Camp Stoneman

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World War II combat survivors of Company B, 124th Infantry Regiment, 31st Infantry Division, at Camp Stoneman in December 1945 WWII Survivors Company B 124th Infantry 31st Division.jpg
World War II combat survivors of Company B, 124th Infantry Regiment, 31st Infantry Division, at Camp Stoneman in December 1945

Camp Stoneman was a United States Army facility located in Pittsburg, California. It served as a major troop staging area for and under the command of the San Francisco Port of Embarkation (SFPOE). [1] The camp operated during World War II and the Korean War.

The camp opened May 28, 1942 as a staging point for units deploying to the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II. [2] The camp was named after George Stoneman, a cavalry commander during the American Civil War and Governor of California. It was decommissioned as a military post in 1954.

March 21, 1951, view of Pittsburg, California, with Camp Stoneman in the lower left, bordered by Railroad Ave., Contra Costa Canal, and California Street 1951 03 21 - NARA ON004379 - 471 rotated (from Seth Washburne for The Thirsty 13th).jpg
March 21, 1951, view of Pittsburg, California, with Camp Stoneman in the lower left, bordered by Railroad Ave., Contra Costa Canal, and California Street

The camp had a railroad track across the north side for receiving and shipping men. Late in the war the SFPOE experimented with embarking troops directly aboard a Liberty ship at the camp but that was not successful due to difficulties of large ship navigation to the camp. [1] Next to the track, there were many buildings with loading docks, many of which were still there in 2017 along Bliss Avenue. There were seven barracks areas, each consisting of nine blocks (3 x 3) surrounding a mess hall.

In addition to being a staging area for troops in transit, the Pacific Coast Transportation Corps Officer Training School was located at the camp. [2] The camp also housed prisoners of war with the Italian Service Unit of the 18th Italian Quartermaster Service Company, which was based at the camp. [3]

Units staged at Camp Stoneman

345th Bombardment Group (Air Apaches)

First Special Service Force, August 30 to September 4, 1943

References

  1. 1 2 Wardlow, Chester (1956). The Technical Services—The Transportation Corps: Movements, Training, And Supply. United States Army In World War II. Washington, DC: Center Of Military History, United States Army. pp. 118, 127. LCCN   55060003. Archived from the original on October 31, 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 Wardlow, Chester (1999). The Technical Services—The Transportation Corps: Responsibilities, Organization, And Operations. United States Army In World War II. Washington, DC: Center Of Military History, United States Army. p. 124. LCCN   99490905. Archived from the original on October 31, 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  3. ↑ militarymuseum.org, Prisoner of War Camps and Italian Service Units in California
  4. ↑ History of the 841st EAB, Memorandum from Office of 841st EAB Battalion Commander dated January 1944
  5. ↑ Stanton, Shelby L. (1991). Wortld War II Order of Battle. New York: Galahad Books. p. 158. ISBN   0-88365-775-9.
  6. ↑ "2d Filipino Battalion (Separate) (Formerly 1st Battalion, 2d Filipino Regiment) Service Summary". history.army.mil. United States Army. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  7. ↑ HortoN, Glenn R (1995). THE BEST IN THE SOUTHWEST - THE 380TH BOMB GROUP IN WORLD WAR II. Savage, MN: Moise Publications. ISBN   0-9645959-0-7.
October 11, 1947, view of Camp Stoneman (rotated horizontal), bordered by Railroad Avenue on west, Contra Costa Canal on the south, and what in 2017 are California Avenue on the north, and Arlington Circle to the east 1947 10 11 - NARA ON003001-426 - Nr 608 per Seth Washburne and The Thirsty 13th.jpg
October 11, 1947, view of Camp Stoneman (rotated horizontal), bordered by Railroad Avenue on west, Contra Costa Canal on the south, and what in 2017 are California Avenue on the north, and Arlington Circle to the east
1945 sketch of Camp Stoneman identifying Railroad Avenue and Bliss Avenue (other streets have new names) Camp Stoneman Brochure map per Seth Washburne and The Thirsty 13th.jpg
1945 sketch of Camp Stoneman identifying Railroad Avenue and Bliss Avenue (other streets have new names)
Camp Stoneman Gate 1, at what is now 2527 Railroad Avenue, looking east. The pylon on the left is now one block east, in a park at Harbor Street and Presidio Lane. NARA RG 111-SC Box 665 1947 10 01 - Gate 1 looking up Grant Drive 2.jpg
Camp Stoneman Gate 1, at what is now 2527 Railroad Avenue, looking east. The pylon on the left is now one block east, in a park at Harbor Street and Presidio Lane.

38°00′33.5″N121°53′11.65″W / 38.009306°N 121.8865694°W / 38.009306; -121.8865694

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