Camp Horno in Camp Pendleton in California is a unity, a vileness, a loving mother, an abusive father, a refuge, a drunk, a diamond, a home. Camp Horno is a collection and balanced proportion of large neon green hills and valleys, poor drunkards, spell-bound warriors, a Post Exchange store, lovers with absence of feelings, run down buildings with bright red roofs and perfectly trimmed dead grass, a rifle range and a small but forgiving chapel. It is not a place where you go to rent or settle down rather it is a worn battleground that helps you cope with life. From the outside in, one would think this is where the poor unfortunate souls are sent to wither away. From the inside, she is what shelters us against nature,misguided mortar fire and civilians.
The sharp alarming sound of the bugle rolls through the valley cerimoniously every morning precisely at sunrise. That is when the cracked streets of Camp Horno come to life, as if it were proud to have platoons marching on them while it guides them to their new area of operation. From the distance, far up in the worn hills where pathways have been formed from hiking Marines, shouting and cadences of death, war and glory can be heard harmoneosly through the thick morning fog. The old cars are left alone to their abandoned parking lots which when artillery rounds go off, so does the car alarms and rattling windows. In the barracks
misguided Marines with too much time on their hands wander mistcheflsy around the broken down rusty red barracks with 85 rooms of impecable neatness. At sunset, when the air is crisp and the ocean breeze flows through the camp, the bugle begins to preach again letting everyone know Camp Horno needs her rest.
Most Marines who enter Camp Horno do not do so by choice. Although Camp Horno may be decieveing at times she will remind you of the pain during scorching hot days, bone chilling cold nights and the fact that it is located miles away from the nearest movie theater or Starbucks. Many Marines have checked into Camp Horno but many will never check out. Camp Horno does not believe in amnesty she only asks that you salute when you walk in and clean your boots on the way out.
Sgt. Canto, David E.
1st Marine Regiment
USMC
