Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

It was Christmas 1957, and I was in Cheyenne, Wyoming on active duty at Francis E. Warren AFB. As far as I knew, no one other than the civilian employees were home for Christmas.

The personnel of the base procurement office had decided to have dinner together on Christmas Eve in downtown Cheyenne. I don’t remember the number but there must have been 20 or so of us seated around a long table. There were some drinks served and all had a reasonably jolly time.
I was seated next to an Airman First Class, and we spent most of the night arguing about the relative sizes of our states and whether the Louisiana Purchase included the same land as that claimed by Spain, including Texas. She was probably right, but I wouldn’t concede my point.

Since this restaurant was a steak house, that is what most of us ordered. It seemed like there were a lot of lively conversations around the table. Once I looked over and one of our group had passed out and his face was resting upon the steak he had ordered. I don’t know if he had a few before coming or had too many at the dinner. In all kindness, he was left that way until we were leaving.

I was more cautious because I had to drive back to the base. I was staying in the B.O.Q. on base, so had to stay sober. Now, since I haven’t written about this anywhere else and posted it, I will now. There was a prince from Saudi Arabia living in the same quarters. Every night his record player had the most miserable whaling and plaintive singing I have ever heard. I wondered if he had done something to be punished. I think they had him attending every course the Air Force offered.

Most of my contact with him was he had an old car that seldom would start on cold mornings. I would give him a push to get his car started several times a week! I should have written down his name and address. Years later when I was a broker, I could have used a contact in Saudi and reminded him of how I had done for him back in Cheyenne. One never knows what the future might bring.

Since I think our Christmas party was on a Friday night, the rest of the weekend I took my meals at the officers’ club. One evening, I am in a civilian suit and had just arrived at the club. I don’t recall if I had even had a drink but as I was walking through the crowd a beautiful young woman came up, planted a kiss on me and wished me Merry Christmas! I hardly had time to even put my arms around her. She quickly escaped my attempt to hug her. Then she was gone! I suppose it was just a Merry Christmas moment.

While this thought has nothing to do with Christmas or the like, once I was in the Club’s business office to pay my monthly bill. As the officer was taking care of my payment, I noticed he had pulled up a major’s bill, which in alphabetical order was next. His bill for that month was several times larger than my total income! Just Sayin…RJS

Graywulff Loc: Cortez,Co.

Just to note RJ, Texas and the rest of the Spanish territory was not part of the Louisiana Purchase. You were right sir!!

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Thank you! I think our argument was the difference in the Louisiana Purchase and the Spanish claim of the territory north of the Rio Grande River. Which of these two territories was the larger? Just Sayin...RJS

Graywulff Loc: Cortez,Co.

once again my uneddicated opinion would be the Louisiana purchase was larger. Just may have to look that one up. Just sayin’

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Good story RJ. Took me back to my first Christmas away from home. Sheppard AFB, no story anywhere close to yours. Just recall the fantastic meal and running out side late at night in my tighty whiteys to get the delivered pizza.

Didn't know Texas got that cold.

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

I’m going with the Spanish Claim, even though the Southern Coast from FL to MS was excluded from the conversation. Supposedly the Spanish not only the Southern Coast, but everything West of the Mississippi River, including AK?

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Well, we are a big state! Depends upon where you happen to be. We often kid about cold weather is due to someone leaving the barbed wire gate down up north of Amarillo! And the opposite is down on the border, around Brownsville to McAllen, Often cold fronts do not even reach that far down the state! Just Sayin...RJS

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

" barbed wire gate "

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Hello Plumbob: It seems I 'misspoke'! In researching this, the discovery of the Americas was ultimately between Portugal and Spain.
There were a lot of heated debates until the Pope stepped in and divided up the spoils.

It seems that Spain claimed everything its explorers saw, regardless of whether they could supply settlers to conquer and capture the land. For one instance, when Balboa saw the Pacific Ocean, he immediately claimed all, including the lands on the other side! None of which made any sense, and I am sure China, Japan, and all the other independent countries around the Pacific rim would have objected.

Therefore, back in this country, Spain, and later Mexico claimed a lot more than they could ever provide settlers to make their claims stick. So, my argument was just that and had little or no substance. Both Spain nor Mexico could not handle the Comanches and Apaches and that's why settlers from the early United States were invited to move in.

They were hoped to be a buffer between Mexico and hostile Native American tribes. When a Comanche chief was asked why they didn't bread their own horses, rather than stealing horses from Mexico. His response was "Oh, Mexicans are good horse breeders. We just steal theirs"! Just Sayin...RJS

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Do you mean Wulffy there RJ? I only reminisced on the first time away.