OtherUS Marine Base San Diego
Covers should be listed in chronological order. Use the postmark date or best guess.
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.
| USMC Base San Diego Pg 1 | USMC Base San Diego Pg 2 |
| 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 |
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MARINE CORPS BASE, NAVAL OPERATING BASE, SAN DIEGO, CA
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c 1930's |
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Post card from MCB San Diego CA |
From the Greg Ciesielski collection.
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1935-05-30 |
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In Memoriam of USS Macon ZRS-5 |
From the Greg Ciesielski collection.
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N/A |
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1938-02-23 |
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Collectors request |
From the Greg Ciesielski collection.
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N/A |
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1943-11-11 |
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Collectors request |
Cachet by John N. Lawrence. From the Greg Ciesielski collection.
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1938-04-07 |
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Registered postmark |
From the Greg Ciesielski collection.
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N/A |
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1938-04-07 |
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Money Order Business postmark |
From the Greg Ciesielski collection.
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N/A |
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1938-04-07 |
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Parcel Post postmark |
From the Greg Ciesielski collection.
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N/A |
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1935-07-22 |
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Collectors request |
From the Greg Ciesielski collection.
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N/A |
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1935-08-23 |
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California Pacific International Exposition |
From the Greg Ciesielski collection.
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N/A |
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1935-09-16 |
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Collectors request |
From the Greg Ciesielski collection.
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N/A |
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1935-10-02 |
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Presidential visit |
From the Greg Ciesielski collection.
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N/A |
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1935-11-10 |
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US Marine Corps birthday |
Cachet by Chaplain H. M. Peterson, ChC, USN. From the Greg Ciesielski collection.
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N/A |
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1935-11-11 |
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Armistice Day |
From the Greg Ciesielski collection.
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N/A |
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1935-11-28 |
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Thanksgiving Day |
From the Greg Ciesielski collection.
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N/A |
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1936-11-03 |
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Election Day |
From the Greg Ciesielski collection.
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1941-11-20 |
Cachet by Arthur A Christensen and Gordon A Shaw.
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1941-12-23 |
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Photo Cachet "Main Gate" |
Censored. Cachet by Walter G. Crosby
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N/A |
1942-05-31 |
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MC Base San Diego CA Stationary |
Inside a Walter G. Crosby cover. Did he make it? From the Greg Ciesielski collection.
MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, SAN DIEGO, CA
August 1923 To Present
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1942-05-13 |
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Collectors request |
From the Greg Ciesielski collection.
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N/A |
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N/A |
1943-03-25 |
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MCRD Stationary |
From the Greg Ciesielski collection.
CAMP HOLCOMB, MARINE CORPS BASE, SAN DIEGO, CA
1934 To 14 June 1940 - Named after Major General Thomas Holcomb, 17th Commandant. Renamed Camp Elliott.
CAMP ELLIOTT, MARINE CORPS BASE, SAN DIEGO, CA
14 June 1940 To 1961 - Named after Major General George F. Elliott, 10th Commandant
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N/A |
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1941-08-19 |
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Collectors request |
Cachet by Walter Czubay. From the Greg Ciesielski collection.
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1942-12-01 |
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Marines Mail |
From the Greg Ciesielski collection.
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1941-07-12 |
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2nd Marine Division Cachet |
Cachet by Walter G. Crosby. From the Greg Ciesielski collection.
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N/A |
1941-07-12 |
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Camp Elliott Insert |
Inside a Walter G. Crosby cover. From the Greg Ciesielski collection.
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