let us know at our new email address, [email protected]. For any input or comments, contact CW4 H. L. Leon at [email protected]. All messages will be answered. Suggestions or submissions for future article consideration are welcome. For mail correspondence: 1895 Ironwood Dr. Santa Maria, CA 93455 HENRY L. LEON CW4 (CA), CSMR Commanding

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency of the United States Government, the State of California, the National Guard, the California State Military Reserve, the California Center for Military History, the 213th Military History Detachment (Deployable), Camp Roberts, or the Camp Roberts Historical Museum.