b'.Ready to Fight continued from page 23 The need for urgency seldom encourages efficiency.This As it became evident that the Marine Corps would was no exception.Changing plans, difficulties in coordinat-acquire the ranch, Richard J. ONeill reportedly traveled ing numerous survey parties, along with spring rains that to Washington, DC, in hopes of saving at least part of theflooded the Santa Margarita River, led to cost overruns.By familys land. His efforts, which are said to have included July, construction costs had doubled the original $13.4 mil-a personal appeal to President Roosevelt, appear to havelion contract. But there was a war to win. Work continued at been fruitful. The government limited its acquisition toa frenzied pace.125,000 acres located in San Diego County, for which it Vertical construction centered on the Mainside area in paid $4.2 million. The heirs retained ownership of somethe southeast portion of the base.Planners identified this 70,000 northern acres in Orange County. Not coincidentally,sizeable area with the number 1.Within Mainside were the northern portion of the ranch had been allocated to the17 sub-areas.These were called 1-1, 1-2, and so on. Today ONeill family during negotiations among the heirs. we know them as the 11 Area, 12 Area, etc. As a precaution Sadly, the driving figure behind the movement to stationagainst possible Japanese air attack, designers arranged Marines permanently in Southern California did not live tobuildings in irregular patterns to limit the number that would see this new base evolve.Major General Pendleton, longbe vulnerable to a single run of a plane. Areasretired but well-loved and remembered by his comrades,beyond Mainside received similar numbered namesdied on Feb. 4, 1942. A month later, the Secretary of thethat increased with distance from the flag- pole24 Area,Navy honored his service and vision by giving the new base33 Area, and so on. Farther afield, workers built three large his name. Despite its vast size, the Secretary designatedencampments - Tent Camp 1 in Las Pulgas Canyon, Tent Camp Joseph H. Pendleton a satellite camp of Fleet MarineCamp 2 at San Onofre, and Tent Camp 3 in the northernmost Force San Diego Area. On-site responsibility for developingreaches of the base near Talega.the new base rested on the shoulders of its first commander,Construction was still under way at a fever pitch when the Brig. Gen. Joseph C. Fegan. first operational unit, the 9th Marines, arrived on Sept. 4, 1942. With its new commander and future Commandant of The Corps moved swiftly. To the surprise of the Ranchthe Marine Corps, Col. Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr., in the lead, House residents, two military footlockers arrived by train onethe regiment arrived overland into the 14 Area of Mainside, spring morning, followed the next day by General Fegan. Hecompleting a four - day tactical march from Camp Elliott. informed them their ranch was now a Marine Corps base. Their route generally followed todays Interstate 15 corridor. Construction began in May 1942, two months before aIt was designed not only to condition the men, but also to federal court granted permission to take possession andhone their tactical skills.Fellow Marines serving as aggres-almost a year before final settlement. Soon, 5,000 laborers,sors opposed the advance, forcing the main body to over-working around the clock, were busy preparing the basiccome a series of challenges.infrastructure necessary to support an expected 20,000In recognition of their hard work, Col. Shepherd granted Marines. Little did they know that before the war endedarea liberty as the day ended. Cold beer was available in the the Camp Pendleton military and civilian population wouldPX! As the Marines rolled down to the PX for their reward, exceed 86,000. a heavy fog rolled in on Mainside. After quenching their 24 Military Appreciation Resource Magazine Thank You For Your Service'