Fort Ord’s Transformation to a University and National Monument
I remember being in Monterey the final year Ft. Ord was open. I was around my daughter’s age, eight years old, and I can remember accompanying my father on errands to Fort Ord, who at the time was a young Army captain attending Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). I remember attending mass at NPS and then going to weekend activities on the fort—whether they were shopping for groceries at the commissary or attending birthdays or farewell parties with other military families.
But even long before my memories, Fort Ord has established memories for many others. Initially, in 1917, it served as a training area for the field artillery units. Eventually, it evolved into Camp Ord, named after General Edward Otho Cresap Ord. Later, in 1940, when it became an official military fort, it served as home to several military units for various purposes, spanning 2,000 acres. Historically, the Fort Ord area served as a training site for many troops preparing for some of the most historical wars, including both World Wars, the Korean War, and Vietnam. The highest record of soldiers in one year assigned to Fort Ord was 50,000 troops.
While Fort Ord established itself as a place for military readiness, planning, education, and community, it offered much more to many soldiers. It presented a chance for beauty and serenity before soldiers were shipped off to unchartered and potentially dangerous territories. Even during times of peace, Fort Ord became a prominent and desired area to be stationed for many military families, especially those in the Army. Most Army assignments are often found in rural areas and not always near water. Fort Ord offered something more. It allowed Army families to be near the ocean and experience California weather; it exposed them to various local communities and businesses that shared a deep love and appreciation for the military families. Being assigned to Fort Ord gave many military families an experience of true civilian life. Businesses benefited from the incoming and outgoing military personnel, which greatly supported the local economy. Due to their positive experiences, numerous military families chose to retire in the area, motivated by their fond memories there.
Some of these soldiers who were fond of the area included famous military leaders such as General Joseph Stilwell and General Harold Moore. For those unfamiliar with military royalty, these men have made significant contributions not only to the nation but also locally to the Fort Ord community. Stilwell’s name can still be seen throughout old Fort Ord, as he was known infamously for his more rigid and honest critiques of troops during training and his care and attentive efforts for the Army soldier. General Stilwell led the efforts of a recreational facility that was later named Stillwell Hall. Many military events and activities occurred in the facility before it fell apart in 2003 due to a lack of maintenance. General Moore was well known for establishing and leading the Army training facility at Fort Ord. He oversaw updating and revamping training procedures for Army soldiers and advocated for equal rights opportunities in the military.
Despite the many valuable events and people contributing to the development of Fort Ord, it could not be prevented from becoming impacted by Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) actions. Due to heavy training, building maintenance, and military equipment, there were concerns about environmental hazards and long-term impacts on the area. Inspections and financial analysis determined that the amount of oil, hazardous wastes, and funding needed to clean up and maintain military operations was too much. Fort Ord was put on the list for BRAC action and officially closed in 1994, returning most of the land to the state of California.
Since the closure in 1994, there have been ongoing environmental efforts to help protect and carefully repurpose the area. While the military presence may be far removed, military housing, the commissary (military grocery store), and other military buildings are still used for administrative purposes. However, much of the area has been repurposed for two main goals: a national monument and education.
In 1994, part of Fort Ord became home to Cal State Monterey Bay. Classes officially started in 1995, with a student enrollment of 654. As of 2020, there were 6,276 undergraduate and 595 graduate students, 50% of whom lived on campus.
On April 20, 2012, President Obama signed a proclamation designating a 14,651-acre portion of the former post as the Fort Ord National Monument. In his proclamation, the former president stated, “The protection of the Fort Ord area will maintain its historical and cultural significance, attract tourists and recreationists from near and far, and enhance its unique natural resources for the enjoyment of all Americans.”
UC Santa Cruz owns the remaining parts of the land. They will be developed into the “UC MBEST” (Monterey Bay Education, Science and Technology) Center. The MBEST Center is a regional economic development effort focused on developing collaborative research–business opportunities in Monterey Bay.
While I wish I could still see the active duty community thrive as it once did when Fort Ord was still open, I’m grateful for the memories I do have and happy to know the area is still able to serve a purpose to our community with its original intent to educate, train, and prepare future leaders, even in a different capacity.
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