The Head Shed

Fall 2017 Camp Roberts Historical Museum E-Newsletter Page 1

Camp Roberts has played, and continues This electronic bulletin is published by the to play, in the defense of this nation. Camp Roberts Historical Museum for informational purposes only. Use of any The big project that is keeping me information, written or photographic, is hopping lately is our upcoming Camp prohibited without the written consent of Roberts Museum Day that will take the Board of Directors of the Museum. place at the beautiful Sculpterra Winery Any views expressed in this publication Fall and Sculpture Garden in Paso Robles on Saturday, September 23rd, from 2 to 6 are not meant to reflect those of the pm. I’ve booked popular Monte Mills and Command, NGB or the US Army. MUSEUM NEWS his Lucky Horseshoe Band (paid for by Comments and requests for information, …from the Director the generous members of our Board of etc., should be directed to: Directors) to provide live music, and I Now that summer has ended and the hot have been feverishly persuading local CAMP ROBERTS HISTORICAL MUSEUM days are coming to an end, it’s time to businesses to donate gift cards and items 114 New Mexico Avenue get ready for the fall holidays, like for the silent auction and raffles. I’ve Camp Roberts, CA 93451-5000 Veterans’ Day and Thanksgiving. All of lined up a few organizations like the us here at the Museum wish you and VFW, American Legion, and State yours a wonderful fall season! Military Reserve to set up booths at the (805) 238-8288 (During Open Hours) event, and members of the Golden State Email: [email protected] Classic Car Club will bring several of their

best, while our museum and others will display historic military vehicles (the youngsters especially enjoy manning our CAMP ROBERTS HISTORICAL MUSEUM Chinese aircraft gun, swinging it around BLDG. 114 and moving the four guns up and down). CAMP ROBERTS, CA 93451-5000 Our good friend, Corporate Member and (805) 238-8288 (During Open Hours) Advisor, Dr. Warren Frankel, who owns Email [email protected] Sculpterra, is not only providing us the fantastic venue plus tables, chairs and By the time this goes to press and is sent other items, he’s arranging radio ads and out via the Internet, I will have given an interviews on the event. San Luis Obispo audio-visual presentation on the history County District Attorney and Life Member of this great camp to the Kiwanis Club of of the museum, Dan Dow, has agreed to Atascadero at the lake front pavilion in give the keynote address. Our resident that town. I will also be giving a similar chef, retired Colonel Doug Baird, a h e Camp Roberts presentation to attendees of the fall former Commander of Camp Roberts and The front of ourH Mainist oMuseumrical. Our conference of the California Enlisted current member of our Chancellery, has complete complex constitutes the Association of the National Guard of the Museum formed a top-notch team to grill some largest Army museum in California. United States at Camp San Luis Obispo real good quality meat that will provide th Quite appropriate, considering the on October 7 , and then to the Cambria Santa Maria-style hot beef sandwiches camp was originally the largest Army Historical Society over on the coast on that visitors can purchase, along with th basic training installation in the October 12 . I never get tired of relating cold drinks. We hope that, between the BuildingUnited 114 States of America! the long, unique and important role that food, silent auction and raffles we will pull Camp Roberts, CA 93451-5000 in some profit from the event. It will sure

E-mail: [email protected] Phone/Fax: (805) 238-8288 1 provide a lot of people with a very fun- throughout the nation, by going to their filled afternoon. web site at: https://www.arts.gov/national/blue-star- The owner of Color Craft Printing in museums#!CA. Blue Star Museums is a Atascadero has printed a big stack of collaboration among the National color posters that I designed for the Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star event, as well as color flyers and mailers. Families, the Department of Defense, We owe a big thanks to him, as well as A HAND Salute to and museums across America. Each local businesses like Cool Hand Luke’s, summer since 2010, Blue Star Museums Nino’s Café, the Earth Tones store, Su our New Members! have offered free admission to the Casa Bar & Grill, Senor Sancho’s nation’s active-duty military personnel restaurant, Cider Creek Bakery & Café, We are proud and happy to introduce new and their families, including National Pasolivo Olive Oil, Park Cinemas, El members of the Camp Roberts Historical Guard and Reserve, from Memorial Day Pollo Loco, and the Adelaide Inn. Museum Foundation in our newsletters. through Labor Day. Of course, our Membership support is always needed to museum offers free admission to civilians help us preserve the long and illustrious A big thanks to Wallace Home Medical history of Camp Roberts! and military alike. More than 2,000 Supplies of Paso Robles for donating a museums across America are beautiful brand new wheelchair to the participating in Blue Star Museums. Museum! Our curator picked it up last LLIIFFEE MMEEMMBBEERRSS These include children's museums, fine month, after contacting them and asking art museums, history and science them for the donation. We get wounded JULIAN J. MACIAS museums, and nature centers. The warriors, handicapped folks, and elderly of Salinas, California military ID holder and up to five family veterans of WWII and the Korean War A big thanks to Julian, our newest Life members are eligible. The military ID visiting the Museum, and this will be a Member. He joins our team of “Lifers” who holder can be either active duty service great asset in facilitating a tour for those reside all over this great land of ours! member or other dependent family who need the help. It turns out that the member with the appropriate ID card. manager, Ashley, by the way, is married DON SAUERESSIG The active-duty member does not have to to a grandson of the late Joan Hussey, of Atascadero, California be present for family members to use the who was such a wonderful dedicated Welcome, and thanks to Don for joining our program. A family member of active-duty volunteer and a real mainstay here at the growing ranks of Life Members who love military may include a spouse or child, Museum for so many years, ever since Camp Roberts and want to see its history aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc. the early days! preserved and related to the public!

We had a lot of interesting visitors come Memberships are a major source of income RENOVATION through the museum in the last three for the Museum. Annual: $15, Life: $100, Group Life: $200, Patron: $500, Corporate currently months, including a nice family who had $1,000, Honor Roll $5K or more. Every cent come all the way from their native Finland of your dues goes to support your UNDERWAY OF to spend a vacation traveling throughout Museum! A special large perpetual plaque California; a large contingent of Naval in the front room of the Main Museum lists Sea Cadets who had a good time seeing all of our Museum Corporate Sponsors. our HISTORIC all the exhibits in the Museum Annex These levels of support are much needed, during their 2-week training period here; and help greatly in our mission. You will SPORTS ARENA and a local couple who came to donate a find a membership application and instructions on our website. WWII-era Bible that was used by, and signed by, a large group of American Prisoners of War while they were being held captive in the Philippines. Those folks were among hundreds of visitors who came to enjoy our history from all over California and other parts of this nation. Some were visiting relatives or It’s so great to see a complete renovation friends in this state, some stopped by underway on the historic Camp Roberts during their travels up and down Sports Arena. It's an original facility from California, and some were local folks the camp’s initial construction just prior to throughout the county. Plus, we enjoyed We are proud to announce that this World War II. The renovation will include visits from a lot of training soldiers, who summer, the Camp Roberts Historical all the windows along the tops of the came both individually and in groups as Museum was officially designated as a sides as well as everything else. Army their training schedules allowed. Blue Star Museum by the National sergeant, and Heavyweight Boxing

Endowment for the Arts in Washington, Champion, Joe Louis sparred in there, Gary McMaster DC. Jane Russell, Phil Silvers, Joan Blondell, Gary McMaster and countless other stars performed Museum Curator and You can go to their website to locate us, shows in the arena, and it has hosted Foundation Chairman Foundation Chairman and all our fellow Blue Star Museums hundreds of thousands of soldiers over

2 the years for basketball and other sports, the character Oscar Goldman, the boss as well as physical training tests. We are of Steve Austin in The Six Million Dollar so happy to see such large and thorough Man television series in the 1970s, MMuusseeuumm restoration of this very historic facility Richard Anderson came to Camp going on. Roberts for his Army training as did many Hollywood stars and future celebrities. CChhaanncceelllleerryy For a while, he was given the job of taking tickets at one of the camp’s theaters after his training, but he soon found himself writing for the camp newspaper, the Camp Roberts Dispatch-- a job that he still remembered fondly when interviewed in 2015. By the way, in recent years, we have preserved all the copies of the Dispatch on microfilm and DVD, and they are an amazing resource Now, it is our sincere hope that they will for research. Born Richard Norman one day start repairs needed on the Anderson in Long Branch, New Jersey on The Camp Roberts historic Soldier Bowl just up the hill from August 8, 1926, he broke into films in Historical Museum the Main Museum. Laurel and Hardy 1950. He acted in more than forty major headlined our first USO show there just motion pictures, including Forbidden after the camp opened in 1941, and after Planet, Paths of Glory, Twelve O’Clock Board of Chancellors that, countless Hollywood mega-stars High, The Long Hot Summer, and Seven and lesser performers entertained our Days in May. On television, he appeared Lieutenant General troops on that stage. Many shows would in many TV series, including The wow 20,000 to 22,000 soldiers at a time, Herbert Temple Rifleman, Death Valley Days, Daniel Former Chief of the sitting on the grassy slopes facing the Boone, Walt Disney’s Zorro, Gunsmoke, National Guard Bureau stage. The bowl was dedicated to Caspar Hawaii Five-O, Combat!, Perry Mason, Weinberger, a former U.S. Secretary of The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Bonanza, The Colonel Defense, several years ago. He was one Fugitive, The Love Boat, Charlie’s Douglas Baird our first basic trainees here in 1941. Angels, Ironside, Columbo, The A Team, Former Commander The Fall Guy, Knight Rider, The Big of Camp Roberts GOODBYE TO A Valley, and many others. He had just turned 91 last month. Caspar Weinberger, Jr.

“GREATEST Son of the late Secretary of Defense GENERATION” Arlin Weinberger Daughter of the late TRAINEE Secretary of Defense

Captain Dale Dye Actor and highly-decorated USMC Vietnam Veteran

The Museum’s Board of Chancellors is dedicated to the support of the Museum, to the long and proud history of Camp Roberts, and to the men and women who Local leaders enjoyed a special camp tour have, do and will train here. We are proud of their support and to have them represent On Friday, 8 September, Gary and Jeff us in the world arena. hosted members of a local leaders group. The organization brings together younger representatives of local newspapers, banks, and other businesses, mostly in Richard Norman Anderson north San Luis Obispo County, for August 8, 1926 – August 31, 2017 educational symposiums. Their tour of the Museum Annex climaxed a special Goodbye and R.I.P. to another of Camp bus tour of the camp’s training facilities. Roberts’ basic trainees of World War II They were brought together by Colonel who went on to achieve fame in show Charles Bourbeau (USA, Ret.), a Life business. Perhaps most recognizable as Patron of the museum.

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We could not do what we do to constantly make the Museum better if it were not for your financial support. In addition to visitor donations, the membership program and proceeds from our gift shop, we rely on major financial contributions. Our sincere thanks to the following individuals, groups and businesses for their significant donations: CCPPLL... RROOBBEERRTTSS

HONOR ROLL HONOR ROLL Left to right, Jan Grocott (our Treasurer), TAMSEN MUNGER Fresno, California Dorothy (Vice Chairman Dirk Hale's wife), Ron & Jackiie Brrooks Ron & Jackie Brooks For a generous donation of volunteer Mark Hale, Jan's son, Dirk's mom,

$500.00 and Dirk. Gary set up the booth and took CCOORRPPOORRAATTEE From the Tamsen Nichols Munger Trust. the photo. Don and Jeff were manning the She is a Fresno native, business woman, SPONSORS anti-aircraft gun. SPONSORS Fresno State alumna, and philanthropist.

We sincerely thank her for her continued We spent Independence Day once again 126th Medical Co (AA) Alumni 126 Medical Co (AA) Alumni support of the preservation of Camp this year at the beautiful Sculpterra Loya Electric Construction, Inc. Roberts’ important history! Winery in Paso Robles, setting up our

Boatman’s Furniture Center information booth and taking along our Jim Camarillo Insurance Svcs. CHEVRON CORP. Chinese anti-aircraft gun. We sold a few WWII Research & Preservation Soc. Plano, Texas items from the gift shop and met a lot of California Historical Group For a generous donation of new friends. Our thanks to Dr. Warren Mr. Jay Leno $500.00 Frankel and his Sculpterra staff, as they Sculpterra Winery This donation from Chevron is from their provided free hot dogs, free apple pie Employee Matching Funds LLC, and is and ice cream, free sno-cones, and other generated from one of their oil field freebies to the many visitors. It was a

LLIIIFFEE PPAATTRROONNSS employees who volunteers with us. grand day of patriotism, with a lot of flag- Thanks, Ron! waving, patriotic speeches and a fly-over Robert Tripp, BG (USA Ret.) by historic airplanes! We received Lilliane Tripp (Mrs. Robert Tripp) donations from generous visitors who Douglas Baird, COL (USA Ret.) DONALD A. ERICKSON Douglas Baird, COL (USA Ret.) picked up a free copy of the booklet Dr. Paul Krumhaus, COL (USA Ret.) Nipomo, California Paul Krumhaus, COL (USA Ret.) Frankel provided with the Constitution Charles E. Bourbeau, COL (USA Ret.) For a generous donation of and Bill of Rights, more donations at our John W. Busterud, COL (USA, Ret.) $50.00 booth, and as always, the good Doctor LTC Tazio Bucciarelli, US Army LTC Tazio Bucciarelli, US Army Mr. Erickson was so enthralled by a visit to presented us a check for $1,000 towards Ernest McPherson, CW4 (USA Ret.) our museum that he decided to donate to Ernest McPherson, CW4 (USA Ret.) the preservation of Camp Roberts’ Jackie Collins, CSM (USA Ret.) our worthy cause as well as pass the word about this unique museum! history. John Reese, CSM (USA Ret.) Louis Juricich, SGM (USA Ret.) We would like to give special thanks here Lew Depedro, 1SG (USA Ret.) to some of our Board members, including Gary McMaster, SFC (USA Ret.) COL Baird, COL Scully & COL Weeks, for William Dupree donating funds to hire a band for our Rossi & Scott Highland Museum Day that will take place at Joan Hussey Sculpterra Winery on September 23rd. Also LeRoy Mosinski to COL Baird for donating the meat for the Mildred Muggelberg sandwiches he will prepare and sell. And Henry C. Settle, Jr. to Dr. Frankel for hosting the event at his beautiful winery and sculpture gardens. Sergeants Major Association of California The Museum is an official non-profit William Thomas 501(c)(3) organization with the State of Howell Thomas California, so your donation is tax- A young visitor takes a turn on our Chinese Kellan Thomas deductible. You are urged to donate now John T. Griffith so that you’ll be able to claim it on your anti-aircraft gun as museum volunteer Jeff Aaron Alman taxes next year! The Museum’s tax-exempt Mansfield supervises number is 20-8312452.

4 We received a photo and a copy of the The visitor center at the Meuse-Argonne Memorial Day program from the Cemetery has been renovated, and it was American Battle Monuments Commission rededicated during the Memorial Day U.S. Army Corporal last month. The American Overseas commemoration. Memorial Association, Inc., in partnership Harold W. Roberts with the American Legion and the ABMC, provides American flags for all the graves in all our overseas military cemeteries on Memorial Day.

This year’s program included addresses by local officials, a memorial address by the Chargee d’ Affaires of the US Embassy; the Offering of Wreaths, French Taps; a Moment of Silence, American Taps; a USAF Color Guard from Ramstein Air Base; US troops from the base; French troops from the 516th ABMC Commissioners cut the ribbon for the th newly renovated visitor center at Meuse- regiment in Toul; a flyover by the 434 Air Refueling Squadron of the 3rd US Air Argonne American Cemetery. Photo Credits: "Time will not dim the glory Force from Mildenhall, England; the Band Chantal Mistral-Bernard. of their deeds." of the French Armored Cavalry from --General John J. Pershing Metz; Meuse Department Firemen; and Ms. Manon Bart, an Interpretive Guide at Gendarmerie Nationale of Meuse. the cemetery, informs us that a On Memorial Day weekend of this year, permanent exhibition has been added in we once again had a beautiful floral The American Battle Monuments the refurbished visitor center--a series of arrangement placed on Corporal Roberts’ Commission (ABMC) is an agency of the panels that display several personal grave at the Meuse-Argonne American US government which administers, stories of their soldiers. They were Cemetery in northern France. Even after operates, and maintains 26 American insistent that one on Corporal Roberts be 99 years since his death in Argonne cemeteries and 27 memorials, included, and they requested of our Offensive of World War I, there are still monuments and markers in 16 countries. curator that he send them a copy of The ceremonies each year in tribute to the Presently, there are 124,192 American Ultimate Sacrifice, the biography of more than 14,000 soldiers buried there. war dead interred in these cemeteries, of Roberts that he authored. That book, by which 30,974 are from World War I and the way, is always available in our 93,218 are from World War II. Also museum gift shop, and every penny goes commemorated individually by name on to support our museum! stone tablets are more than 83,000 American servicemen and women who went missing in action or were lost or buried at sea during World War I and World War II. Corporal Roberts is one of eight Medal of Honor recipients who are buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

One of several new panels in the visitor center of the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery is devoted to our handsome young hero and namesake

A large floral arrangement “from the soldiers and civilians at Camp Roberts, French and American flags were placed in California” was placed on Harold Roberts front of every one of the 14,246 headstone grave on Memorial Day weekend during the at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery annual ceremonies for the 2017 Memorial Day Ceremony.

5 OUR BIG PICNIC MMuusseeuumm AREA PROJECT BBooaarrdd A team of our volunteers have been going “great guns” on the backyard of the ooff Main Museum lately. They’ve been busy trimming sidewalk concrete and laying pallets of new red bricks to enlarge our DDiirreeccttoorrss picnic and outdoor function area. This will not only provide more room than did Gary McMaster our former gopher-hole infested lawn, it Gary McMaster Sergeant First Class (USA, Ret.) will be low maintenance and save water. Chairman and Curator

Dirk Hale Sergeant First Class (USA, Ret.) Vice-Chairman

Jan Grocott Professional Accountant Treasurer

Don Avery Former volunteer Tom Taylor made the Retired ASH Tradesman initial plans for our backyard project, and Secretary

while his actual plans were a bit too Herculean for us to reasonably accomplish, Douglas Baird he was invited back with the honor of laying Longtime volunteer Mark Hale (in front) lays Colonel (USA, Ret.) the first brick! more bricks as his brother Dirk takes a look Advisor at the ones that were cut for the north edge We intend to gravel in the border areas, John Scully as well as add more seating and shade. employee force here can all make use of Colonel (USA, Ret.) Sometimes we have bus tour groups and it as well. Advisor civic groups like the Red Hat Ladies, as well as veterans’ reunion groups and We have a tentative plan to resurface a Loren Weeks others who either bring food with them or cinder block retainer wall along the west Colonel (USA, Ret.) have a lunch catered from Paso Robles. side of the yard to allow it to be faced Advisor We also have barbecue picnics with our with tiles. That way, anyone who wishes museum membership gatherings, and may purchase a tile dedicated to a soldier Warren Frankel, M.D. allow the State Military Reserve unit BBQ or veteran, be it a relative or a friend. We Former US Army AAFES Medical Officer here as well. were initially toying with the idea of Advisor selling memorial bricks, but the more we thought about it, it just didn’t seem right Tom Neill to have people walking on a memorial to Command Sergeant Major (USA, Ret.) someone who is loved and respected Advisor enough to be memorialized. The tiles, however, are larger and will make a kind of Memorial Wall that can be easily seen. We will be fielding that program as soon LION ATTACK! as we are well toward completion of the entire backyard project. Stay tuned!

Jeff Mansfield and Dirk Hale busy laying bricks, while retired Sgt. Major Tom Neill steps back to inspect their work

A pack of lions attacked the camp on the We want to have as large and practical 7th of this month, along with other visitors outdoor function area as possible, so that on that Thursday. Members of the Paso units who are training at the camp and Robles Lions Club converged on the the camp’s fulltime uniformed and civilian camp, and were treated to a bus tour of

6 the camp’s major facilities, including a genuine GI lunch at the DFAC (the main For more than 35 years, Camp Roberts Camp Roberts camp mess hall). Before they trotted off, Historical Museum—California’s official they were treated to a free history lesson state military museum—has been Museum Day and tour of the Museum Annex. They preserving and relating the long and were augmented by parishioners of a important history of Camp Roberts. The September 23, 2017 Methodist church, who came all the way museum is free to all who wish to visit and up from Arroyo Grande. Our curator is a operated solely with private donations. member of this Lions Club, and some of Sculpterra Winery & them vowed to show up and help us at our Museum Day at Sculpterra Winery on Camp Roberts opened in 1941 and served as Sculpture Gardens the 23rd. the U.S. Army’s largest basic training 5015 Linne Road installation during WWII. Since 1971, it has Paso Robles, CA served as the main training and pre- deployment site for California’s Army National Guard. SAVE THE DATE!

I commend the museum and its passionate volunteers for their dedication to preserving CLOSING NOTE… “CAMP ROBERTS Camp Roberts’ history. A big thanks to museum volunteer MSG MUSEUM DAY” Sincerely, Tom Irwin (USA, Ret.) for re-screening the front door of the Main Museum. Tom

OFFICIAL! Jerry Brown is a regular docent at the Main Museum EDMUND G. BROWN, JR. on Thursdays, and has done screening Proclaimed by the professionally in the past. We have a very small team of volunteers, but they’re Governor of all very talented. Right now, we’re getting our ducks in a row to participate California! once again in the annual Paso Robles Pioneer Day Parade early next month, and Don Avery is our front man on this.

WE ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS ! We are always In need of MORE volunteers to help us with our many duties and projects. If you An aerial view of Sculpterra Winery, where would like to volunteer,, please contact us. the museum will celebrate Camp Roberts Museum Day with a special event Yours for History,

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We very recently received a special Comments and inquiries can be directed to commemorative message from Governor the Editor at [email protected] Jerry Brown, proclaiming September 23rd “CAMP ROBERTS MUSEUM DAY.”

The Governor’s message states:

On behalf of the state of California, I would Give us a rating on YELP and like to recognize Camp Roberts Museum TRIPADVISOR! We’re listed under Day and welcome all of those gathered to things to do in the San Miguel area. celebrate the occasion.

7 For anyone receiving this newsletter who is not currently a member of the Museum Foundation, we urge you to send in a membership application now if you are interested in supporting the Museum, as membership fees are likely to increase soon. Please print this page and send it in with your check for the appropriate amount.

CAMP ROBERTS HISTORICAL MUSEUM FOUNDATION

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

I would like to become a member of the Camp Roberts Historical Museum Foundation and help to preserve the legacy of Camp Roberts and the soldiers who have served there.

NOTE: Please complete this form, check the type of membership you desire below, and send this completed application, along with a check for the appropriate amount, to:

Camp Roberts Historical Museum Building 114, New Mexico Avenue Camp Roberts, CA 93451-5000

NAME: ______

ADDRESS: ______

TELEPHONE/S: ______EMAIL: ______

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

Individual Membership ($15 per year) ______

Family Membership ($25 per year) ______

Annual Corporate Membership ** ($200 per year) ______

LIFE MEMBERSHIP

Individual Life Member ($100) ______

Group Life Membership * ($200) ______

Individual or Group Life Patron * ($500) ______

Corporate Life Membership ** ($1,000) ______

Corporal Roberts Honor Roll ($5,000 and above) ______

All members will receive a membership card and a subscription to the museum’s Bugle Call newsletter. Your email address will NOT be shared with anyone else, but it will allow us to email you the Bugle Call in color and keep you informed. The names of Life Patrons and Corporate Life Members are inscribed on a large plaque displayed prominently in the Camp Roberts Museum. All Life Members receive a special certificate. All Life Patron, Corporate and Honor Roll Members receive a special individual plaque as well as having their names inscribed on the large perpetual plaques in the Main Museum. * The definition of “group” in this sense is a civic or business club, fraternal or military/veterans organization, or reenactment group. ** Any association or business, for-profit or non-profit, is eligible for this tier of membership.

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