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In the summer of 1940, the United States began preparations for war. President Franklin D. Roosevelt demonstrated America's increasing concern over world events by announcing that the United States would extend military aid to all countries resisting aggression, and, simultaneously, would make itself strong enough to meet any threat to its own security. As part of the nation's overall defense plans, the army was assigned the task of safeguarding the continental United States against invasion. Preparations focused on protecting the country against naval bombardment, air raids, and an assault by ground forces. The army also coordinated civil defense plans, and guarded vital non-military installations--public works and utilities--whose continued operation was essential to the war effort.

Identifying San Diego as particularly important because of its strategic location, numerous military installations, and rapidly expanding war-related industries, the army decided to deploy the cavalry along the United States-Mexico border. The troops were stationed at Camp Lockett in Campo, sixty miles southeast of San Diego. Completed in December 1941, Lockett's construction transformed this small tranquil border town into a bustling military post. There, first white and later black soldiers guarded the region's communications and transportation links that were vital to San Diego and also prepared to stop an invasion that military strategists feared might come through Mexico.

The black soldiers faced an added dimension to their service in San Diego's back country--the harsh reality of institutionalized segregation. The history of Camp Lockett in Campo, the last cavalry base built in the United States, encompasses two stories-the defense of the border and how the army struggled internally with the issue of race relations. From 1941 to 1944, the troops at Lockett patrolled the border from the Otay Lakes area, north and east of Chula Vista, to El Centro in the Imperial Valley. They also protected San Diego's water supplies, and provided security for the railroad that served as the city's only direct link to the manufacturing centers in the eastern part of the country.

Beginning ins 1941, until it was reassigned to North Africa in June of 1942, the 11th Cavalry Regiment performed these tasks. The 11th was almost immediately replaced at Lockett by the 4th Cavalry Brigade, made up of two regiments of African-American soldiers-the 10th and the 28th. The deployment of thousands of black soldiers, at a time when racial intolerance was the rule rather than the exception, presented numerous logistical and social problems for the army. At the height of the camp's activation, approximately 3,500 horse soldiers and hundreds of civilian support personnel occupied Lockett. The camp would eventually expand to more than 500 buildings and cover nearly 7,000 acres.

Several factors influenced the army's decision to construct a military facility in Campo. It was the port of entry from Mexico for the San Diego-Arizona Eastern Railroad, which served as the only direct eastwest line connecting San Diego with the rest of the country. The possibility of sabotage necessitated the stationing of troops at various tunnels and trestles along the border. In addition, Campo was near Morena and Barrett dams, at that time providing essential supplies of drinking water for San Diego's growing population. The troops also provided security for electric transformers and relay stations. And probably the key reason was Campo's proximity to the international border- approximately one mile. In the event of an enemy invasion through Mexico, the cavalry could act as a first line of defense until reinforcements were brought in. The army argued that if the country was invaded by Japan, the enemy might land an invasion force in Baja California, move north and attack the United States through the interior.

There can be little doubt that Camp Lockett was strategically important to the nation's overall defense plans. In addition, the horse soldiers stationed there played a significant role in protecting resources vital to San Diego's war effort.

In the midsummer of 1940, the army dispatched Lt. Gen. John L. DeWitt to Campo with orders to conduct a preliminary survey and report on the feasibility of locating a military facility in the area.1 As the commanding officer of the 9th Corps Area headquarters in San Francisco, the general was responsible for the camp's construction.2

The army was interested initially in 702 acres of land in Campo. Of this, Ellsworth Statler-heir to the Statler-Hilton Hotels-owned about 510 acres. Most of the remaining property was located on a ranch owned and operated by local residents F.J. and Isabell Ferguson.3 At that time, Statler was the principal property holder in Campo, controlling nearly 1,600 acres including most of the town.4 Statler's buildings played an essential role in the camp?s early development because the structures were used to house employees of the architect-engineer and the constructing quartermaster. The workers took over the entire downtown area, which consisted of a two-story house, probably the old mansion built by the early pioneer Gaskill Brothers, and "four cottages and an old hotel." Several additional buildings were later constructed in the area.5

Water became an important issue in the early planning stages of the camp. To meet its needs, the army petitioned the San Diego City Council for permission to utilize Morena Reservoir located approximately six miles northwest of Campo. On 5 October 1940, the city council approved the application on the condition that the "expense of installing and operating the necessary pipeline, meter, pumps, and treatment facilities shall be borne by the government which is to pay the same rate for the water as do other agencies."6

The army and the city were both pleased with the agreement. Upon completion of the pipeline between Morena and Campo, the military's water problems would be solved, and the city would benefit because the army would provide "valuable protection" to the reservoir.7

On 11 October 1940, the army announced that the men and officers of the 11th United States Cavalry stationed at the Presidio at Monterey would be assigned to new camps at Seeley, California, in the Imperial Valley and at Lake Morena five miles northwest of Campo. Both camps were intended as temporary facilities until construction of Camp Lockett8 was completed.9

The 11th Cavalry was first organized at Fort Myer, Virginia on 11 March 1901. The regiment's early service record includes campaigns in the Philippines, Cuba, and-in response to Pancho Villa's raid on Columbus, New Mexico in March of 1916 -- the 11th joined General Pershing's punitive expedition into Mexico. On 19 July 1919, the regiment moved to Monterey, California.10

On 15 November 1940, 450 officers and men of the 11th Cavalry, accompanied by 730 horses, began the move from Monterey to Seeley and Morena.11 All the troops traveled by train with part of the regiment disembarking at the Seeley station with the remainder of the troops getting off at the depot in Campo. 12

By the end of November, the temporary tent camps had taken form. According to an eyewitness account, the camps resembled a "sea of tents with an orderly tent at the end of each two rows. Constructed on wooden platforms, the sides of the tents could be rolled up to allow for better air circulation. Six men were assigned to each tent."13

On 26 November 1940, the Los Angeles Times printed a story about the camp at Morena, and the army's decision to use the cavalry to protect the border and provide security for San Diego's reservoirs. "Mechanized Army Still Relies On Horses: Cavalry Squadron Will Be Brought To Full Strength for Patrol of Dams,"14 the paper announced in bold headlines. On the same day a feature story in the Tribune-Sun said that "eastern San Diego county may well be a battle ground for a full scale invasion of the United States should the western hemisphere be violated via Mexico."15

The decision to deploy horse soldiers instead of mechanized units along the border was made-in part-because of the extremely rugged terrain. Soldiers on horseback could patrol the hills and gorges, places inaccessible even to jeeps. As the newspaper put it, "Along the Mexican border and in the areas surrounding the dams impounding San Diego county's water supply system, the cavalry-the horse cavalry-is the only army unit able to function effectively in a period of national emergency."16

Initially, the camp at Morena consisted of the 11th Cavalry's Second Squadron, a complement of approximately 250 soldiers. But with the possibility of war, the squadron was bolstered with the addition of a third troop. 17

While at Morena, the squadron quickly assumed its duties. On horseback or-in some cases- with lightly armored jeeps18, the troops scouted the areas along the Mexican border. Reconnaissance missions were also mounted, primarily to determine the possible routes the enemy might use through the canyons and mountain passes.19

For example, on 26 August 1941 Ist Lt. James D. Green led a reconnaissance mission of the Otay Lakes area near Dulzura. In his report dated 12 September 1941 Green wrote,

The defense of this locality is complicated by gently rolling hills to the west which afford easy travel for mechanized forces Infantry or Cavalry. The defense must be strong and reinforced by .50 Calaber [sic] Machine Guns for Anti-tank protection as well as by motors and H.M.G.'s [heavy machine guns].20

Green also recommended that in the event of an enerny attack, the bridge just north of Highway 94 and Otay Lake Road be destroyed and that American troops take up positions on the south side of the lake.21

The squadron stationed at Seeley performed similar duties along the border. Due to the intense desert heat throughout most of the year, the men operated on a "tropical schedule," which meant that often the missions were carried out in the very early morning beginning at 4:00 A.M.. According to Col. Harold M. Rayner, the 11th's commanding officer, "The afternoons [were] devoted to swimming instruction, parades, and the well known border siesta(s)."22

In addition to reconnaissance missions, war games-at least on paperwere played against Mexican troops.23 Various scenarios were envisioned in which the 11th was charged with defending the border. For example, in one conflict, two thousand Mexican troops crossed into the United States and took up positions along Highway 80 between Ocotillo and El Centro. The l1th had to stop the enemy from advancing any further north.24

By far, the biggest training operation occurred on 21 July at 6:00 P.M., when the l1th Cavalry set out on a march from Seeley to Live Oak Springs, approximately ten miles east of Campo. Describing the 11th's departure from Seeley, Capt. H. J. Rosenberg noted:

The evening sun, still merciless at 6:00 P.M., shone on the burnished surfaces of six scout cars bristling with machine guns, on 684 mounted men armed with pistols and rifles, on thirty officers, on three cyclists armed with sub-machine guns, on pack horses bearing machine guns, mortars and special weapons, on seventeen trucks, a semi-trailer truck, a sedan, a pick-up, two side cars, and two reconnaissance cars.25

Known as the Live Oak Springs maneuver, the march through the desert and into the mountains was led by Col. Rayner. After reaching Mountain Springs, the regiment made its way through Devils Canyon. According to Rosenberg, the path was so narrow that the "men leading pack horses with short halter shanks had to lean backwards in their saddles." By noon, the regiment reached Jacumba where it spent a day and a half resting for the final assault on Live Oak Springs.26

By the time the troops arrived at their destination, advance parties had already established "picket lines and kitchen posts." A mountain stream had been diverted by a series of dams into a water trough for horses. 27

Although the squadron's 40-mile trek from Seeley to Live Oak Springs brought the horse soldiers less than twenty miles from Campo, they would have to return to their desert camp because Lockett was far from completion. In fact, a labor dispute brought construction to a grinding halt.

Because of San Diego's booming defense industry, nearly all skilled civilian workers at Lockett were imported from Los Angeles. In addition, the lack of adequate housing in Campo forced contractors to pay higher wages. Nevertheless, the government was willing to incur the higher costs because it considered Lockett vital; "emergency construction" was the way officials put it.28

Although the army may have considered the project important, the fact that the United States was not yet at war meant that civilian workers could strike legally. On 23 July 1941, the San Diego Building and Trade Council argued that the men working in Campo were entitled to "free room and board in addition to [their] daily or hourly wages." Over the next three weeks, threats were made to "interfere with the progress and the construction of the Cantonment and Sewage Disposal Plant."29

Finally, on 18 August 1941, the workers at Campo went on strike against the George A. Fuller Company, the project's general contractor.30 According to J.D. Kaufman, the company's general superintendent, he was surprised by the strike because union and company officials were still in negotiations, and the camp was already about 75 percent complete.31 But at 7:00 A.M. picket lines went up around the construction site, and county deputy sheriffs were called in to maintain order. But the strike was shortlived because on the following day the men returned to work and the dispute was sent to a "board of review" for arbitration.32

Obligated to complete the camp's construction by 1 December 1941, the Fuller Company-in an attempt to expedite the project-erected its own saw mill and lumber yard near the railroad tracks where materials were precut and delivered by trucks to various sites.33

Some time in September or early October of 1941, the Second Squadron of the 11th Cavalry stationed at Morena was moved into its new home at Camp Lockett in Campo.34 Although the Campo facility was still under construction, it can reasonably be assumed that the barracks and mess halls were ready for occupation. Plans called for the construction of 132 buildings to accommodate 1,568 men and 1,668 horses.35

Over the next eight to ten weeks, construction continued at an intense pace. Administration buildings, stables, and warehouses were routinely completed. The earlier decision to utilize the existing civilian structures in Campo was drastically altered when it became obvious that the buildings were not suitable for their intended use. The army, therefore, authorized additional expenditures for a new post exchange and recreation building. Sometime in early December, the construction of Camp Lockett was completed at a cost of $1,937,619.98.36

According to an 11th Cavalry soldier still stationed at Seeley, December 7th was a "sunny day, and the usual number of officers and enlisted men were on 1-day passes to El Centro and San Diego." The rest of the troops were busy packing for the move to Lockett when at 12:37 P.M. the camp received a radio message about Pearl Harbor from the 11th Naval District in San Diego.37

Eeeeeeeeeooooooow, went the fire sirens at El Centro, signaling all our men to report back to camp. So did the highway patrols. In less time than it takes to say japs over Honolulu' the camp was functioning on a wartime basis. The rest of the Sunday passed swiftly. At the request of railroad officials, troops were dispatched to guard strategically important tunnels and bridges. The guards along the Mexican border were "doubled and redoubled.38

Rumors about an impending invasion were circulating throughout the camp. One report said that "a certain coastal section of Mexico not too far from [Seeley) was believed to be the center of Japanese activity.,,39 In another report, "Hundreds of Japanese and Axis bombers, long rumored to be in Mexico, had received word to soar from Sonora to San Francisco, dropping their Blitzkriegettes as they flew, and that various Pacific coast cities had already received their share of gas bombings."40

Throughout the day the squadron at Seeley coordinated defense plans with the troops at Lockett. "Maps containing areas that (the cavalry) was defending according to Defense Plan Number 0 were rushed back from Camp Lockett.41 Other maps were quickly made on improvised drafting tables and rushed to other army headquarters. "42

The tension mounted throughout the day. Radio reports "wipped [the troops] into a fine frenzy of sabotage-suspicions." The guards at the border were "redoubled," and San Diego railroad officials asked for "protection of certain strategically located tunnels, bridges, [and] gorges." By the end of the day "almost every important dam, highway bridge, and railroad bridge" had guards.43

Less than two days later and in keeping with their pre-war schedule, the 11th Cavalry, led by Lt. Col. Frederick Herr, who had replaced Colonel Rayner as commander,44 left Seeley for their new home in Campo on 9 December at 11:05 A.M. The ride out of the desert and into the mountains was a wet one, particularly during the second night. "It came down in sheets, oversize, double bed sheets," one soldier recalled. "Horses neighed in terror and drenched men talked about taking off their boots and swimming out of the flooded valley. "45

On 10 December at 10:30 P.M., the first column of soldiers reached the gates at Lockett. "The camp was in a blackout. Wet, frightened horses were slowly, inch by inch led into strange, dark stables, tied, unbridled, unsaddled and rubbed." After spending sixteen hours in the saddle that day and completing a three-day march in two, the men looked forward to spending their first night at Lockett in "real beds under a real roof," comforts unknown since they had left the presidio in Monterey.46

War brought an abrupt tightening of security procedures throughout the camp, a situation that had an immediate effect on Ben Wyly. As track supervisor for the San Diego-Arizona Railway, Wyly lived in a small house near the Campo Depot within the borders of Camp Lockett. He was in charge of maintaining the line between Campo and El Centro. Using a small motorized car called a speeder, Wyly checked the track every day for vandalism or storm damage.47

For Wyly, the war created new challenges. "Before the war, four trains, two freight and two passenger, passed by each day. But when the war started, there were five and six troop trains every day. There were extra freight trains too. All the equipment was covered, but you could tell they were guns and boats headed for San Diego," said Wyly.48

When Wyly got the news about the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was ffteen miles east of Campo in Hipass hunting quail and visiting his parents. "After I got back to Lockett, the security was so tight they wouldn't let me in. I got mad and told the guards that I lived inside and needed to call my boss in San Diego for instructions. After a couple of hours Col. Cheney ( the camp's commanding officer) called the guards and told them to let me in. After that, they gave me a picture and a plastic holder for identification."49

Throughout the war, Wyly ferried soldiers by rail to a guard post at tunnel four. One end of the tunnel was in Mexico, and the other was in the United States. Mexican troops guarded their side, and American soldiers protected their territory. "Every day at 3:20 P.M., I brought six men down and six men back from tunnel four.,,50

Because of the dramatic increase in the number of trains during the war, Wyly was given permission to employ soldiers as track laborers. But according to Wyly, the soldiers were more trouble than they were worth.

The men worked mostly weekends when they were off duty. They got paid straight time on Saturdays and time and a half on Sundays. I had to pay every one who showed up. On Saturdays there might be two or three men, but on Sundays there were more than fifty. They weren't any good at laying track, so I'd try to hide from them by reporting the wrong place for them to meet me at. If they could find me though, I'd have to pay them.51

As it became apparent in the days following Pearl Harbor that a Japanese invasion was not imminent, security on the west coast relaxed. By the third week in December, as the strength and location of Japanese forces became known, fears of an attack subsided.52 Although troops continued to regularly patrol the border and guard the dams, bridges, and power transformers, life at Lockett quickly became more routine, less intense than those first few days of war.

Training exercises and special events-for example, riding and shooting competitions between troops-were common. Soldiers received day and weekend passes for bus trips to San Diego and Los Angeles. And, as at any large army post, prostitution flourished.

The army had a negative view of prostitution, stemming not from moral grounds but rather from medical concerns. The spread of venereal disease in the military was a national problem. So much so, that in March of 1941, the Committee on Military Affairs in the House of Representatives opened hearings on proposed legislation to prohibit prostitution within a reasonable distance of military establishments.53

At a Washington D.C. press conference in October, the Public Health Service admitted that "some localities were not able to cope with the problem," and that if the government had its way concerning prostitution around military posts, it would: "examine all prostitutes; place them in a big institution with a big wall around it; exam all customers, and give them prophylactics. "54

From the onset of Lockett's construction, prostitution was evident. There was at least one house approximately half a mile east of the camp servicing the soldiers and, perhaps, some of the local residents. There were also several small one-room shacks or cribs in the vicinity. Day and night, an almost steady stream of soldiers could be seen walking along the railroad tracks enroute to the well-known establishments.55

After only seven months at Camp Lockett, the 11th Cavalry was transferred to Fort Benning, Georgia, a decision that reflected the army's need for more motorized and armored units. According to instructions received from headquarters, Southern California Section, Western Defense Command at Pasadena, California, on 24 June 1942, the 11th Cavalry would be relieved of its duties at Lockett by the 4th Cavalry Brigade

The facility was named in honor of Col. James T. Lockett who command thellth Cavalry from 1913-1919 and was twice decorated for gallantry in action during the war in the Philippines. (see) Annual Report, Association of Graduates, Obituary Notice Colonel James T. Lockett, United States Military Academy, 1934, 11th Cavalry Box, Mountain Empire Historical Society, Campo, California.

The 11th Cavalry was authorized by Congress as a unit of the Regular Army in 1901. The regiment was formed at Fort Meyer, Virginia and went into action almost immediately in the Philippines, where they served on combat operations against the insurgents from 1901-1904. After less than two years back in the States, two squadrons of the regiment were posted to Cuba for pacification duties. They returned to the U.S. in 1909. The 11th was based at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia during this time except for a brief stint on the Mexican border in 1911. The Mexican border problem finally boiled over in 1916 and the 11th Cavalry was assigned to Pershing's Punitive Expeditionary Force with whom they were involved in several distinguished actions including the rescue of the 10th Cavalry at Carrozal. The regiment remained in the States during World War I then transferred to the Monterey Presidio in 1919. In the inter-war years the 11th became well known for their skill at horsemanship related to the fact that year-round training was possible at Monterey.
 

The Army adopted distinctive insignia for its regiments in 1922. That for the 11th Cavalry, shown above, incorporated the motto allons ("forward") and the cactus signifying Mexican border service. The unit was part of Second Cavalry Division until October, 1940 at which time they reverted back to being an independent regiment. In November, 1940 the regiment was re-organized into two line squadrons of three troops each, plus a Regimental HQ and Service Troop, a Machine Gun troop armed with .30 and .50 caliber guns, and a Special Weapons Troop consisting of 81 mm mortars and .50 caliber machine guns. Concurrent with this re-organization, the 11th moved to Camp Morena and Camp Seeley, California. This was their posting at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.
 

In June, 1942 personnel and equipment, but not the horses, were moved to Fort Benning and transferred to the 11th Armored Regiment. The 11th Armored was further broken up into two tank battalions and an armored reconnaissance troop. The lineage of the regiment was preserved through World War II in the 11th Cavalry Group which, like all Cavalry Groups, carried out Corps-level reconnaissance operations.