Let Me Think!
Posted By thecircusblog on December 26, 2012
I remember being told of an interesting event in the late 1950’s concerning the U.S. Army importing a hundred or so camels from Morocco and Arabia. The purpose was to create a military cavalry to be used to fight the Germans that occupied North Africa during World War II, around 1942. This military program was top secret at the time.
The US Army came up with a plan that seemed like a good idea at that time….to train a special mounted fighting force that could out maneuver the Germans with hit and run tactics. I understand that the military training base was in the middle of the desert about 20 miles from Blithe, Calif. which was not too far from the Arizona state line. I have traveled this area many times while in show business. I made it a point when on this road to look for in a wide flat valley. When I looked carefully I could see the old foundations for the military barracks. If you ever are traveling east on Interstate 10 toward Arizona, keep an eye out for them while looking to the north. In the 1940’s there was no Interstate, just a two lane highway. By now I am sure time and the desert has reclaimed itself. It has been years sense I have been over this highway but I am willing to bet there still remains some evidence of the old military training camp.
After months of training men and camels to become a fighting force, the Army felt that more men would be wounded or get killed trying to learn how to ride a camel than in combat and so this military blunder was halted. Th training of man and beast you might say it looked like a rodeo. It was impossible to train recruits to master riding a wild camel. It was also a difficult job caring for these animals. There were no professional animal trainers to break in the camels and many of the camels actually escaped into the desert and survived ….. after all the desert is their natural home. The military base was closed and demolished. The only thing left was bad memories and the camels that escaped into the desert. It is said that for years after every now and again you could see herds of camels moving about in the California and Arizona deserts.
The war was now over and something had to be done about the camels as their numbers were growing and becoming a serious problem. The government did their best to capture them so it was said. My guess is many were shot. This is about all I know…..Maybe someone can add more information. I do remember this other tidbit. The government hired a Moroccan by the name of Hijalli who was responsible to gather and transport the camels to the USA. After his obligation with the government was completed, he asked if he could stay in this country, which was allowed. After the war, Hijalli opened a small store where he sold fruit and dates. In the early 1970’s I remember seeing his fruit stand along the Apache trail road in east Mesa, Arizona. I can only relate to you the stories I have been told by others.
The above photo is from the movie “Rin Tin Tin.”
I thank Janice Chandler for the photos of the camels, it jogged my memory about the above story.
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