Camp Pendleton Legal Attorneys
Legal Representation for Service Members
Our Camp Pendleton legal team appreciates the history and importance of the base and works hard to represent those stationed there.
Camp Pendleton is a training base for U.S. Marines on the West Coast, but it has not always been a military installation. Before being taken over by the U.S. government, it was home to 21 Spanish missions and then was a thriving cattle ranch. When World War II came along, both the Army and the Marines were seeking a new area to develop a training base and considered this piece of land. In 1942, the Marines announced that over 122,000 acres of Rancho Santa Margarita y Los Flores would be transformed into the largest Marine Corps base in the entire country. Up until then, there was no such facility on the West Coast. Major General Joseph Henry Pendleton had been encouraging this for years, and the base was fittingly named in his honor.
When construction first began on the base, there was no intention of having this be a permanent base but merely to serve during wartime. For this reason, the construction of the buildings consisted of wood frame temporary buildings. In 1944, two years after President Roosevelt dedicated the base, it was declared that it would be a permanent base. During World War II, it was used as a beach battalion school, a medical field service school, an amphibious tractor school, and more. Following the war, in 1946, it became the home base for the 1st Marine Division.
Over the years, Camp Pendleton has not only served as a training facility and base, but it housed refugees during the Vietnam War. In what was known as Operation New Arrivals, over 50,000 Vietnamese evacuees stayed in the camp. Millions have been spent on renovating the base since it was first created, replacing the more temporary buildings with permanent structures. This base has seen many changes since it first began and now trains Marines and other branches of the military. In all, the base includes 125,000 acres (including 17 miles of shoreline) and has the geography and facilities for amphibious, land, and sea-to-shore training. The Camp Pendleton legal team at our firm understands the history of the base and its importance.
U.S. Marine Corps
Camp Pendleton is mainly a training facility for the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC). This is a branch of the Armed Forces and is dedicated to being the combat force that utilizes the sea mobility of the Navy. There are seven uniformed services in the U.S. and the Marines are under the Department of the Navy. This branch was established in 1775 by Captain Samuel Nicholas and now has become a major part of the government’s foreign policy because of their ability to rapidly respond to issues overseas. As of June 2011, there were 200,827 active members of the Marine Corps and 40,000 members of reserve. When compared to other organizations in the Department of Defense, the Marine Corps is the smallest, not including the Coast Guard.
James F. Amos is the Commandant of the Marine Corps, making him the highest-ranking officer and the head of the organization. The members of the Marines Crops are organized into three categories, including commissioned officers, warrant officers, and enlisted. The individual’s rank will also determine what their pay grade will be. The mission of the USMC is threefold according to the U.S. Code §5063. First, it is to defend their naval bases or other operations which support their campaigns as well as seize other naval bases. It also is responsible for developing tactics and techniques which can then be used for amphibious landing. The last part of their mission is to carry out any other duties the president may assign.
Your Camp Pendleton Legal Representation
If you or someone you know is or has been stationed at Camp Pendleton and have been charged with a crime, it’s important to obtain qualified representation. Our Camp Pendleton legal team stands ready to fight for you and with you for a favorable outcome. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.