Fort Hood, Texas: Part Three

 Bloggers, I woke up this morning happy and upset at the very same time. So I thought that I would continue with the story about Fort Hood back in 1972 through '74 because that time period was a time when I couldn't see anything beyond the day present; an tomorrow most likely would never come. And the life that we lived in The Army's combat units back then were unpredictable to say the least. You could be in a safe place one day, and a life threatening one the next. One could go out and take a crap in the woods or swamps and get snake bit in the ass by a six foot cobra or rattle snake. Remember Murphy's Law, well, that applied here with us constantly. That's why we were in constant alert while serving in the U. S. Military. And if one was married, that was another problem. Things would go wrong in these situations as well. The Military was not exempt from cheating partners or extra martial affairs, or their fair share of family violence. And the war in Viet Nam was still awaiting and anticipating The great Fall of South Viet Nam and that American Fiasco. And for us back in the States, the U. S. Government was still in a Great Cold War with Russia. So we trained constantly for combat readiness in the woods, whether in Texas, Georgia swamps, or in Germany. Our Government and leaders had us in a constant emotional state of tension and apprehension. I remember one early dawn in Fort Hood when two helicopters crashed in a thick fog while in maneuvers and people were killed. I also recall that tanks on maneuvers would occasionally run off a cliff in the dark. We trained night and day for weeks at a time and our beautiful wives and girl friends were out there full of oats and among wolves searching for lonely girls needing attention. Talk about apprehension, it was thick out there in those lonely woods. And I was not guiltless even way out there in the great out doors because at times I would tell my A. P. C. driver while we waited for the next orders out on top of some plateau on a hill top, and as we looked way out to a lonely farm house, and I would tell him, "Crowder, I sure would like to be in bed right about now with that farmer's daughter!" And we would both laugh and yet I already had a fine young Mexican Chicana wife of my own at home. I remember the day that she told me that she was pregnant the first time in February of 1972. And I had planned to get, and wanted, out of this miserable life in the Army. And especially from the racist White Officers. But then this happened. I was happy when she told me about her pregnancy and but it put me in a bind financially because I had nothing saved. How could I save on the pay that I received monthly? And she wanted a Catholic Church wedding and I knew that kind of thing would cost an arm and a leg and I couldn't afford it. Besides, I hated the Catholic Church. However, she said that her mother insisted on it and would take no for any other proposition that I would concoct. I guess they had prior experience or knowledge of such people like myself and armed themselves well. But not well enough because Ruben told Irma Reyes the truth about the needless waste of money for something that was memorable however not necessary. I told her that if she married me in a Civil Court wedding that I would Re-Enlist in The Army that I hated for another three years and get 10,000.00 Dollars for it. And with that money we could buy us a new mobile home for two and a new car. And she agreed and I got three more years in the Army at the end of my three year enlistment. And when Uncle Sam paid up the Ten Thousand Dollars he only gave me Six Thousand and Seven hundred dollars. So I complained to those at Personnel Department and they said that The Government had taken out for Taxes the amount deducted on my Check. Oh well, at least I got out from a Church Wedding. But, even though my Baby was four months pregnant and barely showing because she was slim, her mother and aunts who hated me, took her to The Catholic Church and had an Official sanctioned Church picture taken of her all decked out in her White Wedding Dress with all the dress wear that goes with it. And I was excluded from that notification and invitation. Man!, she looks beautiful in that dress. But I still don't regret my decision for our Civil Wedding. I knew that I was a F... Up and my chances of being a husband and father were not good at all. So why go through all that hype and pomp for something that will end within a few years. Either we will get divorced, or I would end up in Prison, or get myself killed some how. Nonetheless, I was stuck with three more long miserable years in The Army. And everyday was the same old song; the same old refrain, and it went like this..., "Here we go again, same ole shit again!" But! it was here while I served six years in the Army that I enjoyed the best years of my marriage with Irma Reyes. And I mean the best years! Because I was away from my crazy brothers and friends. Then in August 3rd, 1972 our baby girl was born. We named her Melissa Ann Gutierrez. I remember asking my C.O. for a thirty day leave the day she was born. But my C.O. was shocked because I asked for so many days. And I told him that I had accrued more than 30 days, and so I was taking 30 days. However, he said to me, "Sergeant Gutierrez, you don't need to take off 30 days, it's only a Baby." Nevertheless I took my 30 days. I know I arrived late at night at the hospital and I went to see my wife in her room. Then she told me that the baby was at the babies nursery and that I should go see her there. Well, I looked all over the room and all I could see was White skinned babies. So I called a nurse and told her that my baby wasn't among the babies in the nursery and so she walks with me and looks through the large window in front of the opened nursery and then she points to a lily White skinned baby and tells me that... that is Melissa. Then she leaves and I am beyond myself and go back to my wife's room and laugh out loud and tell my wife that I had made a big mistake hiring The Borden Milk Delivering White man to take her all the goods I paid him to deliver her twice a week at her mom's house. Then she asked me , "What's wrong Babe?" And I said, " Melissa is white as snow Honey Bunch. What kind of stuff is that?" Then she says, "Babe, that is your Baby and don't say nothing about that no more." And I laughed again and said, "Baby, look at me, I am almost Black, what happened?" Then the nurse brings Melissa in and gives her to my wife and I just loved it, and I understood all the different shades of skin colors among our own family. But even now I will tease Melissa about her real father being the White Milk Man, and that he left me to pay all his bills for raising her. And just like her mom would do, she'll wrinkle her nose and say, "No Dad, you are my real father." And after my 30 days were up, I go back to my Unit and continue my soldier's life with Charlie Company 2nd, of The 12th, Cavalry. And in 1973 The Draft was terminated and O.P.E.C. turned off the Oil supply to America. And The Army was left to train in the woods with little movement of our tanks, and vehicles. And off post, the cars and trucks were filed in long lines that took hours to get ones gas. That is if the gas had not run out by the time it was your turn to the fuel pump. This was a nightmare. And in 1974, our Unit went to Claxton, Georgia to a mock war exercise between us and their National Guard. This was an area near swamp land where an abandoned U.S. Marine Camp named Camp Oliver used to be. I believe we were there 4 months. The night training was almost like Viet Nam. However, I enjoyed my week end passes to the city of Savannah. When I would go in my civilian clothes the young Black girls would hit on me on the side walks. A few yanked on me once and told me that I belonged to them. I was happy to tell the truth. I even went to see the Movie Superfly all by myself in an all Black theater there. Many of my friends didn't want to go to The City of Savannah because it was heavily Black populated. However, I loved it. Especially the beautiful Black girls there. And I could easily score dope and keep moving down the road. And I did go to Charleston, South Carolina a couple of times. This was a different world setting compared to Texas, just like Olympia, Everett, Tacoma, and Seattle, Washington were also. Every different region in the Country and The World has its own rich flavors for histories and cultures. And everyone one of these had their shady and flawed personalities well hidden. Like we all have done, and especially when it is dark and we are behind closed doors. It is like being in Nature and being captivated by the beauty of the woods and swamps, and not being able to see the the danger that lurks within. And Ruben was being exposed to many different places and peoples, and becoming a more well rounded person. After the Georgia experience, we went back to Fort Hood and my second baby was born in February the 13th, 1974. And his name was Michael John Gutierrez. Well this is a good stopping point so I'll close for now and say, Let's sleep on that for now. And further, I had to close the year writing, and I hope to open the New Year writing even more than the years that have gone in waves before us, waving goodbye to us forever. And like the lyrist said, "Those were the days my friend we thought would never end." Happy New Year Guys! Let Peace rain down upon us and let us be real Human Beings for once! But this too is what a fool believes. Amen. Thanks again.                                                                                                           Respectfully,                                                                                                                                             Ruben N. Gutierrez