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Home California San Bernardino County County Indio Desert Training Center, California-Arizona Maneuver Area (established By Major General George S. Patton, Jr.) - Camp Iron Mountain

Desert Training Center, California-Arizona Maneuver Area (established By Major General George S. Patton, Jr.) - Camp Iron Mountain

45 mi E of Indio on I-10, take Hwy 177 N to right on Hwy 62, plaque is 5.4 mi, Indio, CA , USA
  California CA State Historical Marker
California State
Historical Marker

 
Iron Mountain Divisional Camp was established at this site in the Spring of 1942. One of eleven such camps built in the California-Arizona Desert to harden and train United States troops for service on the battlefields of World War II. The first major unit trained here was the 3rd Armored Division followed by elements of the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Armored Divisions. In all, one million men trained in the desert before the Training Center was officially closed in May of 1944. The most unique feature built at this camp is the huge relief map built into the desert floor. It can still be seen (1985).

Last updated: 2/15/2016 21:05:00