At the beginning of 1941 F Troop was in basic training at Ft. Bliss near El Paso, Texas. Political despots and idiots in Europe were screwing things up beyond a place to pause; the despots by careful design, the idiots by ignorance, naiveté or just plain cowardice. Our political leaders, led by our top politician, were making false promises in order to get elected. They knew the voters didn’t want another world war. We didn’t think the Japanese were foolish enough to step on the tail of our paper tiger.
One of their admirals, Yamamoto, warned against an attack. He had been here and knew our industrial potential. So we drifted with puny efforts to build a defense.
The troops of the 124th Cavalry were assigned to forts along the Rio Grande from Brownsville to El Paso. F Troop drew Fort Ringgold at Rio Grande City. The duty was simple; keep an eye on the Mexican farmers across the river, fish in the border stream, and learn to play polo. Imagine a conglomerate of farmers, post cutters, cowboys, and store clerks gathering on a polo field riding their horses with English saddles, wearing their funny looking riding pants, boots and knobby spurs to play a gentleman’s game. Yet, for some of the troopers, their favorite sport was fighting inter-platoon battles in the local bars and cafés.
Their leaders managed to work in some advanced training back at Fort Bliss and participate in the huge Louisiana maneuvers during the summer. Their promised release from duty was withdrawn and the reality of war was no longer speculation. Life can turn on a dime, and did on December 7, 1941. War came first from Japan and the next day from Germany with their declaration of war on the U.S.
Suddenly the troops of the 124th were no longer waiting to go home, but were waiting to join the battle around the world to save our freedom and country.
From the five combatants, two were killed in action, one was severely wounded and two others had close calls. Collectively, three were awarded medals for gallantry at every level from valor to intrepidity, including the Medal of Honor, Air Force Cross, two Silver Stars, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star and Air Medal with six oak leaves.
