MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- When Stan Berryman came to Camp Pendleton to be the head
archaeologist three and a half years ago, he saw something here that
took him back to his childhood growing up in El Cajon.

The base's lush environment and numerous archaeological sites
reminded him of days as a youngster toting a rifle and venturing into
Southern California's wild lands. Those attractions drew him away from
a "good" job as an archaeological consultant in Reno, Nev., and fulfilled
a career-long dream.

As head of the Archaeological Resources branch of Environmental
Security, Marine Corps Base, the nationally recognized Berryman
locates and surveys all sites on base and works on projects to support
the Corps' mission.

The 6-foot and one and a half inches Berryman earned a bachelor's
degree from San Diego State University and has worked in the western
region of the United States as an archaeologist since 1973. At one time,
he owned his own company.

Just as he has seen time alter his now-graying wavy hair and bushy
mustache, Berryman, 52, has witnessed many changes in Southern
California's natural habitat over the years. San Diego County's
urbanization and ever-growing population are transforming Camp
Pendleton into an "island" of environmental resources, he said.

In the wake of dwindling habitat elsewhere in the county, the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service is recommending that Camp Pendleton reserve
nearly 60 percent of its 125,000 acres for threatened or endangered
species, thereby making the land off-limits to military training.

At one time, the county had about 16,000 ecosystems, but construction
destroyed one-half to two-thirds of them.

As habitat ebbs elsewhere, environmental regulators ask Camp
Pendleton to do more, Berryman said.

"As a result of construction, (Camp Pendleton) is becoming an island in
an area that has seen its resources disappear," Berryman said. "The
destruction outside our fence lines causes pressure on (the base) to
conserve."

Berryman, whose wife is an archaeologist with a private company, said
the base has 650 recorded environmental sites entered in the state's
registry. Once the sites are found, they are evaluated to determine if
they're eligible for the national registry. About 45 of the 180 evaluated
sites here are possibilities for the national registry. When a site is
entered in the registry, plans are worked out to protect the area.

One little-known aspect of his job is working with local Native American
tribes, Berryman said. Members working under the Native American
Graves Protection and Repatriation Act consult on excavations here and
help handle sensitive items, such as human remains and cultural objects.

"We're doing as much or more than other outside organizations," he said.
"It's because the Department of Defense is more sensitive to issues of
Native Americans."

Lupe E. Armas, assistant chief of staff, Environmental Security, praised
Berryman and his work with the tribes.

"He has built a program that is mission-oriented and in the interest of our
Native American tribes ... his demeanor fosters tremendously positive
relationships with them. He is a real professional."

Although his priority is protecting archaeological sites, Berryman hasn't
lost sight of the Corps' primary goal.

"It is crucial to maintain important sites, but the principal purpose here is
to train Marines," Berryman said. "In order to go forward, we must find
a good balance.

"There's not a developer alive who sees open land and doesn't think of
building houses. It's those pressures that push us to manage our
resources and balance our mission."

Berryman pointed to pre-construction work -- such as assessing
environmental impact of future construction and training -- as a means
of balance "in the air, on land and sea."

Preparing Marines and the environment for the future is an ongoing
challenge, but by working hard, Berryman said, the Corps can keep its
mission going forward.

For his part, Berryman earned individual honors, winning the Secretary
of the Navy's Environmental Award earlier this year for cultural
resources management. He also had a hand in Camp Pendleton's
first-place environmental award among large installations. Earlier this
year, he was Camp Pendleton's sole representative at a ceremony in
Washington to receive the award with about 40 other recipients from
around the country.

"(The award) was justification for a lot of hard work," Berryman
proclaimed. "Without the support my program gets from senior people in
Environmental Security and (MajGen. Edward Hanlon Jr., commanding
general, MCB), I wouldn't have gotten the award. They were willing to
develop the program and get the necessary funding."

In the future, Berryman wants to finish all of his surveys, which are
about 80 percent complete. His office is also involved in a five-year
project to restore the Las Flores Adobe Ranch House -- the only
national historic landmark on base. Berryman said it's unfortunate the
house wasn't maintained over the last 25 years. But with a lot of work to
bring it up to standards, it will be taken off the list as one of the most
at-risk landmarks in the country.

Berryman's philosophy: turn negatives into positives -- for example, his
idea to have Marines use restricted or protected areas like "minefields"
to maneuver around during training.

Although humble and soft-spoken, Berryman says he's proud of his
accomplishments here.

"When you're doing archaeological consulting, you go from project to
project all over the United States. It's fun for a while, but you don't gain
ownership of, or pride in, what you're doing. Working at Camp
Pendleton and seeing things take shape gives me a whole different level
of satisfaction."