Historic California Posts, Camps,
Stations and Airfields
Dedication of the National Guard
Training Camp, San Luis Obispo
Entrance to the National
Guard Training Camp, 40th Division, circa 1928.
(California Military Department)
The following article appeared in the
July 1928 issue of the Golden State Guardsmen.
Formal Dedication
of N.G.T.C, 40th Division at San Luis Obispo Successful:
July 4th Celebration Indicates
Enthusiastic Support of San Luis Obispo Citizens
The July 4th celebration at San Luis Obispo
and at the new National Guard Traiuning Camp, 40th Division,
was unusually successful and demonstrated the great interest
of the citizens of San Luis Obispo County. Fully 12,000 citizens
gathered in the City of San Luis Obispo and at the new Camp to
welcome the 184th Infantry Regiment, to participate in the dedication
of the camp, an to observe the Nation's Day.
Parade in Morning
First, there was a parade in the morning
in the city of San Luis Obispo, consisting of the 184th Infantry
Regiment, California National Guard, Veterans of Foreign Wars,
American Legion, service clubs and other organizations, which
took fully three-fourths of anhour to pass. The many floats,
beautiffuly arranged, the efficiency of the whole parade, would
have done credit to a city ten times as large as San Luis Obispo,
and was an amazing demonstration to the Guardsmen an to the visitors
from other cities. The 184th Infantry Regiment gave a good demonstration,
both in strength and efficiancy, and won the applause of the
entire city.
Luncheon at Camp
Next, all of San Luis Obispo County (a
minimum of ten thousand people) came to the new Camp where luncheon
was served by the Citizens' Committee in charge of the celebration.
Ice cream and cake was furnished by this Committee to each of
the enlisted men's messes of the 184th Infantry Regiment.
Dedication and Review at
1:30
At 1:30,following the luncheon, the 184th
Infantry Regiment formed for a Review before Brigadier General
R.E. Mittelstaedt, Col. John U. Calkins, Jr.,Chief of Staff of
the 40th Division, Honorable H. E. Twisselmann, Chairman of the
Board of Supervisors of San Luis Obispo County, and other dignitaries.
The Camp was formally dedicated by Gemeral Mittelstaedt, and
the troops marched by in the Review, before the thousands of
eager spectators who filled every available knoll, hill, road
and viewpoint within the confines of teh camp. Never has a greater
crowd of citizens ever gathered at a National Guard camp or a
National Guard Armory or a Natonal Guard undertaking of any kind.
184th Field Meet Followed
The 184th Infantry Regimental Field Day
followed the Review. Col. Wallace Mason had held out the athletes
from the Review so that the games and races might start immediately
so that the visitors might witness the prowess of the men from
the great valleys of California. The new swimming pool was ready,
and the first Swimming Meet of the California National Guard
in the beautiful new pool was staged for the benefit of the men
as well as the visitors. As a afinale, a baseball game engaged
the interest of those who follow baseball.
Baseball game during
the 184th Infantry Regiment's Field Day, 4 July 1928. Note the
number of cars from the surrounding civilian community. (California
Military Department)
Forty-Eight Guns - The National
Salute
As a fitting close for this great day,
the 184th Infantry Regiment fired a forty-eight gun salute to
the Union - the Nation's salute, as a fitting closefor the Fourth
of July, while the Celebration Committee fied daylight firewirks
which held the interest of the crowd.
And then the celebration lasted far into
the night. Just how this may have slowed up training of 184th
Infantry Regiment the next day has not been reported, but suffice
it to say that San Luis Obispo has had the presence of mind to
promote two (not one, mind you, but two) dances for the men of
the 184th Infantry Regiment, and the two dances kept going until
past midnight. The evening fireworks battle of fireworks battleships
blown up, and fireworks gun batteries raising havoc with fireworks
gunboats, etc.
Much credit for the success of the occaision
is due the American Legion Post of San Luis Obispo, which post
has done much to help the National Guard, and to Dr. Butler,
Chairman of the General Committee, who worked very hard to insure
a successful welcome for the California National Guard.
The men of the 184th Infantry Regiemnt
are already talking about the "next camp", which clearly
indicates that San Luis Obispo has "taken" the hearts
of the men, and thereby the success of future camps of the 40th
National Guard Division hgas been assured.
Transcribed by SGM (CA) Dan
Sebby, Military Historian, California Military Department
Images of the
Newly Constructed National Guard Training Camp, 40th Division,
San Luis Obispo
The newly constructed
National Guard Training Camp, 40th Division, San Luis Obispo
circa 1928. The Infantry Brigade Area is to the left, the Field
Artillery Regimenal Area is at the bottom and the 40th Division
Headquarters and warehouses in between. The parade ground/airfield
is on the right. (California Military Department)
Newly constructed
company mess halls in the Infantry Brigade Area (now West Facility,
California Mens Colony State Prison) (California Military Department)
Newly constructed
company enlisted mess.
Carpenters fabricating
platforms for squad tents. These building are latrines/bathhouses
that were opposite of the end of company areas from the mess
halls.
Grading what is today
the Officers' Club parking lot (California Military Department)
