WHERE ARE THE DIXONS TODAY?: Day Two - Getting on Base, Lost on Base, and Buffalo Soldiers

Sierra Vista, AZ High 78 low 44

One of the main reasons we wanted to visit Sierra Vista is because it is home to Fort Huachuca (pronounced wuh-choo-kuh). Pat had watched a show about the fort and thought it would be really interesting. She was right.

We had breakfast at the hotel but it seemed to me that the breakfasts are getting skimpier with fewer offerings. I'll be curious to see what is happening at hotels that I stay at this summer.

Anyhow, back to the story. We headed for the base about 9:00 a.m. Went to the wrong gate the first try. The guard checked our car in and then gave us directions to the correct gate where we were directed to the parking lot of their security check office.

Visitors entering the fort who do not have a DoD id card, are subject to a background check before you can enter the grounds. You must have a REAL ID and an Access Request Form which you can download and print from their website.

Marilyn had printed the forms for us and we thought we were ready to go. Marilyn discovered that she had left her Access Form back in AJ. We weren't sure we would be allowed in but we forged on. There were a few people ahead of us and it's an honor system about who's next in line.

We sent Marilyn up first because if she was turned away we would leave. He got her Passport and Driver's License, asked her some questions as he filled out the form and then took her picture and printed off her pass. Next was Pat and she sailed through with flying colors. Got her picture taken and her pass and it was my turn. Things started off fine. Gave him my driver's license and form. He noticed that I had checked retired civil service. For some reason that meant I got asked about twice as many questions as either Pat or Marilyn. I have no idea why. Things like jail time? did you retire or get fired? Finally he took my picture and gave me my pass. Then we noticed that Marilyn only got a six month pass and Pat and I have ones that are good for a year. It must be because she didn't have the Access Form.

Fort Huachuca was originally set up as a outpost in 1877 to secure the San Pedro and Santa Cruz Valleys from Apache raiders. The fort has been home to horse soldiers, foot soldiers, Buffalo Soldiers and WW2 Infantrymen. Engineers were trained here during the Korean War. Today it is used for technical and intelligence development and Soldier training, and the world's largest unmanned aerial systems training center.

It is also over 70,000 acres and I'm pretty sure we saw most of them because I got lost. There are 18,000 people working on the base and we couldn't find one outside. We did hear gunfire off in the distance but I tried not to wander too close to that area.

Finally saw a tiny little sign that said museum with an arrow. Believe me, they do not make it easy for you to find the museums. We finally found the Buffalo Soldier Museum. Thank goodness.

It's a really informative small museum. We took our time looking at all the exhibits and visiting the gift shop. There is a handout about the Buffalo Soldiers that was extremely informative. Early in the 17th century, African-Americans fought along their white owners to defend against Indian attacks. Around 5,000 fought in the American Revolution but in 1775 when the Continental Army was formed, Congress excluded blacks from service. Despite the fact that they continued to make real military contributions in the War of 1812 and in the Civil War, it was not until after the Civil War that blacks were accepted into the regular Army.

In 1892 the first black regiment arrived at Fort Huachuca. Other troops arrived throughout the next few years. until 1900. They were first called Buffalo Soldiers when the name was given to them by the Indians of the plains who likened their hair to that of a buffalo.

The handout is full of fascinating information but I've gone on too long as it is. We discovered while we were there that the second museum we wanted to see had been moved. It is the U. S. Army Intelligence Museum. We never did find it and by now it was time for lunch. First we have to figure out how to get off the base. Had no idea where we were. We finally found one lone guy outside and he was able to give us directions to the gate.