San Diego County Newspaper Articles

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San Diego Union: October 31, 2009

BUFFALO SOLDIERS' BASE NEARS HISTORIC STATUS

FACILITY SERVED AS A POW CAMP IN WORLD WAR II

OVERVIEW Background: Camp Lockett, a former World War II Army 
base in Campo, was the last home of the Buffalo Soldiers, the famed 
African-American cavalry troops. 

What's changing: The state Historical Resources Commission yesterday 
designated the Camp Lockett site as a California historical landmark. 

The future: Backers of a park at Camp Lockett hope the historical 
designation will help them get grants for their efforts. 


By Anne Krueger STAFF WRITER 

	A state commission voted yesterday to declare Camp Lockett, the 
World War II Arrmy base in Campo that was the last home of the famed 
Buffalo Soldiers, a California historical landmark. 
	The state Historical Reesources Commission in Sacraamento voted 
unanimously for the designation, with final appproval expected within days 
from the director of California State Parks. The historical designation was 
sought by the county Department of Parks and Recreation as part of its efforts 
to create a park in the East County community. 
	The status as a historic landdmark - one of more than 1,000 in 
California - could help county officials obtain grants to create a park at the 
Camp Lockett site, but there are no immediate plans until funding is available. 
	Lake Morena resident Roger Challberg, who has been working to 
get a park at Camp Lockkett since 1991, said he hopes the designation will 
help achieve that goal. 
	"It's one more step. and I'm pleased to see we're moving in that 
direction," Challberg said. 
	County Supervisor Dianne Jacob also praised the move. 
	"History buffs and the Cammpo community are passionate about 
preserving the story of Camp Lockett. This important historic designation 
sets us on our way," Jacob said. 
	The designation encommpasses 122 acres of the original 7,000-
acre Army base, which allso served as a prisoner-of-war camp and Army 
hospital. 
	The Army camp, which opened just days before the Japanese attack 
on Pearl Harrbor in December 1941, had more than 500 buildings. It housed a 
cavalry unit of white soldiers until 1942, when they were sent to North Africa. 
It then became the home of the Buffalo Soldiers, who patrolled the border and 
protected the area's water supply and railroad line. 
	More than 3,500 black cavallrymen were stationed at Camp Lockett 
along with 300 white officers and soldiers. In 1944, the regiments were broken 
up when the Army decided that it no longer needed soldiers on horseback. 
	Camp Lockett was converted into a prisoner-of-war camp for 400 
Italian and 100 German solldiers. Later it was used as a convalescent hospital 
until it closed in 1946. 
	Since then, the stable builddings have been used as a school and 
later a vehicle repair shop. Other former camp buildings now house Campo's fire 
station, sheriffs office and the Rancho del Campo juvenile faacility. 
	County officials had hoped to have the property placed on the National 
Register of Historic Places. But Patrick McDonnough, senior project manager for 
the county Parks and Recreeation Department, said the site is not eligible for the 
national register because several key buildings are owned by private citizens who 
do not want reestrictions on their properties. 
	The Camp Lockett park is, envisioned to include exhibits and trails and 
would tie in with other attractions in Campo, inncluding the Gaskin Bros. Stone 
Store, the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum and the Motor Transport Museum. 

Anne Krueger: (619) 542-4575; anne.krueger@uniontrlb.com