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Callan was an Anti Aircraft Replacement Training Center for "Coastal Artillery" and "Anti Aircraft Artillery" units (CA and AAA). In June 1944 it had a troop capacity of 426 officers and 9926 enlisted men on a surface of 3782 acres near San Diego, CA. The camp was built on land leased by the government from the Torrey Pines State Park with the agreement that it would be torn down after the war and restored to the park. It was leveled after VJ Day and the lumber used to build housing for veterans.

40mm Bofors AA Gun

I now have an issue of the "Callander", a pictorial review of the experience of training at Camp Callan. It was published by the Public Relations Department of the camp and the photographs were taken by the U.S. Army Signal Corps. It's primary purpose was to show the family of the trainees what they were up to and to serve as a "souvenir" of the soldiers primary training. This particular copy was published in August of 1943 while my dad was at the camp and could be mailed home at the bulk rate of 3 cents for postage. If you wanted to get autographs and mail it later you had to pay 30 cents. What follows are excerpts from the Callander with photos showing the pages.

Forward

I quote from the Forward which appears below a photo of a soldier and his wife/sweetheart looking up at the American flag.

"This pictorial review of Camp Callan endeavors to sketch, photographically, the overall picture of this Army camp and its training program. It touches on practically every phase of the life and activities of this replacement training center. It tells the story of the transformation of the finest American manhood into the finest American soldiers. Specifically, Camp Callan trains antiaircraft artillerymen. These are the men who will defend the skies for America on every battle front.

It is also intended that this review be a definite aid to the "folks back home" in understanding the environment, the day-to-day training routine and the recreations of their men in olive drab.

The Callander, we hope, is the sort of book that will be treasured in years to come as a reminder -- perhaps grim but at least interesting -- of the rigorous days of training at Camp Callan."

From the Callander-"Camp Callan is named in deference to the memory of Major General Robert A. Callan, veteran of two major wars and 40 years' continuous service, and one of the most capable and distinguished officers in Coast Artillery annals."

Upon arrival at the training center the government made sure that numbers became a part of the "flak-foot's" life. From the Callander;

Classified

"Accompanying us to Camp Callan were our "form 20's," large manila cards on which had been entered, at the reception centers, all information pertaining to our education, work history, special talents, and other data which would be helpful in getting us placed to best serve the Army and ourselves. The edges of the cards are made for punching and when some organization needs experienced men with some certain qualifications, the cards are run through an ice pick-like instrument and all the cards of men with this experience drop out. Hundreds of types of specialists are given different numbers. In fact, after we're inducted, we acquire numbers at a rapid rate -- a serial number, which is a long, slender, almost unconquerable devil like 36104110; a classification number like .052, a nightmarish rifle number and ever so many others. These we must always keep at the tip of our tongues for the many forms that will be filled out each time we do something or have something done."

The day in camp started in a typical fashion but is related with humor by the Callander writer;

Reveille

"Sunrise, occurring in the vicinity of 8 a.m. during the spring months, follows closely on the heels of daybreak, which is preceded, quite some too much, by reveille. Reveille is sounded at 6 a.m. by synthetic means. That is to say it comes over an elaborate public address system and is originated from an ordinary dull-looking phonograph record. In times of old, the unhappy soldier finding revelry and reveille too close together could vent his rage on a human bugler. Today, and woe are we, 'tis no longer possible. And because the public address system and "that record" and the operator are all housed in the Military Police building there is just no recourse."

The trainee is introduced to his equipment and it's constant care.

Half and Half

"Half a soldier's time seems to be spent in learning how to use his equipment, the other half in keeping his equipment in shape. The first half is intriguing, fascinating, new, different, but okay! The second is mostly drudgery, but its importance isn't doubted. We shine our shoes, our brass, our hands, our faces. We clean the floors, the bowls, the foot lockers, and, above all, we clean our rifles. And then at inspection time a sergeant with spots in front of his eyes thinks he sees dirt in the barrel, and we clean potatoes and onions and pots and pans."

Now the soldier is introduced to the real reason he's at Callan - Triple "A".

Guns for Each Purpose

"An assortment of antiaircraft cannon have been used to fill the different needs of combat, and one of the principal objects of training is to familiarize the soldiers with the functions and usefulness of each specific kind of weapon.

The center picture [the 40mm Bofors shown above on this web page] shows one of the medium calibre type of artillery first received and used for training purposes at Camp Callan.

At the right is a heavy rifle, some of the intricacies of which General Hardaway, Callan's former commanding general, is pointing out to a visiting colonel."

Somehow the trainee must, in addition to all the numbers mentioned earlier, learn what everything is called.

Nomenclature

"We have mentioned a few of the facts about various types and kinds of "ack-ack" guns on the previous page. Actually there are books, very thick books, which describe all the intricate mechanisms which go to make up these weapons. A goodly portion of the knowledge in those books is given to us by our officers and non-coms before we're allowed to think of firing the guns. Right off the bat -- first thing -- we're set to learning nomenclature, which means the words or terms about the subject. Later we get examined to see how well we've learned the stuff. The whole business of being prepared to fire these guns is a lot more complicated than it looks at first glance.

And all of these terms, all of this technical knowledge about the guns themselves, is in addition to understanding how the whole thing works -- that is, the firing control system, the directors and the other equipment."

The care of their precious equipment becomes personal.

Caring for Baby

"As with our own rifles, so with the big guns -- we learn how they work before we use them, and we learn to clean them and keep them clean at all times. Dust and the salt air can cause a lot of damage to these expensive instruments, so we treat them as well as mothers treat babies. Of course, our technique is a little different with the guns than the technique mothers use on babies. We use a "slush brush," which is just burlap sacking on a pole. We clean the gun with a soda solution, and when it's clean we spray light oil around to keep the salt air from hurting our "baby's" complexion."

Sometimes their greater purpose floods their minds.

Teamwork

"There are a lot of things about Army life that bring back memories of school days.

You remember how we were always ready to do-or-die for the old alma mater. That youthful faith and vigor that made the "cause" -- which was probably a game with Martinsville High School -- the most important thing in the whole wide world. And then we left school and our causes became more personal -- making a living, making a home. And now there's war, and once again there's a CAUSE -- truly the most important thing in the whole wide world. And our faith in the cause and our readiness to give our all for the cause bring back nostalgic memories of lesser battles."

Some things that you prepare for you don't want to ever encounter.

Chemical Warfare

"Another highly important phase of our training deals with Chemical Warfare, which includes poison gas, lachrymators, irritant smokes, screening smokes, incendiaries, individual collection and tactical protection. We are taught to recognize various chemicals including chloracetophenone (tear gas), chlorpicrin, phosgene and mustard gasses by their smell, appearance, and effects. We sample light doses of those chemicals without gas masks. The instruction shows the value of our gas masks."

There is training in many areas.

Enlisted Specialties School (ESS)

"It's the purpose of the Enlisted Specialists' School to train enlisted men for future work as cadre of new units, for further study at the Enlisted Specialists' School Divisions of the Antiaircraft Artillery School at Camp Davis, N.C., and the Coast Artillery School at Ft. Monroe, VA., and as replacements for established units. In addition, the Callan ESS conducts preparatory courses for officer candidates and supervises the examinations given prospective officers. The Commandant of the School is also charged with the direction of the orientation courses for new trainees..........

In all, there are more than 20 different courses of study offered by the Callan ESS. All the classes are instructed by warrant officers and enlisted men thoroughly trained in their particular fields and capable of imparting their knowledge to others."

The courses in ESS covered everything from basic to advanced mathematics, electrical and radio theory (my dad's training), auto mechanics, cooking, photography, journalism, logistics, and other skills needed to keep a AAA unit on the move.

Camp Callan had facilities for extensive recreation including, baseball, basketball, tennis, golf, swimming, football, table tennis, and track and field. In addition, there were officer's and enlisted mens clubs, the USO, and a movie theater. Add to that the beautiful San Diego countryside and weather and it was a pretty good place to train.

Departure For North Africa

Clifford completed his training in July of '43 and was sent to the embarkation point at Hampton Roads, Virginia. On September 4, 1943 he shipped out for North Africa. Once in North Africa he was assigned to the Hq. Battery, 532nd Anti Aircraft Artillery-Automatic Weapons Battalion, 5th Army. The months of September and October 1943 were spent there in preparation for moving on to Naples as replacements for the battle weary troops who had taken that town. The story will continue...................

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