Camp H. M facts for kids
Camp H. M. Smith is a special base for the United States Marine Corps in Hawaii. It's located in a town called Aiea on the island of Oahu. This camp is very important because it's the main office for several big military groups. These include the United States Pacific Command (PACOM), which looks after military operations across the Pacific Ocean. It also houses the Special Operations Command Pacific and Marine Forces Pacific.
The camp was once a hospital for the Navy. It was named on June 8, 1955, after General Holland McTyeire Smith. He was the first commanding general of the Fleet Marine Force Pacific. People sometimes called him "Howling Mad" because of his strong personality!
History of Camp Smith
In 1941, the US Congress decided to buy the land where Camp Smith now stands. At that time, it was just a field where sugar cane grew. The land cost about $912,000, and building the hospital cost another $14 million. Work started in July 1941, but it was slow at first.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, building the hospital became a top priority. They needed a place for many wounded people. The hospital was officially opened on November 11, 1942, with Admiral Chester W. Nimitz attending. Even after opening, they kept adding more parts to it.
During World War II, the Aiea Naval Hospital was a key stop for thousands of injured sailors and Marines. They were on their way home from battles in the Pacific. The hospital was busiest in early 1945, especially after the Battle of Iwo Jima. At one point, over 5,600 patients were being cared for at the same time!
In 1949, the hospital closed down. The Army and Navy decided to combine their medical services at the Tripler Army Medical Center. For a short time, the Territory of Hawaii thought about using the Aiea facility as a place to treat tuberculosis.
However, in 1955, the Marine Corps chose the site for their Fleet Marine Force Pacific headquarters. The first Marines moved in during October 1955. The camp was fully ready just two weeks before its official dedication on January 31, 1956.
In October 1957, Camp Smith also became the main office for the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command. This important leader used to share an office near Pearl Harbor. Later, in 1992, the Fleet Marine Force Pacific became known as Marine Forces Pacific. Today, Camp Smith is the only Marine Corps base that supports a "unified commander," which is a leader in charge of different military branches working together.
Camp Smith covers about 220 acres (0.89 square kilometers) at its main location. It also includes a rifle range in Ewa Beach and housing areas in Manana.
- Official Marine Forces Pacific Website: http://www.mfp.usmc.mil/bn/campsmith.htm
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