Youth and Veterans Tour Historic WWII Training Center

From the The Mojave Desert Land Trust: A group of veterans and students joined the California Wilderness Coalition, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) California, and Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) for a tour of Camp Iron Mountain, one of the best-preserved World War II training facilities from the 12-million-acre Desert Training Center (DTC) located in the Mojave Trails National Monument.

The three Mojave National Monuments – Sand to Snow, Castle Mountains, and Mojave Trails –were designated in 2016. The conservation organizations have been celebrating the one year anniversary of their designation through a series of events aimed towards engaging the diverse communities that surround the public lands.

The tour was led by Chris Dalu, an archaeologist at the Bureau of Land Management's Needles field office. He explained that the DTC was essential for the United States to develop successful desert warfare tactics, training, and technology, particularly for pivotal World War II battles in North Africa. The camp is best known for its connection to the famed General George S. Patton; he served at its Commanding General starting in 1942.

"We'll never have another general like that in the history of this country," Dalu proclaimed.

The tour began at the Catholic altar, a striking stone altar without walls that, according to Dalu, was once canopied by Joshua Trees, smoke trees, and other native fauna. Dalu also led the group through geometrically precise rock art constructed by creative soldiers who wanted to show pride in their camp.

The tour was part of the conservation organizations' efforts to bring more people to the Mojave National Monuments. MDLT's Mojave Monuments Adventure Kit, for example, was designed to provide visitors with the necessary information to safely explore the Monuments. Events like the tour of Camp Iron Mountain serve as further stepping stones for people to explore more of the protected land.

"When I say that public lands are your lands, I really mean it," Kyle Sullivan, the BLM's Monument Manager for the Mojave Trails National Monument, announced to the group. "The community is important to public lands."

For veterans, spending the day in the quiet open landscape of Camp Iron Mountain not only proved therapeutic, but also demonstrated how protecting the lands helps to preserve their history.

"The current bases can learn a lot from the Desert Training Center," explained Matt Pederson, former Marine. "As a veteran, I hope we can all take a look and see the value of maintaining these public lands."

The Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission to protect and care for lands with natural, scenic, and cultural value within the Mojave Desert. For more information, visit www.mdlt.org.

Images via the Mojave Desert Land Trust