Camp Kearny Research Paper

America mobilized as fast as it could, establishing training camps, such as Camp Fremont in Menlo Park and Camp Kearny (now Miramar Naval Air Station) north of San Diego. Los Angeles tried to locate the camp closer, protesting that San Diego had too much crime. The government didn’t listen. San Diego was chosen and a camp was created from a dry desolate area. The brush and sand mesas were so out in the country that long after taps, soldiers were serenaded with coyotes. Civilians worked hard to create Camp Kearny, building roads, rails, sewer, water, gas and electric systems, constructed so fast a motor division and a cavalry unit with 20,000 horses and mules moved in by June. Others joined in making Camp Kearny a more hospitable place. Ellen B. Scripps of La Jolla donated $15,000 for library books; the YMCA set up a hostess house at the New Southern Hotel. Camp Kearny was ready for General Hunter Liggett’s inspection in September. There were 1,162 buildings, including 10 warehouses and 140 mess halls. The camp also had airplane hangars, a huge hospital, and trenches for trench-warfare practice. It could easily house 40,000 troops. Seeing the progress which had been made in so short a time,

They were either killed in action, died of disease, wounds or accidents. A biographical sketch of most of these veterans can be found in “Long Beach in the World War,” edited by Denson W. Gee for the Long Beach American Legion. Something to note: Long Beach Public Library staff was responsible for gathering all the data, the original submissions (which were edited for the book) can be found in the Long Beach Collection of the public library. Many of those who died are buried in France, Belgium and Greece. Five are buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C. I’ve chosen to write about those buried in Long Beach cemeteries, with a few