Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, located on the Southern California coast in San Diego County, is the principal West Coast base for the U.S. Marine Corps and one of the largest in the country. It is situated near Oceanside to the south, San Clemente in Orange County to the north, Riverside County to the northeast, and Fallbrook to the east. Established in 1942 for World War II training, Camp Pendleton was declared a permanent base in 1944 and became home to the 1st Marine Division in 1946. The camp bears the name of Major General Joseph Henry Pendleton, who strongly supported the establishment of a Marine Corps training base on the West Coast. The base currently houses numerous Operating Force units, including the I Marine Expeditionary Force and various training commands.