SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Vice President JD Vance is set to visit Camp Pendleton this weekend to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States Marines Corps, joining service members, veterans and dignitaries in a milestone celebration of the nation’s military history.
While Vance may be best known by some for his bestselling memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” his rising political profile as a senator in the state of Ohio and now as the third-youngest vice president of the U.S., he also has personal ties to San Diego and the Marine Corps—connections that make this visit a little more than ceremonial.
Connection to Marine Corps
Vance enlisted in the Marine Corps right after high school, serving from 2003 to 2007. This included a tour in Iraq where he served as a military journalist.
His upcoming visit to Camp Pendleton on Saturday, Oct. 18 will serve as a symbolic return for Vance, giving him an opportunity to reconnect with the military community and honor the institution he says helped shape his early adulthood.
The 250th Marine Corps anniversary celebration will include a series of events open to military personnel, families and invited guests. Vance is slated to speak at the event, likely reflecting on his personal journey and honoring the generations of Marines who have served.
Camp Pendleton has trained hundreds of thousands of Marines since its establishment in 1942. The base remains a vital hub for amphibious and expeditionary training and operations.
Ties to San Diego
Family
The Vice President is closely connected to San Diego as his wife, Usha Vance, grew up in Rancho Peñasquitos, as noted by The San Diego Tribune. It was also reported that she played in the marching band at Mt. Carmel High School.
On top of that, Usha comes from a family deeply rooted in San Diego’s academic community. Her mother, Lakshmi Chilukuri, is the provost of Sixth College at UC San Diego and a biology professor. Her father, Krish Chilukuri, works as an aerospace engineer and a lecturer at San Diego State University.
Frequent visits
Vance has visited Southern California on several occasions over the last couple of years.
Most recently, he was spotted over the Fourth of July weekend. He attended events as the finance chair of the Republican Party and also receive an award from the Claremont Institute. The week, his wife joined military families at Camp Pendleton for reading celebration. Vance and his family was also spotted at Disneyland that same week.
Another notable visit, Vance visited the San Diego-Tijuana border in September 2024, specifically in an area known as “Whiskey 8.” He talked with a select group of invited guests, including San Diego Supervisor Jim Desmond.
With the Vice President returning once again over the weekend, some controversy has stirred over the military showcase, particularly over a proposal to temporarily shut down a portion of Interstate 5. California Governor Gavin Newsom claimed Vance and President Donald Trump weighed the option “to shoot out missiles from ships.” However, the Marine Corps released a statement noting, “No public highways or transportation routes will be closed.”
