Camp Horno is a camp at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in San Diego County, California. It is the home of the 1st Marine Regiment, sometimes known as "Inchon". As well as being home of MARSOC (Marine Special Operations Command). Camp Horno is predominantly a Marine infantry training area, other branch special operations forces also train at the camp. Camp Horno has earned the unofficial nick name "Grunt Land" by the infantry Marines, who are stationed there.
The camp was built in 1950 at the start of the Korean War and named for the Spanish word for clay oven or kiln. [1] Camp Horno initially consisted of Quonset huts that were typical housing for Marines until the 1970s. In 2008 four-story, 170-room barracks were built as part of a facilities renovation project. [2] Parts of Katy Perry's "Part of Me" music video where shot at Camp Horno in 2012. [3] Camp Horno is the frequent site of many Marine ceremonies due to the history of the 1st Marine Regiment and the unit's frequent deployments to combat zones. In January 2014, the regiment celebrated its 100th anniversary at the camp during a ceremony directed by Col. Peter Baumgarten, the regiment's commanding officer and a Marine whose first tour of duty was at Camp Horno in 1988. Recently in 2023 building 53450 commonly known as the "Crack Bricks" was puked on by acting Sargent Major of the Marine Corps, Sargent Major Black. It was not the first time Sargent Major Black visited the Crack Bricks, as he lived in them as a junior marine.Camp horno is also known for being the biggest hotspot for hazing allegations throughout any base in the marine corp. [4]
In February, 2004, Kimberley D. O'Neal was found shot to death in a park at Camp Horno. [5] Gunnery Sgt. Archie O'Neil Jr. of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment (based in Camp Horno) was arrested before deploying with his unit to Kuwait. [6]
A fire in October 2007 dubbed the "Horno Fire" burned over 20,000 acres in the area around Camp Horno. [7] It was reported to be the worst fire ever at Camp Pendleton but there were no injuries. [8]
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps and is one of the largest Marine Corps bases in the United States. It is on the Southern California coast in San Diego County and is bordered by Oceanside to the south, San Clemente in Orange County to the north, Riverside County to the northeast, and Fallbrook to the east.
North County is a region in the northern area of San Diego County, California. It is the second-most populous region in the county, with an estimated population of 869,322. North County is well known for its affluence, especially in Encinitas, Carlsbad, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, Poway and Solana Beach, where house prices range, on average, above $1,000,000. Cities along the 78 freeway have more mixed incomes.
Edson Range is a firing range complex at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, near Oceanside, California. It is named for Marine Major General "Red Mike" Edson, "a World War II Medal of Honor recipient and a distinguished small arms marksman proponent." This rifle-qualification complex is home to four of the largest firing ranges on the base. The range became operational on August 21, 1964, the same day that Camp Calvin B. Matthews, in La Jolla, California, was closed and turned over to the University of California. Camp Matthews had previously been used for rifle training.
Clinton A. Puckett was a United States Marine who served as the 6th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps from February 1, 1973, until he retired from active duty on May 31, 1975. He served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War; receiving the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism for actions in Korea. He was the last Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps to have served in World War II.
3rd Battalion, 1st Marines (3/1) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Horno on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. Nicknamed the "Thundering Third", the battalion consists of approximately 1,200 Marines and Sailors and falls under the command of the 1st Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division.
1st Battalion, 5th Marines (1/5) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California consisting of approximately 800 Marines and sailors. Nicknamed Geronimo, it falls under the command of the 5th Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division. The battalion was formed in 1914 and has served in every major conflict that the United States has been involved in since then.
5th Battalion, 11th Marines (5/11) was a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) battalion consisting of four Firing Batteries and a Headquarters Battery. The battalion is stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. It is the first active duty HIMARS Unit in the Marine Corps. They fall under the command of the 11th Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division. This is the only battalion in the 11th Marine Regiment not using the M777A2 lightweight howitzer.
Harold G. Overstreet is a retired United States Marine who served as the 12th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps from 1991 to 1995.
Leland D. Crawford was a United States Marine who served as the 9th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps from 1979 to 1983.
John R. Massaro is a retired United States Marine who served as the 8th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps from 1977 to 1979.
Private First Class Gary Wayne Martini was a United States Marine who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for heroism in April 1967 during the Vietnam War.
Brigadier General Harry Bluett Liversedge, whose regiment figured in the historic raising the flag on Iwo Jima, was a United States Marine who died in 1951 after almost 25 years of service. His last assignment was as director of the Marine Corps Reserve.
Herman Henry Hanneken was a United States Marine Corps officer and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
General Merrill Barber Twining was a United States Marine Corps general who received a "tombstone promotion" to four-star general upon retirement. He was the brother of Air Force General Nathan Farragut Twining, and the nephew of Rear Admiral Nathan Crook Twining.
Major General Joseph Henry Pendleton was a United States Marine Corps general for whom Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is named. Pendleton served in the Marine Corps for over 40 years.
Wilburt Scott Brown was a United States Marine Corps general who was a combat veteran of World War I, the Nicaraguan campaign, World War II, and the Korean War. He served in the Marine Corps for thirty-five years, from 1918 to 1953.
Jofegan is an abandoned settlement in California. It is named after General Joseph Fegan, who was a commander at Camp Pendleton. The settlement predates the O'Neill Ranch at the center of the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in San Diego County, California, United States. It is adjacent to an out-of-use railroad to the West of Vandegrift Boulevard, and South of Lake O'Neill.
Julian Neil Frisbie was a highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of brigadier general, who is most noted for his service as commanding officer of the 7th Marine Regiment during the Battle of Cape Gloucester and later as warden of Southern Michigan Prison during 1952 riots.
John Thaddeus Walker was a highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps, who reached the rank of lieutenant general. He is most noted as commanding officer of the 22nd Marine Regiment during Battle of Eniwetok. He later served as director of personnel or commanding general of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.
Joseph Charles Fegan Jr. was a highly decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of lieutenant general. A son of Major General Joseph C. Fegan, he received several citations for bravery during three wars and completed his career as commanding general, Marine Corps Development and Education Command.