CALIFORNIA STATE MILITARY RESERVE

CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR MILITARY HISTORY

213th MILITARY HISTORY DETACHMENT (Deployable)

Camp Roberts, California

Vol. 3 No. I 31 NOVEMBER 2012

Welcome to the fall issue of

the 213th Military History

Detachment (D) News

Letter.

In this Issue:

The Camp Roberts Song

Forgotten Treasures

Interview Part 3

Mission San Miguel

Commander’s Corner

SAD Info

New Comic Strip!

And Much More!

We hope you enjoy our fall

edition of the newsletter!

--CW4 (CA) Henry Leon

California Center for Military

History

213th Military History

Detachment

Commanding

Camp Roberts 06 OCTOBER 2012 Photo: SPC (CA) Jason Orton

Camp Roberts Soldier Bowl 06 OCTOBER 2012 Photo: SPC (CA) Jason

Fall Newsletter

2

The Camp Roberts Song….. “HUT 2-3-4”

By: SGM (CA) Carlos Gama and SPC (CA) Jason Orton

Music has been a part of the military since ancient times. Kings and generals realized early on that controlling

and communicating with large groups of soldiers on the chaotic battlefield was very difficult. Horns and drums

became a way for leaders in armies to communicate commands, coordinated attacks, and rally soldiers on the

battlefield long before the days of radio communications.

Military music also helped soldiers know when it was time to sleep, when it was time to eat, how fast to march,

and a whole host of other critical pieces of information that needed to be shared on a daily basis. In an age

before digital audio players, television, video games, and other modern media, the military band became a

source of entertainment for the troops as well as a tool of

communication.

Prior to the Civil War, most military music was fifes,

drums, and perhaps a bugle or other horn instrument. At

the time of the United States Civil War, larger bands with

a greater variety of instruments became the norm in many

cities, counties, and towns. They sent these bands with

their soldiers off to war and the bands became a de facto

part of the military unit.

Music continues to be a big part of military traditions

with each branch of the military having its own band and

music traditions today. During WWII, many smaller bands were on military posts throughout the U.S. and

music in the early age of radio was as popular as ever. It entertained the troops and buoyed their spirits in a

time of great uncertainty. Special music was written to commemorate military units, posts, and special events.

Long before the Army had an official song (Officially Dedicated on Veterans Day in 1956), Camp Roberts had

a song. During 1942 Morton Harvey and Army Private Johnny Burdell wrote “HUT 2-3-4” about Camp

Roberts and included many themes about the war and the thoughts on soldiers’ minds as they trained to fight the

Axis powers. After the war, the sheet music and the song faded into obscurity and eventually found its way into

the museum archives.

In 2011 military musician and current California State Military

Reserve (CSMR) Sergeant Major Carlos Gama was doing a

substitute drill with the 213th Military History Detachment

(Deployable) at Camp Roberts. Gama’s regular CSMR duties

include playing with the 40th Infantry Division Band, JFTB, Los

Alamitos, CA. He retired as a First Sergeant from active duty with

the U.S. Army Band program with over 22 years of honorable and

faithful service; the last 17 years with various Army Bands and the

first five years in the Finance Corps. The SGM plays multiple

brass instruments but mainly focuses on the Superbone (a special

and somewhat rare type of Trombone that contains both a

Portion of the original piano score for

“HUT 2-3-4” Photo Scan: SPC (CA) Orton

40th ID Band (in ACUs) playing a Veteran's

Day Ceremony in Ceritos, CA about three

years ago. Photo: By permission of SGM

(CA) Gama

3

moveable slide and valves) and Euphonium. Playing since he was in the 5th grade, he also plays with many

civilian bands in addition to his CSMR duties.

It was with Gama’s skills in mind that he was approached by Dirk Hale, Camp Roberts Museum Vice

Chairman, about “Hut 2-3-4”. Dirk handed Gama a copy of the piano score for the song and asked if he could

play it. Using his Superbone, he played the melody for Dirk and 213th Military History Detachment

(Deployable) Commander CW3 Henry Leon. Both were impressed with the sound of the piece and Dirk was

interested in seeing if the piece could be arranged for an entire band to play. A typical army band has 14 types

of instruments and 25 different parts that would have to be written from the original piano score. Such an

undertaking would be very time consuming but Gama suggested that he could arrange the piece for a brass

quintet.

The SGM went to work arranging “Hut 2-3-4” from the original piano

music for a brass quintet consisting of two Trumpets, one French Horn, one

Trombone, and one Tuba. This would require arranging the music for only

five brass parts instead of the 25 parts that a full band would require. Gama

commented about the process, “The piano score had a minimum of five

parts to choose from to a maximum of six parts. An arranger still must know

about the capabilities of each instrument he or she is arranging for based on

the end result or the desired sound wanted. As a technical note, each

instrument is different than others in which it not only has different sounds

but each has different characteristics and as a result, each has a language

of its own.”

Dirk had also asked him for a recording of the finished product for possible inclusion as background music on a

future DVD about the History of Camp Roberts. The Sergeant Major turned to his friends from two civilian

bands he currently plays with (the Atascadero Community Band and the Estero Bay Brass Quintet) for

assistance in making the recording. Members of the Estero Bay Brass Quintet included Curtis Bechtel and

Steve Vines (Trumpet), Myron Deale (French Horn), SGM Gama (Superbone), and Joseph Stewart (Tuba).

Quintet members played for the “Hut 2-3-4” recording. Richard Green of the Atascadero Community Band,

offered his home recording studio for making the CD and both he and his

wife Lori Olson-Green, provided vocals for the recording.

Originally, the recording was to only contain instrumentals but Camp

Roberts Museum Director Gary McMaster requested if it would be possible

to have the music sung so that the lyrics about Camp Roberts would be a

part of the recording. Thus instead of one instrumental track, the CD

recording ended up with four tracks (versions); one instrumental, one male

vocalist, one female vocalist, and the last version combining the

instrumental and both vocalists singing the lyrics from “HUT 2-3-4”.

Once the recording was finally completed in late 2011, Gama planned to

present the recorded CD and the newly arranged sheet music to three

Museums in California (Camps Roberts and San Luis Obispo as well as the

main Museum in Sacramento). With the 2012 Annual Training for the California Center for Military History

(CCMH) Conference approaching in April, Gama offered to make the presentation there as well as present a

SGM Gama’s arranged sheet

music and the CD recording.

Photo: SPC (CA) Orton

SGM (CA) Carlos Gama with

his Euphonium. Photo: By

permission of SGM (CA) Gama

4

“Military Music” briefing/presentation that included the playing of “Hut 2-3-4”. The request was relayed to the

CCMH through Chief Leon who had been in contact with the Sergeant Major during the arrangement process.

Just prior to the April performance and presentation, Trumpeter Curtis Bechtel became ill and was unable to

play at the CCMH AT. At the last minute, Gama asked another musician friend, Bruce Knowlton to play in his

place and the performance went on. The quintet played several songs in addition to “Hut 2-3-4” including “The

Armed Forces on Parade” containing the song for each branch of the Armed Forces (Coast Guard, Air Force,

Navy, Marine and Army Songs) to include “Heave Ho! My Lads, Heave Ho!” The song of the Merchant

Marines, “American Patrol” and “Moonlight Serenade” by Glenn

Miller, “The Thunderer March” by John Phillip Sousa, and

“Orinoco Cocoa” by Vince Gassi. Each CCMH soldier and guest

who attended the conference was given a personal copy of the

piano score with the Camp Roberts Lyrics of “Hut 2-3-4” as a

memento. Those present at the AT sang “Hut 2-3-4” as part of the

presentation. A part of the performance can be viewed on

Youtube. (Web links at the end of this article)

Sergeant Major Gama then presented the recorded CD and

“original” sheet music of all five parts of the arrangement that the

Brass Quintet had played to COL Rutledge, the Executive Officer

of the California Center for Military History, Dirk Hale and Chief

Henry Leon of the 213th Military History Detachment for the

Camp Roberts Museum, and CW2 Sandra Peralta for the Camp

San Luis Obispo Museum.

Gama commented, “My intention was to provide the recording of

"Hut 2-3-4" and the original music I arranged for my Brass Quintet

for inclusion to each of the three museums (Sacramento, Camp

Roberts and Camp San Luis Obispo).”

After the Sergeant Major finished his musical presentation and the playing of “Hut 2-3-4”, Dirk Hale addressed

the members of the CCMH Conference. He spoke of the significance and the historic value of resurrecting this

music piece about the daily life and training of Camp Roberts' soldiers for war in the early 40s. He further

stated that this piece of music hasn't been played publicly since that time until Gama and his brass quintet

played it for the Conference.

The 213th Military History Detachment (Deployable) and the Sergeant Major made special certificates of

recognition for the musicians involved in this tremendous project. Their dedication and hard work in bringing

to light this wonderful piece of Camp Roberts' history is greatly appreciated. Gama said of his work, “It was an

honor for me to take on this project of arranging “Hut 2-3-4” from a piano score and writing each part for a

Brass Quintet. This was the first time I ever did this. It was a lot of fun putting the music together and the

musical presentation for the 2012 CCMH AT.”

For those interested in hearing HUT 2-3-4 and some of the other parts of the performance at the California Center for Military History

Annual Training it can be viewed on Youtube. Follow the links: For “HUT 2-3-4” www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb-twoh5RdQ For “The

Armed Forces on Parade”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nmmoky8105Q&feature=relmfu. The authors are grateful to Curtis Bechtel,

Steve Vines, Myron Deale, Joseph Stewart, Bruce Knowlton, Richard Green, and Lori Olson Green for their historic work on “HUT 2-3-4”

The Estero Bay Brass Quintet performed 29

April 2012 at the Dallidet Adobe, San Luis

Obispo, CA just prior to the SLO County

Band Concert which played the first of three

Historical Concerts this past Spring.

(Pictured from left to right - Steve Szabo

(Trumpet), Carlos Gama (Superbone),

Sonny Galvin (Bass Trombone playing the

Tuba part), Myron Deale (French Horn),

and Steve Vines (Trumpet). Photo: By

permission of SGM (CA) Gama

5

Part 3 of Forgotten Treasures of Camp Roberts by SPC (CA) Jason Orton

.

PFC (Promoted SPC) Jason Orton: Can you tell me a little about yourself and your military career?

SFC Thomas Murotake: I joined the active Army in 1973. During my two enlistments, I served in the old

Army Security Agency, the Field Artillery, and left in 1980 as an Optical Laboratory Specialist. I was stationed

at Fort Ord, Fort Devens, Fort Sill, Giessen in the former West Germany, the old Fitzsimons Army Medical

Center in Denver, CO, and Fort Meade.

I came to the National Guard in 1989 when I wandered too close to a tent set-up by recruiters at an event I was

contracted to provide stand-by first aid services for. The tent was made of canvas and the smell brought back

the fond memories of my active service (surprisingly, not the BAD ones like setting-up a canvas tent in the

middle of snowstorm). I missed the camaraderie that is unique to the military service and wished to serve

again. As I was already an Emergency Medical Technician, I enlisted as a medic.

During my time with the Guard, I have worked as a medic during the Northridge Earthquake, the Los Angeles

Civil Disturbance, Task Force Vista (the first Southwest Border

Mission), Innovative Readiness Training Program, and Task Force

Warrior at Camp Roberts. I have also served as a Public Affairs NCO

during the 1997 El Nino Floods, Y2K, and during the mobilization of

Soldiers at Camp Roberts following 9/11.

I am presently working as the Team Leader of Task Force Warrior’s

Team Medics, which mainly provides Combat Lifesaver Courses to

deploying National Guard Soldiers and members of other branches of

the armed forces. I have been in this position for a little more than a

year and have been with Team Medics as an instructor for two years.

In my “traditional Guardsman” assignment, I am the Detachment NCOIC for the California Medical Command

(North), in Sacramento, CA.

When I am not on mission, I freelance in a number of industries. I am a published desert off-road racing

photographer and my work has appeared in calendars, industry advertising and publications, with some of my

pictures even appearing in a series of books for children. As a photojournalist, my articles and photographs

have appeared in a number of publications outside the off-road racing industry. I produced and hosted “The

Extremely-Deranged Sarge-at-Large Show,” a weekly radio show on the American Radio Network that ended a

13-year run last spring. I have appeared at the Laugh Factory in Long Beach as a part of the USO Comedy

Boot Camp. I am an Emergency Medical Technician with ambulance and special event first aid experience. I

can even do small office data network and telephone system installation.

Orton: How/why did you become involved trying to reunite the lost wallets with their original owners or

families?

A Museum volunteer holds one of

the lost wallets. Photo: SPC (CA)

Orton

Writers Note: The last two newsletter issues featured Parts 1 and 2 of an article on the lost wallets of Camp Roberts and

the efforts of SFC Thomas Murotake to return them to the original owners. This issue features Part 3, the first half of the

full interview with Murotake and adds some interesting insight to the lost wallets and the history of Camp Roberts.

6

Air ducts like those pictured were hiding

places for many of the stolen wallets in the

old barracks. Photo: SPC (CA) Orton

Murotake: My involvement with the wallets of Camp Roberts began when a contractor working at Camp

Roberts discovered a wallet somewhere on base and turned it into Post Headquarters. The then-Public Affairs

Officer, Lisa Norris, received the wallet and I went with her to turn it into post security, which was then

provided by Department of Defense Security officers and Fort Hunter Liggett Police officers.

When we turned the wallet in, the officer on duty remarked that he would add it “to the rest in back.” I was

surprised there was more than one and asked about it, learning that there was a box of a bunch of them. I asked

to see them and a box of some 20 wallets was brought out.

In glancing through them, I was struck by one in particular, the wallet of a Patrick McElholm. While most

wallets contained pictures of several women, mostly high school portraits that friends would normally exchange

with the typical “have a nice summer, see you next year” comments, McElholm’s wallet had pictures of just

ONE woman – and she had written VERY intensely personal things on them: on what appeared to be a picture

taken just before her high school graduation, she wrote about that being the happiest day of her life – until she

married him.

Inside this same wallet were two pages from the MIDDLE of a letter from her about a letter he had written to

her about a letter she had written to him. It would seem she had gone to a dance with friends at the local

Grange – and, of course, you don’t dance by yourself. He appeared to have thanked her for her “forthrightness

and honesty,” but was apparently upset anyway. In the pages he kept, she reminded him that he had told her to

live her live as normally as possible while he was gone, that she had gone with friends, but feared that she had

ruined everything by even mentioning it. She went on to profess her love for him and her desire to marry him

and spend the rest of her life with him.

I just HAD to know how the story ended. He obviously cared

deeply for her, having kept JUST this part of the letter with him –

and she made it pretty clear how she felt about him.

And a box full of mysteries has a lot in common with potato chips –

you can’t solve just one. During the time this happened, satellite TV

hadn’t come to Billeting yet and the base only received one TV station

and poorly at that. So having a box of mysteries also gave me

something to do in the off-duty hours.

Orton: Several of the articles I read did not agree on the exact

number of wallets. Do you remember how many wallets were found when you were involved with the project?

If you do not recall an exact number an estimate or approximate number is fine.

Murotake: I don’t think the exact number of wallets found will ever be known. There was a Fort Hunter

Liggett Police officer, Gary Huff, working at Camp Roberts who was a retired Paso Robles police officer, and

he would use his contacts and resources to find owners of wallets well-before I started working with them. It

was just something he did in his spare time and if he found someone, he would mail the wallet to them – he

didn’t keep record of the numbers of wallets he returned.

Orton: Approximately, how many wallets were you able to re-unite with the original owners or their families?

7

Murotake: Unfortunately, my notes on returned wallets are not presently available to me – I believe the

number I have actually returned was around 19 or 20 – some accounts of the ‘wallet story’ “lumped-in” wallets

returned by the Fort Hunter Liggett Police officer I mentioned.

Orton: Aside from the media attention, did you take any other action to locate the wallets’ owners or did they

mostly come to you after learning about the story in the media.

Murotake: Actually, media attention only resulted in the return of perhaps three or four wallets – an article in

the Los Angeles Times about the Camp Roberts wallets and the return of one to a Los Angeles-area resident

resulted in calls about two wallets also mentioned in the article.

An attempt was made to locate the owners of all the wallets utilizing Internet searches, mostly through public

record and phone book databases. I learned during this effort that most of the wallets were stolen for their cash

– the Army paid in cash in those days – typically from the more trusting or naïve soldiers from small towns,

supposedly by the more street-wise guys from the “Big City.” Fortunately, most people of the World War II

and Korean War-eras in that demographic often died within 25-miles of where they were born – I located one

STILL at the same address he lived at when he had been drafted. Most had listed phone numbers. It was

helpful that many of the soldiers had less-than-common names, making them easier to find in the phone book.

Orton: Did any veterans contact you about a wallet they lost when they were originally at Camp Roberts that

wasn’t among wallets that had been found?

Murotake: Not exactly. One asked if I had found Red Skelton’s wallet along with his – he thought he had lost

his wallet crawling back from a serious round of drinking in San Miguel, apparently with Red Skelton. Red

Skelton, who was stationed at Camp Roberts, was well-to-do before he came into the Army and was well-

known for his generosity in buying drinks for his companions – although he was never known to have lost his

wallet at Camp Roberts.

Orton: What was it like talking to the original owners and/or their families?

Murotake: Sometimes it had its fun moments, usually in that “ah-ha” moment when a veteran suddenly

recalled they HAD lost a wallet at Camp Roberts. It was always great fun listening to guy reminisce about their

days at Camp Roberts and the busy place it was during World War II and the Korean War.

Talking with spouses, while often tinged with sorrow as their veteran husband had passed, sometimes produced

fond memories from tougher times as newlyweds: I spoke with a woman who

told me of her time sharing a room and a bed in a converted chicken coop with

another woman whose husband was also stationed at Camp Roberts. I was

aware that, because of the acute shortage of apartments and houses in the

communities surrounding Camp Roberts, that even chicken coops and barns

had been converted for people to live in, but this was the first time I had

actually SPOKEN to someone who had lived that way.

I was able to find the owner of one wallet with just TWO pieces of paper in it

– one of which was a payment receipt from a jeweler in San Miguel. When I

mentioned this to the surviving spouse, she immediately bristled that it was

Lost wallets on display at the

Camp Roberts Museum.

Photo: SPC (CA) Orton

8

probably for an old girlfriend that lived in the same town they did. When I told her it was for jewelry intended

for a “Mrs.” of the veteran’s last name, there was a long pause and she quietly said, “Oh – that must have been

for his mother.”

Originally she wasn’t going to take the wallet, but called back later after talking with their sons and asked for

the wallet to be sent to them. I received a letter later explaining that she had married the veteran after his

service and that while she and her sons knew that he had been in the service, he had never spoken of his time,

and that they had appreciated the opportunity to have something of his from that time.

Sometimes it was bittersweet: I was able to return the McElholm wallet to his mother via family members. The

thank-you letter told how his mother appreciated receiving the wallet and looking through its contents, but it

brought back painful memories of her son’s death in Korea and many tears as well.

Commander’s Corner

I was once told by a very old and wise person, “Don’t look back in anger, or ahead in fear but around you in

awareness.” As I look back on 2012, I find myself satisfied with what the unit has done to expand Camp

Roberts’ knowledge of the California State Military Reserve and the California Center for

Military History. I have every reason to feel pride in the 213th

Military History Detachment (D)

for spreading word of our newsletter which has gone from Northern California to Southern

California and points east. It was also a pleasure to promote PFC (CA) Orton to SPC in which his

wife, Mrs. Christa Orton was able to pin her new Specialist E-4 husband in the Unit formation.

The future, though, is always a question mark for us all. I’m still on the hunt for a permanent unit

home here on Post, more people to join the unit, and a few other odds and ends that we stand in

need of. But I welcome the upcoming New Year with its ups and downs. It’s not the end of the

road that interests me but the trip! To one and all, enjoy your Holidays that will be coming and look to 2013 as

an adventure!

HENRY L. LEON

CW4 (CA)

Commanding

Are you SAD? Senate Bill (SB) 807 and You!

The question isn’t about your emotional state it’s about State Active Duty. On 17

September 2012 Governor Jerry Brown signed a new law changing the way State

Active Duty (SAD) works in California. As of 01 January 2013 all SAD employees of the California Military

Department must either be current California National Guard or California State Military Reserve (CSMR)

soldiers. Time is limited to get into compliance with January coming fast! There are options! Consider the

California Center for Military History (CCMH). The 213th

Military History Detachment (Deployable) at Camp

Roberts is a unit of the CSMR. Joining a CSMR unit like the 213th

Military History Detachment (D) fills the

legal requirement. For more information on the 213th

Military History Detachment please contact detachment

commander CW4 (CA) Henry L. Leon at hhc20th@msn.com or by calling 805-925-6492. For further

information on SB 807 the POC is Director, State Personnel, LTC Andreas Garza at 916-854-3310.

Once again, the author and the 213th

Military History Detachment (Deployable) would like to thank SFC Thomas Murotake

for taking the time to answer questions about the lost wallets mystery. The winter issue of the newsletter will include the

final questions and answers from the interview. —SPC (CA) Jason Orton

9

Mission San Miguel Celebrates 215th

Anniversary!

By: SPC (CA) Jason Orton

This year marks the 215th

anniversary of the founding of the Mission

San Miguel Arcángel. On July 25, 1797 Father Fermin Francisco de

Lasuén founded the Mission. The site for the Mission had been

selected two years earlier in order to fill a gap in the chain of

Spanish Missions in California between Mission San Luis Obispo

and Mission San Antonio de Padua located within what is today Fort

Hunter Liggett. The Mission was named for San Miguel Arcángel

more commonly known in the English speaking world as Saint

Michael the Archangel from the Bible.

While the Mission structure itself is several miles south of Camp

Roberts the original Mission land holdings were extremely vast and

included the land that would later become Camp Roberts. The route

connecting San Luis Obispo and San Antonio De Padua went through the current day Camp Roberts. Today,

that route is known as Bee Rock Road on Post.

San Miguel was one of the most financially prosperous missions of the 21 located along the 600 miles of the

historic El Camino Real stretching from San Diego in the south to Sonoma in the north. The San Miguel

Mission even has one of the original road markers, a tree trunk with a simple cross

carved in it that marked the El Camino Real, on display near the interior garden.

At one time the records show that the mission had 91,000 head of cattle and 47,000

sheep grazing on the vast mission land holdings. The sheep were particularly

important as they were raised for both wool and food by the mission. One of the

gates at the mission today is still called the “Sheep Gate” that the sheep would pass

through.

Nearly everything the mission used had to be made locally or come by boat from

Spain which was a long trip. Furniture, tools, candles, construction materials, and

other necessary items had to be found or made locally. Timbers for construction

were brought from the area of California known today as Cambria. Adobe bricks

made of clay, straw, and gravel baked in the sun were used in construction of the

buildings. Local limestone was quarried to make the white lime plaster that adorns

the walls. The murals painted in the mission are all original frescos and were painted with colored minerals

ground up and mixed with cactus juice for paint. Unlike most frescos, the mission’s were painted on dry plaster

rather than the more common wet plaster. The colors still remain vibrant today.

Military historians may find interesting the old cannon in front of the mission. It was made in Spain in 1697

and was brought to the mission by the Mexican Army. The mission and its holdings came under the control of

the Mexican government after that country became independent from Spain in 1822. In 1833 Mexico passed

the Secularization Act which effectively took away the rich lands from the church and put the buildings under

the control of a civilian government administrator. The buildings were sold to private individuals and the rooms

began being used as a commercial store, saloon, and other retail shops.

Orignal road marker

from El Camino Real

Photo: SPC (CA) Orton

Front of the San Miguel Mission

Photo: SPC (CA) Orton

10

Camp Roberts Soldier Bowl Photo: SPC (CA) Orton

You can find more information on the history, upcoming events, and visiting the Mission San Miguel at the website:

http://www.missionsanmiguel.org. For further information on the history of the Soldier Bowl and the shared history of the

Mission and Camp Roberts I highly recommend “Guns Across the Salinas The History of Camp Roberts” by Camp Roberts’

Museum founder Albert E. Davis. This book is for sale at the Camp Roberts main museum. The author is grateful for the

assistance of the Mission staff and Camp Roberts Museum Director Gary McMaster in researching this article.

—SPC (CA) Jason Orton

The Bear Flag Revolt of 1846 during the Mexican American war led to Mexico eventually ceding California to

the United States. In 1850 California became a state and in 1859 President James Buchanan gave the Mission

buildings and a small part of the original surrounding land back to the Catholic Church.

The land that was originally held by the Mission would

continue to be farmed by private individuals. Eventually

the land that became Camp Roberts was leased and then

sold to the Federal Government for the building of the

Post.

But the connection with the historic Mission San Miguel

did not end there. As part of the construction of Camp

Roberts a huge outdoor amphitheater was built on post

called The Soldier Bowl. The amphitheater took

advantage of the natural terrain for the audience seating

area. The backdrop façade and stage area was made in a

Spanish Mission Style consistent with the history of the

area.

The San Miguel Mission donated one of its iron bells for the structure which was dedicated by Franciscan

Father Dominic. The San Miguel priests also provided information in the design and construction to give the

façade a more historically correct appearance. An iron cross on of the tower also was presented to Camp

Roberts by the Mission.

The iron cross is still atop the bell tower but the original bell has been lost and its location remains a mystery to

this day. When asked about the missing bell Camp Roberts Museum Director Gary McMaster stated, “I've gone

to the Mission San Miguel a couple of times and talked to the staff. We've looked at all the bells there--their

size, shape, markings, etc.--and we're quite sure that one of the two bells hanging in the porch way in the front

of the museum, just south of the chapel, is the bell in question. This would make sense too, as that is where the

bell came from originally. Though no one can find documents regarding the issue, it is likely that it went back

to the Mission when the camp was deactivated at the end of World War II, when it the reverted to a skeleton

fulltime crew to manage the intermittent training of reserve units.”

As the Mission San Miguel Arcángel celebrates its 215th

anniversary we are reminded of the rich history shared

between the Mission and Camp Roberts. The two share a common history and heritage with California and the

state’s military traditions. The mission is open to the public and a celebration of the 215th

anniversary was held

in September 2012.

11

Distinctive Unit Insignia of

The California Center for

Military History (CCMH)

SGM (CA) Carlos Gama cooks some meat while

SFC (CA) Eddie Colis and Christa Orton look on.

Photo: CW4 (CA) Henry Leon

More information on the California Center for Military History can be found at militarymuseum.org/CMH.html or by contacting

CW4 (CA) Henry L. Leon using the contact information on the last page of this newsletter.

Detachment members, family, and guests

Photo: SPC (CA) Jason Orton

213th

Military History Detachment (Deployable) Odds and Ends

Unit Promotions and Detachment BBQ

213th

Military History Detachment soldier PFC Jason K. Orton was

promoted to SPC at the annual detachment BBQ on 08 September 2012.

After the promotion, the detachment moved up the main museum patio for

the annual BBQ. A wonderful time was had by all as detachment

members, family, and guests came together to share some fun down-time

at the end of summer. Burgers, Hotdogs, Carne Asada, Chicken, Steaks,

and other wonderful food left everyone feeling more than satisfied.

What is “The California Center for Military History”?

The California Center for Military History is a component of the California State Military Reserve organized under the

provisions of the Title 32, United States Code, Section 109 and the California State Military Reserve Act (Sections 550

through 567, California Military and Veteran's Code). The California Center for Military History supports the State

Military Museum and provides historical support for the National Guard and other military and civic organizations within

California.

The Mission of the California Center for Military History (CCMH) Includes:

• Manage the historical program of the California State Military Department.

• Support the operation of the California State Military Museum and its

subordinate elements.

• Provide ceremonial elements to military and civil events.

• Assist in the Army, Air Force and State artifact management and historical

programs.

The California Center for Military History falls under the Operational Control (OPCON) of the Youth and Community

Programs task force commanded by BG James L. Gabrielli which also oversees the museum program. The California

Center for Military History currently has units located at the Sacramento Army Depot, Los Alamitos Armed Forces

Reserve Center, Camp Roberts, Camp San Luis Obispo, and Glendale (Naval History Unit).

Promotion Photo: Machaela Orton

12

213th

Military History Detachment Drill (D) Schedule 01 DECEMBER 2012

12 JANUARY 2013

02 FEBRUARY 2013

02 MARCH 2013

06 APRIL 2013

04 MAY 2013 Subject to change for CCMH Annual Training

01 JUNE 2013

*CSMR soldiers wishing to SUTA with the 213

th should contact CW4 (CA) Henry Leon in advance at:

hhc20th@msn.com. Dates are subject to change. All unit members will be notified of any changes as they occur.

On the Funny Side, Military Humor

They said what?

"Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never encountered automatic

weapons." --Gen. Douglas MacArthur

“Why does the Air Force need expensive new bombers? Have the people we've been bombing

over the years been complaining?" --George Wallace

"When I lost my rifle, the Army charged me 85 dollars. That is why in the Navy the Captain goes down with the

ship." --Dick Gregory

I'm gonna recycle you so far back it's gonna take Michael J. Fox and a souped-up Delorian to get you back!!!"

--Unknown Army Drill Instructor

50 Years Ago (Where were you in ’62?)

The Shirelles had a number one hit song: “Soldier Boy”

The United States Navy SEALS was established.

Shooting began on the James Bond film “Dr. No”

That’s all for this issue. Be sure to check out the winter issue of the newsletter coming soon!

Used with Permission of Artist. Copyright Pending October 2012

13

Acknowledgements and Notes:

About the Cover Photos: Recent photos from Camp Roberts by SPC (CA) Orton on October 6, 2012. The Camp Roberts entrance

sign just inside the gate and the Soldier Bowl are iconic images of the post.

The California State Military Reserve with the California Center for Military History and the 213th

Military Historical Detachment (D)

at Camp Roberts, owe thanks to many people for this newsletter. First our thanks to Brigadier General (CA) Roland L. Candee,

Commander of the CSMR and to COL (CA) Kenneth Nielsen, Commander of the CCMH.

Our thanks and appreciation for their support on Post:

Mr. Gary McMaster, Chairman of the Post Museum

Mr. Dirk Hale, Vice Chairman

Mr. Bill Depree, 2nd

Vice Chairman

Ms. Joan Hussey, Treasurer

Mr. Don Avery, Docent

To the Camp Roberts Post Management and Leadership, also our gratitude.

Post Commander, Colonel Barbara A. Nuismer

CW4 Robert T. Rall, Resource Manager

CSM James E. Norris, Post Command Sergeant Major

To the Unit members of the 213th

Military History Detachment (D) without which this newsletter would never have happened:

CW4 Henry L. Leon

SFC Eddie Colis, Acting First Sergeant

SFC Philip Grenado (Ret.)

SSG Carl Shultz

SGT Carrie McCulley

SPC Jason Orton

With the help of CSM Carlos Gama, and with special thanks to SFC Tom Murotake’s

curiosity for history. Special thanks to retired CW4 Ernest McPherson for help with

editing and formatting. Thanks Chief!

Be sure to check out future installments of the 213th

Military History Detachment (D)

Newsletter.

To receive by email this newsletter, send an email to jason.orton2@us.army.mil with

“subscribe” in the subject line. To unsubscribe repeat the same process with

“unsubscribe” in the subject line.

For any input or comments, contact CW4 H. L. Leon at hhc20th@msn.com. All messages will be answered. Suggestions or

submissions for future article consideration are welcome. For mail correspondence: 1895 Ironwood Dr. Santa Maria, CA 93455

HENRY L. LEON

CW4 (CA) CSMR

Commanding

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency of the U.S. government, the State of California, the National Guard, The California State Military Reserve, the California Center for Military History, the 213th Military History Detachment, Camp Roberts, or the Museum at Camp Roberts.

WWII era Post Chapel at Camp

Roberts Photo taken 03 NOV 12 by

SPC (CA) Jason Orton