Fort Ord (site)

USA / California / Seaside /
 university, fortification, closed / former military, historic landmark
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Established during World War I as a field artillery firing range and named Gigling Military Reservation. Redesignated Camp Ord on 9 October 1933 in honor of Maj. Gen. Edward O.C. Ord. Redesignated Fort Ord on 14 October 1940.

Formerly home to the 7th Division from 1940 to 1941, the 17th Infantry from 1940 to 1941, the 53rd Infantry from 1940 to 1941, and the 31st Field Artillery from 1940 to 1941.

The old boundaries for the former Fort Ord which encompasses the community area but is made up largely of ranges and munitions response sites. As of 1994, contains the campus of California State University, Monterey Bay.



A small portion of Ft. Ord remains under Army control and is now called the Presidio of Monterey Annex. It includes the Ord Military Community (explained below), California National Guard posts, the DoD Center, and the gunnery ranges.

The military still has a presence at Fort Ord, in the form of several California Army National Guard units, facilities administered by the Presidio of Monterey, and the continued operation of the base PX and Commissary catering to the active duty military stationed in the Monterey area as well as retirees who chose to settle in the area and are entitled to shop at such facilities. Management of the military housing has been outsourced to private firms, but the homes are still occupied by personnel stationed at the Presidio of Monterey and Naval Postgraduate School and retired military members. Ft. Ord's housing, PX, chapel, and Commissary are now called Ord Military Community.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   36°37'58"N   121°45'35"W

Comments

  • As of 1994, contains the campus of California State University, Monterey Bay.
  • Home fictional nurse Major Margaret J. "Hot Lips" Houlihan seen on the television series "M*A*S*H".
  • Bivouac there when I was with the US Marine Corp JROTC. Later I went to Primary Leadership Development Course. Ironic enough our field training was also the same place we bivouac when I was with the JROTC.
  • In the late fall of 1965 I did my Basic Training here.
  • Did my basic training in June 1972
This article was last modified 10 years ago