This cache is located at the newly established wildlife viewing
area at Pollock's Point on the New River. If you are lucky you can
see a beautiful sunrise over the four corners of the New River and
the Intracoastal Waterway. If you are lucky you can see shrimp
boats and clammers running up and down the river. This viewing
areais a public area located near the Marine Base at Camp
Lejeune.
Camp Lejeune and Onslow County have come a long way since
September 1941 when the 1st Marine Division set up camp in the
middle of a sandy pine forest along the Atlantic Seaboard. Units
have come to train and deployed around the globe to fight wars.
A tobacco barn, farm house and temporary tent cities have grown
into a 246-square mile premier military training facility. A bond
and lifestyle have grown encompassing the Marines, Sailors, family
members, military retirees and civilians who planted the seeds that
are seeing Onslow County grow.
The Camp Lejeune story began 58 years ago. World War II had
started and military planners were posturing forces for America's
eminent entry to the fight. The need for an East Coast amphibious
training facility was answered as the War Department purchased an
initial 11,000 acre tract of land. With close roximity to ports at
Wilmington and Morehead City, Lejeune was a logistical gem. When
planners added the remote pine forests and miles of beach the value
of Camp Lejeune as a home training base for Marines was
unbeatable.
May 1, 1941, LtCol. William P.T. Hill, was ordered by the 17th
Commandant LtGen. (then Major General) Thomas Holcomb to establish
and assume command of the base, then known as Marine Barracks New
River, N.C. His original headquarters was located at Montford Point
and in August of 1942 it was moved to Building #1 at Hadnot Point,
where it remains today.
Near the end of 1942, the base took on the name of Camp Lejeune,
named in honor of the 13th Commandant and Commanding General of the
2d Army Division in World War I, MajGen. John A. Lejeune. The value
of this land to the Marine Corps has grown over the years as men
have trained to fight wars in Korea, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia and
have deployed for such actions as peacekeeping in Lebanon and a
host of noncombatant evacuation operations throughout this
decade
The idea of Special Operations Capable Marine Expeditionary
Units was born at Camp Lejeune and Marines here continue to make
strides toward the future of warfare in such as areas as urban and
riverine operations. Camp Lejeune and the satellite facilities at
Camp Geiger, Camp Johnson, Stone Bay and the Greater Sandy Run
Training Area have a historic value that goes beyond their national
strategic importance.
Camp Johnson, which now serves a crucial role in the follow-on
training of thousands of Marines every year, was the first training
base for black Marines. Originally known as Montford Point, black
Marines attended boot camp here while the nation was still racially
segregated. After the walls of segregation came down, it was named
in honor of SgtMaj. Johnson and Marine Corps Service Support
Schools was located there. Outside the gate of Camp Johnson stands
a solemn tribute to Marines and Sailors who gave their lives trying
to keep the peace in the Middle Eastern country of Lebanon. The
Beirut Memorial is the site of an annual commemoration of the
tragic October 1983 bombing of Battalion Landing Team 1/8's
Headquarters in Beirut. A visit to the Jacksonville area isn't
complete without a stop at this memorial.
Camp Geiger is a vital training center unto itself. With more
than 12,000 Marines undergoing Marine Combat Training every year,
it is a hub of activity that mirrors the original days in 1941 when
the 1st Marine Division prepared to ship-out to the Pacific. Today
Camp Lejeune boasts 11 miles of beach capable of supporting
amphibious operations. There are 78 live-fire ranges, 98 maneuver
areas, 34 gun positions, 54 tactical landing zones and a
state-of-the-art Military Operations in Urban Terrain training
facility. Military forces from around the world come to Camp
Lejeune on a regular basis for bilateral and NATO-sponsored
exercises.
The base is home to an active duty, dependent, retiree and
civilian employee population of nearly 150,000 people. The base
generates $3 billion in commerce each year, coming from payrolls
and contracts let to support the structure required to train and
equip our modern Marines. From the supporting infrastructure, a
tradition of excellence in doing day-to-day business has evolved.
From environmental programs that include a state of the art
landfill and water treatment system to quality of life programs
that ensure Marine families are taken care of, Camp Lejeune stands
out as a superior military base.
Camp Lejeune is a five-time recipient of the
Commander-in-Chief's Award for Installation Excellence. This award
recognizes the base on a Department of Defense-level for
effectively managing assets and developing quality programs to
accomplish the mission of providing expeditionary forces in
readiness. The Marines, Sailors and civilian employees who provide
for the efficient management of Camp Lejeune's assets strive to
ensure that even grander goals are realized in the future. The most
recent addition to Camp Lejeune, the Greater Sandy Run Training
Area, has added a new level of credence to Camp Lejeune's claim to
being the "Home of Marine Expeditionary Forces in Readiness,"
providing for the training of Marine Air/Ground Task Forces
defending our country.