The History of the Pueblo Depot
Construction of the Pueblo Ordnance Depot (POD) started February 1942, and was fully operational by the end of that summer. Originally intended for the storage and supply of military equipment, the U.S. Army quickly realized the potential of the depot and the possibility for future missions.
From the end of World War II and into the 1950s, facilities were expanded and constructed to continue to support the Korean War. Maintenance for missiles, artillery, fire control, optical equipment, ammunition renovation and demilitarization were some of the major missions. The depot was one of the largest employers in the region with approximately 8,000 employees. In 1952, the first mustard agent-filled munitions were shipped for storage at the depot.
In 1962, the depot became Pueblo Army Depot (PAD). In this decade and into the 1970s, the depot’s primary mission was missile systems repair and maintenance. The missile maintenance mission, with the exception of Pershing missile maintenance, was transferred to Letterkenny Army Depot, Pennsylvania, in 1974. The miles of warehouse space once stored more than $75 million of propaganda war art liberated by Allied troops during World War II and 160,000 Army historic collectibles and American Soldier art from the Republic of South Vietnam. In 1976, Pueblo was given depot “activity” status and assigned to Tooele Army Depot Complex, Utah.