OtherUS Marine Base San Diego

Covers should be listed in chronological order. Use the postmark date or best guess.

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        The presence of the US Marine Corps in San Diego CA first occurred on 29 July 1846 when a detachment of US Marines from the sloop of war USS CYANE landed to raise the flag on the Plaza of Old Town, San Diego. Although they didn't stay long, the Marines wouldn't return to San Diego until March 1911. The 4th Provisional Marine Brigade, under the leadership of Colonel Charles A. Doyen, USMC, established their base on North Island, San Diego and named it Camp Thomas, in recognition of Rear Admiral Chauncey Thomas, USN, Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet.
        The Fourth Marine Regiment, with Colonel Joseph H. Pendleton, USMC as Commanding Officer, landed again on 6 July 1914 and formed a new base on North Island and named it Camp Howard, in honor of Rear Admiral Thomas B. Howard, USN, Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet. During the Panama-California Exposition (August 1914), the 2nd Battalion was ordered to Balboa Park to set up a model camp. The results of this was the establishment of the Marine Barracks in Balboa Park, San Diego CA. The Barracks was opened on 19 December 1914 and Major William N. McKelvy was the Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines. Col. Pendleton established his regimental headquarters in the Science and Education Building. The Marines stayed in Balboa Park until December 1921 when the Dutch Flats area was completed for them. In August 1923, the Marine Corps Recruit Depot was moved from Mare Island CA to the San Diego Marine Base. On 1 March 1924 the base was officially named Marine Corps Base, Naval Operating Base, San Diego CA and would remain this name for the next 24 years. Many smaller bases were constructed within the San Diego area and these will be mentioned when the postmarks are displayed.

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USMC Base San Diego Pg 1

USMC Base San Diego Pg 2

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Thumbnail Link To Cachet Close-Up Image	Thumbnail Link To Full Cover Front Image	Thumbnail Link To Postmark or Back Image	Postmark Date Postmark Type Killer Bar Text Ship --------- Category

MARINE CORPS BASE, NAVAL OPERATING BASE, SAN DIEGO, CA

 

N/A		N/A	c 1930's
			Post card from MCB San Diego CA

From the Greg Ciesielski collection.

 

N/A			1935-05-30 Locy Type 6 "U.S.N.Sta.Marine Base Br." San Diego CA
			In Memoriam of USS Macon ZRS-5

From the Greg Ciesielski collection.

 

N/A			1938-02-23 Locy Type 7di "MARINE CORPS BASE" San Diego CA
			Collectors request

From the Greg Ciesielski collection.

 

N/A			1943-11-11 Locy Type 7di "MARINE CORPS / BASE" San Diego CA
			Collectors request

Cachet by John N. Lawrence. From the Greg Ciesielski collection.

 

N/A			1938-04-07 Locy Type 9v "(U.S.N Sta Marine Base Br)" San Diego CA
			Registered postmark

From the Greg Ciesielski collection.

 

N/A			1938-04-07 Locy Type 9w "(U.S.N. Sta. Marine Base Br)" San Diego CA
			Money Order Business postmark

From the Greg Ciesielski collection.

 

N/A			1938-04-07 Locy Type 9x "(U.S.N. Sta Marine Base Br)" San Diego CA
			Parcel Post postmark

From the Greg Ciesielski collection.

 

N/A			1935-07-22 Locy Type F "U.S.N. Sta. Marine Base Br." San Diego CA
			Collectors request

From the Greg Ciesielski collection.

 

N/A			1935-08-23 Locy Type F "FLEET / REVIEW" "U.S.N. Sta. Marine Base Br." San Diego CA
			California Pacific International Exposition

From the Greg Ciesielski collection.

 

N/A			1935-09-16 Locy Type F "IN DEFENSE / OF COUNTRY" "U.S.N. Sta. Marine Base Br." San Diego CA
			Collectors request

From the Greg Ciesielski collection.

 

N/A			1935-10-02 Locy Type F "PRESIDENT / VISITS BASE" "U.S.N. Sta. Marine Base Br." San Diego CA
			Presidential visit

From the Greg Ciesielski collection.

 

N/A			1935-11-10 Locy Type F "IN DEFENSE / OF COUNTRY" "U.S.N. Sta. Marine Base Br." San Diego CA
			US Marine Corps birthday

Cachet by Chaplain H. M. Peterson, ChC, USN. From the Greg Ciesielski collection.

 

N/A			1935-11-11 Locy Type F "ARMISTICE / DAY" "U.S.N. Sta. Marine Base Br." San Diego CA
			Armistice Day

From the Greg Ciesielski collection.

 

N/A			1935-11-28 Locy Type F "THANKSGIVING / DAY" "U.S.N. Sta. Marine Base Br." San Diego CA
			Thanksgiving Day

From the Greg Ciesielski collection.

 

N/A			1936-11-03 Locy Type F "ROOSEVELT / RE-ELECTED" "U.S.N. Sta. Marine Base Br." San Diego CA
			Election Day

From the Greg Ciesielski collection.

 

			1941-11-20 Locy Type 7di "MARINE CORPS BASE"
			Thanksgiving Day

Cachet by Arthur A Christensen and Gordon A Shaw.

 

N/A		N/A	1941-12-23 Locy Type Fz
			Photo Cachet "Main Gate"

Censored. Cachet by Walter G. Crosby

 

N/A		N/A	1942-05-31
			MC Base San Diego CA Stationary

Inside a Walter G. Crosby cover. Did he make it? From the Greg Ciesielski collection.

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MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, SAN DIEGO, CA

August 1923 To Present
 

N/A			1942-05-13 Locy Type 2 "Recruit Depot, M.C.B. Br." San Diego CA
			Collectors request

From the Greg Ciesielski collection.

 

N/A		N/A	1943-03-25
			MCRD Stationary

From the Greg Ciesielski collection.

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CAMP HOLCOMB, MARINE CORPS BASE, SAN DIEGO, CA

1934 To 14 June 1940 - Named after Major General Thomas Holcomb, 17th Commandant. Renamed Camp Elliott.

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CAMP ELLIOTT, MARINE CORPS BASE, SAN DIEGO, CA

14 June 1940 To 1961 - Named after Major General George F. Elliott, 10th Commandant
 

N/A			1941-08-19 Locy Type 6 Camp Elliott Calif.
			Collectors request

Cachet by Walter Czubay. From the Greg Ciesielski collection.

 

N/A			1942-12-01 Locy Type 7 Camp Elliott Calif.
			Marines Mail

From the Greg Ciesielski collection.

 

N/A		N/A	1941-07-12 Locy Type 7di "Marine Corps Base" San Diego CA
			2nd Marine Division Cachet

Cachet by Walter G. Crosby. From the Greg Ciesielski collection.

 

N/A		N/A	1941-07-12 Locy Type 7di "Marine Corps Base" San Diego CA
			Camp Elliott Insert

Inside a Walter G. Crosby cover. From the Greg Ciesielski collection.

 

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