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Monday, February 16, 2009

Old El Paso


Tomorrow morning I am leaving on a short business trip to El Paso. No offense to all of my friends from Texas, but I don't like El Paso. I don't know why anyone would live there on purpose. Okay, so it holds some less than happy memories for me.
In August of 1966 I was drafted into the Army and I took my basic training at Ft. Bliss, Texas, which is in El Paso. That's right, basic training, in August, in El Paso! During those eight weeks we were allowed to leave the base once. I took a city bus to UTEP and watched a college football game. I have NO use for Juarez, Mexico!!! Never have, never will. I didn't lose anything there and I have NO reason go to that cess pool (Okay Driller, tell us how you really feel).
After my eight weeks of basic training, I was sent to radio school...in Ft. Huachuca, Arizona, another border town with even less to do for entertainment than El Paso. After sixteen weeks in the desert, Viet Nam was starting to look pretty good.
Fortunately, this trip is just an overnighter. I can handle that. If I were going to have to stay a week, I'd send some one else.

4 comments:

Sandee said...

Never been there. Have only been in San Antonio and it was an awesome city. I hope you can bear spending just one night.

Have a safe trip. Big hug. :)

Travis Cody said...

I've been to El Paso but I don't remember it.

DrillerAA said...

Sandee: San Antonio is a great city to spend time in. Austin is a wonderful place to visit. El Paso, well, what can I say...it's El Paso.

Travis: See just how exciting El Paso can be. No one remembers being there unless it is tied to military service.

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

Never been to El Paso...my brother lives in San Antonio and I could live there, I do love that city.

They don't even make the Old El Paso food there any longer. they closed the plant in 2002!