A proud heritage fostering self-reliance, leadership, and team spirit in America’s youth through Marine Corps standards and mentorship since 1954.
Photo by Lucas Sankey on Unsplash
From 1954 until the late 1970s, the Marine Corps awarded retirement points to Reserve members who participated in Devil Pups activities. This policy greatly aided planning, publicity, fundraising, and camp operations. Eventually, a Department of Defense ruling prevented the reserves from spending government resources on the program, which led to fewer encampments and increased fundraising demands. Ultimately, the number of yearly summer encampments decreased from three to one because of funding and space constraints.
For decades, the San Francisco Bay Area—especially Marines from the Marine Memorial Club—actively participated in the program. Over time, Bay Area participation declined, and Devil Pups became more concentrated in Southern California. In recent years, the program has expanded into Northern California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah, but logistical challenges and limited fundraising have restricted further growth. Despite these hurdles, the program remains grateful for the partners who recruit and support youth from distant areas.
In its early days, the program hosted multiple summer encampments, each serving approximately 200 to 300 youth. Admission was largely determined by volunteer capacity, transportation availability, and minimal paperwork. The prevailing philosophy was to bring as many young people as possible to Camp Pendleton and trust that the camp staff would accommodate them—which they consistently did. One notable encampment in the mid-1970s involved Marine Captains Tom Vetter and Keith Bushey, Staff Sergeant Rudy Obad, and Gold Star Mother Lupe Rodriguez, who served as a liaison officer. They sent more children than expected—106 in all—arriving with only a 44-passenger bus after staff had initially said there was no additional room. The staff ultimately made accommodations for everyone, exemplifying the program’s commitment to inclusion. That bus was quite a sight, as were the expressions of the encampment staff when it arrived at Camp Pendleton!
Information compiled and provided by Mrs. Susan Shaw Hulbert and Colonel Keith Bushey.
September 2026
