page_title: Clayton Barney Vogel
section_title: World War II
hierarchical_section_title: Clayton Barney Vogel / World War II
caption_attribution_description: Major General Clayton Vogel cuts a piece of cake at the Marine Corps Birthday celebration in San Diego, 1943. From the Clayton Vogel Collection (COLL/1112) at the Marine Corps Archives and Special Collections OFFICIAL USMC PHOTOGRAPH
context_page_description: Clayton Barney Vogel was a United States Marine Corps officer with the rank of major general who served in a variety of capacities from 1902 until 1946. He is best known for his support of the Navajo code talker program.
context_section_description: Vogel activated 2nd Marine Division from the 2nd Marine Brigade at the beginning of February 1941 at Camp Elliott near San Diego. He oversaw the formation of the division and its initial training and was promoted to the rank of major general in May 1942. Vogel held that assignment until he was succeeded by Major General Charles F. B. Price in December 1941 and assumed command of newly formed 2d Joint Training Force, consisting of the 3rd Army Division and his 2nd Marine Division.
  In this capacity, he was responsible for the preparation of Marines and other units for amphibious operations, but following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and United States' entry into World War II, it was redesignated Amphibious Corps, Pacific Fleet and began with the preparation for combat deployment. The Amphibious Corps, Pacific Fleet was redesignated I Marine Amphibious Corps in October 1942 and Vogel sailed with that organization to the South Pacific area during the same month. His headquarters was stationed at Noumea, New Caledonia, and Vogel held administrative responsibility for all Marine forces in Southwest Pacific area, including all logistical and personnel matters affecting combat operations.
  During the spring of 1943, Vogel received orders from Commander-in-Chief, South Pacific Area admiral William Halsey to do preliminary studies of the New Georgia Campaign. The operational discussions did not go well for Vogel and his staff, which turned in pessimistic (though realistic) estimates of the ground forces necessary to isolate, then capture New Georgia. The landing forces would come primarily from South Pacific's Army contingent. Vogel did not met expectations of Admiral Halsey, who consider Vogel too lenient in the planning and asked Commandant Holcomb for replacement.
  Vogel also complicated his situation with his fear of flying, which forced him to make every inspection tour between his units in the Pacific area only by ship, which was impractical at that time. Commandant Holcomb decided to relieve Vogel and sent him back to the United States in August 1943.
  Upon his return, he was appointed commanding general, Fleet Marine Force, San Diego Area, with headquarters at Camp Elliott. His new command was responsible for the training of marines for combat area and encompasses Camp Pendleton; Camp Gillespie, the Paratroop cantonment near Santee; Camp Dunlap, the desert training center near Niland and the Training Center and Marine barracks at Camp Elliott.
  Vogel was transferred to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, in May 1944 and appointed commanding general of that facility as a substitute for retiring Major General Emile P. Moses. He was responsible for the recruit training on the East Coast until his retirement on February 1, 1946, after 42 years of active service.
caption: Vogel cuts a piece of cake at the Marine Corps birthday celebration in San Diego, 1943.
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