Camp Granite, California
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Camp Granite was originally
built north of the Granite Mountains adjacent to Highway 62 in 1943.
However, after a few rains flooded the camp it became clear that this
would be an issue so a new camp was established up-slope and further
south towards the mountains. The new camp was laid out in a rectangular
grid pattern and had 45 shower facilities, 155 latrines and thousands of
6-man pyramidal tents to accommodate the 15,000 troops stationed there
at any given time. The camp received its water supply from the
Metropolitan Aqueduct that ran east of the camp. The camp was laid out
in a design typical of all DTC camps- a rectangular shape roughly 3
miles wide and a mile deep, and rocks were used to line roads, walkways,
tent areas, native plants, mess areas, etc... Known units that served at Camp Granite were;
4th Armored Division/ 90th Infantry Division/ 413th Infantry Regiment/ 104th Infantry Division/ 76th Field Artillery Brigade/ 17th Field Artillery Battalion
Some rock-lined walkways and company streets remain in the western part of the camp while the majority of the eastern portion of the camp has been washed away and most man-made features have vanished. |
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| From the photo album of a 4rd Armored Division soldier at Camp Granite. Copyrighted Photo | Same area today, note the ridgelines line up |
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| Men from the 90th Infantry Division lining up for a haircut. Copyrighted Photo | Soldiers of the 104th Infantry Division, 413th Infantry Regiment out on maneuvers with their GMC CCKW 6x6 truck and 155mm howitzer. Copyrighted Photo |
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| Tanks, half-tracks and GMC CCTW trucks ready to move out on a multi-day maneuver. Copyrighted Photo | Rock-lined walkways at Camp Granite. |
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| The headquarters area of the camp taken from a drone showing how the desert camp is being washed away. | The camp is slowly being reclaimed to its original desert condition. |
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| Drone photo showing how the rains have washed away many of the rock features. |
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| The crest insignia for the 413th Infantry Regiment still remains. | The 413th crest insignia as made out in the rock formation. |
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| "MED DET" indicating this was the tent area for a medical detachment. | One of the sandy main camp roads. |
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| This could have been a flagpole guidon area. | Walkways. |
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| Walkways. | This old company road is washed out. |
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| Entrances to 6-man pyramidal tents. | This wood-floor structure could have been an officers mess, unit HQ building, etc... |
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| A rudimentary meat smoker made of a metal box encased with rocks and concrete. | Front view. |