California State Military Department
The California State Military Museum
A United States Army Museum Activity
Preserving California's Military Heritage
Satellite and Partner Museums
Camp Roberts Historical Museum and Museum Annex
Museum Exhibits
 
Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger
 
Caspar Weinberger, Secretary of Defense under President Reagan, was one of the early soldiers to attend Army Basic Training at Camp Roberts in 1941--as the Camp was still nearing completion.

The fake rifle and hand grenades crafted from wood that the Army provided him and his fellow trainees made a lasting impression on him. When he became Secretary of Defense he was a crusader in providing the military with proper state-of-the-art weapons and equipment. After Basic Training at Camp Roberts, he attended OCS and was commissioned as an Army Officer. He also met and married Mrs. Weinberger, an Army nurse, in the South Pacific during World War II. The Weinberger Family graciously provided personal effects and photographs for this informative exhibit.
 
 
Army Chaplains
Here is a photo of the exhibit on post chaplains and chapels. Chaplain Gearhart here was a Camp Roberts Chaplain during WWII and later was transferred to the South Pacific.
 
Women's Army Corps in World War II
This photo is from the WAC Exhibit, which tells the story of the members of the Women’s Army Corps assigned to Camp Roberts during World War II.
 
 
Camp Roberts in World War II
 
This photo is of an exhibit showing what a typical office at Camp Roberts would have looked like on December 7, 1941. The officer is dressed in the popular ‘pinks and greens” uniform.
 
This photo shows one of the original telephone switchboards, one of eight serving the Camp from WWII into the 1970s when the Camp went to an automated system.
 
 
Val Rosing and Soldier Shows at Camp Roberts
This is a photo of the entrance to the Val Rosing Exhibit. As Camp Roberts Entertainment Director during WWII, Rosing produced many live shows for soldiers here, including Red Skelton’s live stage shows. He used soldier talent and contract players from MGM.
One of the many live stage productions, Desert Song, is represented in this exhibit.
 
Korean War
 
Barracks Interior
 
Camp Roberts Range Noncommisioned Officer
 
Soldier dressed in winter combat uniform.
 
Vietnam
 
This photo is from the Vietnam Exhibit. It shows a US Army Special Forces soldier in the early years of hostilities, in a jungle setting. The uniform is from LTC Larry Kimmel, a former US Army Special Forces soldier in Vietnam and later a National Guard officer who served as the Camp’s fulltime Officer-in-Charge.
 
Persian Gulf War
This is part of the exhibit on Desert Storm in the Museum Annex, showing an Iraqi soldier and female civilian in traditional dress.
 
Global War on Terrorism
 
This photo is from the exhibit on Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (Iraq Campaign) and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (Aphganistan Campaign), dealing with the many California Army National Guard units who have mobilized through Camp Roberts in recent years to the Middle East, and the training they received here. It shows a US soldier and an Iraqi soldier, with their load-bearing equipment.


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