MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Six Marine Corps veterans whose 55-mile march from San Diego founded Camp Pendleton 60 years ago were on hand Friday for the opening of a museum that memorializes a Marine Corps on the move during that era and beyond.

Fifteen vehicles and weapons are featured inside one-third of a World War II-vintage warehouse at the foot of Rattlesnake Canyon Road.

"The vehicles show hard evidence of the Marine Corps' development through the years," Faye Jonason, the base's history and museums officer, said about the new Mechanized Museum, officially recognized by Headquarters Marine Corps.

The museum could almost pass for a zoo. It includes a MUTT, a tactical truck that debuted in 1979; a "goat" tractor/carrier that transported personnel and cargo; a  Vietnam-era "mule" for all-terrain cargo/personnel transport; and a 1960 "water buffalo," a two-wheel trailer with a welded frame used largely to carry water.

The oldest relic in the museum: a 1921 M8 75mm pack howitzer, a successor to an artillery piece first used by the Army in the 1830s.

The howitzer brings back a flood of memories for John Farritor, a retired first sergeant who was among those trailblazing marchers, who then went off to war.
"I was a chief of a (pack howitzer) section... all the way from Bougainville through Guam and Iwo Jima," he said. "I had (most of) the same nine-man crew the whole time, too, although I lost some along the way.

"It was very nice to have the museum put up, and I hope they expand it further and get more vehicles."

There were always vehicles and equipment around, but there was no space to consolidate them until the warehouse, then slated for demolition, became available, Jonason said.

Jonason credits Master Sgt. James C. King with the idea. He volunteered three years of his time and skills to repair and restore the vehicles.

Sergeant Candice M. Coffman headed up the project and was supported by volunteer William McNeel. The two spent three months gathering equipment and personnel to create the museum.

King's hard work, along with help from 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Force Service Support Group, other units, Facilities Maintenance Division workers and even a boy scout working on his Eagle Scout project, were also instrumental, Jonason said.

Coffman said there's still more to do, including landscaping to make the museum more inviting. But the hard part's over.

"I'm glad the project is coming to a close (after) three months of working days, nights and weekends," she said.

Now, with the help of volunteers and Range Maintenance, the museum is open Mondays through Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tours may be arranged through Com-munity Relations at 725-5569.