[Philmont] Unique Places

Mike,
   
  Wouldn't our lives be different and a bit duller had we not served in the U S Armed forces? For some reason, known or unknown, we seem to ferret out some really unique places while rummaging around on or off duty. The Meers Store is one of them. I am sure you have a bunch more tucked away in your memory.
   
  Places I got to visit while a combat medic in the U S Army include not in any particular order Hips Bubble Room in San Antonio, an old filling station converted into an eatery right up there with Meers Store. They served hot pepper steaks which was a full pound of hamburger stuffed with seven different hot peppers served on a GI mess tray and then covered with french fries until they couldn't stack on any more.
   
  The name Hipps Bubble Room came from the owner, Mr. Hipp and the fact that the inside lighting was string after string after string of those old fashioned bubble lights we used on Christmas trees back in the 50's and 60's. There was an electric train that ran on tracks on a shelf and other eclectic artwork, but the lunch crowd there was lined up into the parking lot.
   
  Along with a lot of otehr interesting places, I also got to visit the old Pine Springs store, Guadalupe Peak, highest point in Texas when there was no trail to the top and the Juarez City Jail.
   
  Now let me explain the jail thing. While stationed at Ft. Bliss, the only time I ever crossed over into Mexico was on unofficial, official business. Let me explain.
   
  Each Saturday and Sunday morning, a team of "volunteers" made the trip to the jail. The team consisted of two enlisted combat medics and one officer, a medical doctor. Our mission was to administer needed medication (usually always an antibiotic shot) to the idiots, or rather unfortunate, like I said Idiots, who were members of the U S Armed forces but temporarily in the Juarez City Jail, mostly Army but some Air Force also who partied too hardy the night before and found themselves thrown in the Juarez City Jail, not a nice place to be.
   
  We could not get them out, but we could administer needed medications and other medical needs, mostly stitches to close night stick wounds from the night before. War is hell!
   
  Here's the way the "volunteer" list operated.
   
  Our names would appear on the unofficial duty roster which at some point in the week disappeared. There was always two medics and one doctor. The only ID we took with us was our drivers licenses. We dressed in civilian clothes and carried a packed old fashioned leather doctors bag. Was it ever packed with goodies! I often wondered about our legal status. We were on official business, but we weren't. That isn't a really good feeling.
   
  An MP met us at a designated time, checked off our names and then drove us to the US side of the International bridge where we walked across, then caught a cab to the jail.
   
  At the jail it was very obvious who we were and we were greeted like long lost relatives and ushered in post haste. We got first class treatment. The first time I went I found that quite unusual until afterward when we were leaving I noticed the doctor did not have his bag with him. That was the payola for our good treatment. Many thousands of dollars woth of "stuff" paid for by you folks, the U S Taxpayer.
   
  We medicated the needy and stitched up their wounds from the night before and reasurred them that someone would be takign care of their legal needs later on. Then we left.
   
  I never found out what process they went through to get out or if they ever got out. But I'll tell you one thing, the inside of any jail is to be avoided at almost any cost, especially the Juarez City Jail.
   
  The trip across the border was rather routine but for days before I would go, I lost a lot of sleep and did not eat well.
   
  So the next time you get a chance to talk to a U S service man or woman tell them thank you for the job they are doing. Some of the things they get involved in are unimagineable to most of us. It takes all of that to give you and me the freedoms we enjoy daily.
   
  And that's all I know about that.
   
  John LeBlanc

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Received on Mon Oct 29 15:32:09 2007