The Russians Are Still the Bad Guys

 By Roy Ortega

For many of us who lived through the Cold War, the Russians are still the bad guys. It is totally inconceivable to us that our current government has chosen to side with a country that literally wanted to wipe us off the face of the earth. 

Photo Credit: Reuters

In the 1950s, 60s 70s and 80s, the Soviet Union was our enemy. The Soviets had a clearly defined goal of spreading their communist ideology to the rest of the world. It started with the Russian victory over Germany in World War II and continued into the post-war era. It was the basis for the wars in Korea and Vietnam. In more recent history, Russian expansion was abundantly evident with the annexation of Crimea and the current war in Ukraine. Nothing has changed in the last 70-years to convince us that the true goals of the Russians have really shifted to our favor. To the contrary. 

The motives of the current Russian leadership are no less dastardly today than they were when they aimed their nuclear missiles at our cities from launch sites in Cuba. In October of 1962, we came within hours of wiping each other out in what could have resulted in "mutual assured" destruction. For us boomers, the Cuban Missile Crisis was a seminal event in our lives along with the Kennedy assassination and the resignation of President Richard Nixon.

Boomer Children and the Cold War

Today's boomers were children during the Cold War. The stories of Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev slamming his shoe on the podium and the frightening quotes attributed to him - "...we will bury you" - remain permanently etched into our minds. The fears, worries and anxieties expressed by our parents filtered down to us in ways that haunt us to this day. In school, the daily drills included the infamous "duck and cover" instructions in the event of a nuclear strike.  

Duck and Cover Drill

I remember this time in history very well. My siblings and I sat on the front stoop of our house one October day waiting for our dad to come home from work. In 1962, I was 9-years old. At the time, my dad was an Air Force reservist assigned to an air transport unit at nearby Randolph Field. As he pulled into the driveway, my dad could see the worried look on our faces. Moments earlier, we had been sitting in front of our black and white TV set when a news bulletin interrupted our afternoon cartoon show. On the screen appeared CBS newsman Walter Cronkite

Walter Cronkite

informing the world that a nuclear strike was a real possibility. At our age, we only understood the sense of fear that had suddenly gripped our community. Our city, San Antonio, Texas, was high on the list of targets due to a large presence of military installations. I vividly remember my dad's calming assurances that no matter what happened, he would be there to protect us from any harm. 

The Russian Goal Remains

Long ago, the Russians openly vowed to dominate and control us. Their actions since then have proven repeatedly that they still intend to fulfill their goal of expanding their sphere of influence and dominance to as much of the world as possible. Vladimir Putin has stated many times he longs for a return to the former Soviet Union's prominence on the world stage. In Donald J. Trump, Putin knows he has the perfect dupe to help him achieve his goal. 

Roy Ortega may be reached at rortega54@elp.rr.com

Links:

Cuban Missile Crisis | JFK Library

cronkite and cuban missile crisis - Google Search 

Cuban missile crisis | History, Facts, & Significance | Britannica

Fact: America's Southern Border is Extraordinarily Well-Protected

By Roy Ortega

Talk of a "national emergency" that requires a deployment of U.S. troops to the southern border is idiotic and completely misguided. There is no national security crisis on the border. Contrary to what right-wing politicians and conservative media pundits say, there are no massive waves of desperate, wild-eyed immigrants looting, raping, pillaging and terrorizing our border communities. It's just not happening.

Here is one fact you will not see on the right-wing media: The U.S. border with Mexico is extraordinarily secure and well-defended. It has been since the mid 1800s. There are currently more than 220,000 U.S. Border Patrol officers, Customs agents, local police, Sheriff's officers and military personnel already protecting the entire 1,254-mile stretch of border with Mexico.

Here are more facts: Within 50-miles of the border from Texas to California, there are numerous military installations providing a wide range of defense-related activities.

Here is the breakdown:

-20,000 Border Patrol officers assigned to the border.

-5,000 Local police, sheriff's officers and state troopers on the border every day.

-38,000 active-duty personnel at Fort Bliss, (El Paso, Texas).

-21,000 active-duty personnel at Holloman AFB (Alamogordo, New Mexico).

-11,000 active-duty personnel at Davis Monthan AFB (Tucson, Arizona).

-5,680 active-duty personnel at Fort Huachuca (Arizona).

-14,000 active-duty personnel at Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma
(Yuma, Arizona).

-115,000 active-duty Navy, Marine and Coast Guard personnel, (San Diego, California).

The notion that America is under siege by foreign immigrants is a complete fabrication and intended solely as a ploy by partisan politicians to keep Americans in a state of fear and worry. Folks, there is no national security threat on the border that existing resources cannot handle. None. Sending more troops to the border to deal with this imaginary crisis makes no sense. It is a total waste of money and clearly intended as a PR boost for the new president's "tough guy" image.

Links:

Active Duty Military Installations | Office of the Texas Governor | Greg Abbott

Military-Posts-on-the-Border-1.pdf

Roy Ortega may be reached at rortega54@elp.rr.com. All comments are welcome.

Help from Above - S.V. Ortega and The Blizzard of 1949

 By Roy Ortega 

No one expected a storm of such calamitous proportions. The year 1949 began ordinarily with little or no 

 S.V. Ortega Aboard an
Air Force C-46

fanfare. But only two days into the new year, one of the most powerful weather events ever recorded mercilessly ravaged the country. 

Arctic Blast

Most Americans had already settled back into their normal lives following World War II. Sgt. S.V. Ortega had returned home from post-war duties with the U.S. Army in Germany two years prior and waited for new adventures in the newly minted United States Air Force.   

S.V. Ortega Prepares for 
Air Drop over Oklahoma

At Randolph Air Force Base near San Antonio, Texas, Ortega spent most of his duty time training for his role as a reserve maintenance specialist and loadmaster aboard a C-46 Skytrain cargo plane. The plane was attached to the 4th Air Force Reserve Region at Randolph. Like everyone else in Texas, Ortega paid little or no attention to the massive Arctic winter storm gathering strength in Northwestern Canada thousands of miles away. 

Blizzard of the Century

According to National Weather Service records, the first in a series of snowstorms made its appearance

in North Dakota on the morning of January 2, 1949. As the storm approached the Texas-Oklahoma area, residents began to worry. "The wind kept getting stronger and the snow heavier as the day went on, and by evening the blizzard was at its full fury," said Oklahoma resident Helen Sides. By the time it was over six weeks later, the entire length of the country from Northern California to the Southeastern U.S. had been buried in mounds of snow and ice. Cities

were choked with snowbanks as high as 40-feet and traffic came to a standstill. Even the City of Los Angeles received several inches of snow, a strange rarity for residents. In the rural areas of the Midwest, farmers and ranchers struggled mightily to keep their stranded livestock fed. Emergency announcements for assistance rang throughout the country. Nothing moved for days. 

Help from Above

Ortega aboard a 
C-46 Cargo Plane

At Randolph where the weather remained relatively calm, Ortega and the crew of his plane were ordered to begin preparations for air drop operations over North Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona. Operation Hayride/Haylift was about to commence. A call had gone out earlier for tons of supplies, equipment and bales of hay for stranded cattle. "We loaded up all of the materials and flew north," said Ortega. "But when we arrived in the area of operations, we couldn't find the exact location of the livestock." Ortega said the crew was forced to push hay bales out, not knowing if the cattle could reach them. They learned later that their drops had in fact hit their target. 

According to Air Force archives, a total of 40-humanitarian Airlift operations and 23-hay bale sorties

were flown over a five-county area of the Texas Panhandle in just one day.

Headlines across the country lauded the success of the Air Force air drop operations during the 1949 Blizzard. Historically, these operations were seen as the government's solid commitment to providing humanitarian relief in times of critical disasters, a commitment that continues to this day. 

During his life, Ortega often expressed his pride in the role he played in helping snowbound residents overcome the effects of the powerful Blizzard of 1949. 

Roy Ortega may be reached at rortega54@elp.rr.com. All comments are welcome.

----

Links:

vol-29-no-4-its-going-down-in-history.pdf

BlizzardOf1949-WPark.pdf

January 1949 Blizzard

Blizzard of 1949 - Nebraska State Historical Society

The Worst Blizzard In Utah Ever Happened In 1949

What America learned from the sweeping Great Plains blizzards of 1949 | News | buffalobulletin.com

Religion. Again.

 By Roy Ortega

As a non-religious person, I am often asked to explain why I choose to be an atheist. I feel compelled once again to clarify my position. I have never said I was an atheist. True, I don't believe in religion. I parted ways with Christianity (and all religion) almost three decades ago. But does that make me an atheist? You tell me. How do you define the word "atheist?"  

If you ask me if I believe in God, well, that's another discussion altogether. My answer is that I don't know if God exists. No one alive knows. But many people do believe there's a god and that's fine. That's what we call faith. People are free to believe whatever they want as long as they don't harm anyone else. Most of the religious folks in my friend and family circle are good and decent people. Sadly, the history of religion is full of violence and acts of unspeakable cruelty against others, especially against non-believers.   

But please allow me to dispel some misconceptions about being a non-believer:

• I don't hate your god.
• I don't worship a devil or a devilish figure.
• I don't lack faith in humanity. To the contrary.
• I don't eat babies.
• I don't have any shortage of love, caring and compassion for others.
• I don't lack morality. My moral compass points in the right direction.
• I don't feel something is missing from my life.
• I don't lack spirituality. My spirituality is strong and fully intact.
• I don't wish harm on anyone.
• I don't believe we came from nothing.
• I don't denigrate good religious people.
• I don't think your holy book (Bible) is a bad book, necessarily. There are a few good things in it. 
• I don't dismiss the Book of Deuteronomy, either. But others need it more than I do.  
• I don't believe I am doomed to hellfire and damnation for not believing as you do.
• I don't spend much of my time thinking about what happens when my life is over.
• I don't feel offended if you pray for me. It tells me you're thinking of me, and I deeply appreciate it.

I hope this clears up a few things about non-religious people like me. 

Roy Ortega may be reached at rortega54@elp.rr.com. Your comments, criticisms and praises are welcome.  

My Memories of San Antonio Radio

 By Roy Ortega

The matchup on the radio could not have been any less likely. As a shy and deeply introverted high

KUKA-AM 1970

school kid, I set out one day to foolishly try to match talents with some of the coolest guys on the radio. Honestly, I'll never know how I managed to muster the gumption. 

In the late 1960s, AM Radio in my hometown of San Antonio, Texas was hot. Top 40 hit songs dominated the airwaves. A mix of rock-and-roll, pop, metal music, and soul music blared on radios everywhere. I spent most of my free time listening in awe on my RCA transistor radio to DJs with names like Lee "Baby" Sims, Woody Roberts. Ricci Ware and Don Couser. KTSA-AM and KONO-AM were the ultimate "go to" radio stations with legions of loyal listeners all over South Texas.  

In Search of Our Rightful Place in Radio

In the West Side barrios of San Antonio, a new generation of Mexican American teens searched for its cultural identity and in the process laid the roots to a whole new genre of music programming. 

The history of the "West Side Sound" had actually been forged at least two decades earlier by a number of teen garage bands that sprang up in West San Antonio. Bands like Sunny and the Sunliners, Rudy Tee and the Reno Bops and the Royal Jesters began putting their own twist on a blend of rock and roll and soul songs they heard on the radio. Local teen dance venues were replete with homegrown music.  Unfortunately, there were no mainstream radio stations willing to put their music on the air.

High School: My Starting Point

Whether by luck or a sudden flash of awakened maturity (an elusive trait in most teenagers), I found myself in the office of Mr. Alec Coe, owner of KUKA-FM one day for a job interview. How I got there is another story, but

James Vasquez

I suspect that my high school principal James Vasquez might have had something to do with my being there.  Among all of my teachers and administrators at John F. Kennedy High School, Mr. Vasquez seemed to be particularly adept at recognizing the potential of all of his students. Not only did he recognize a specific talent in me, but he also encouraged it by steering me toward the school's closed-circuit education TV station - KHS 77 - where I learned the basic elements of TV and radio broadcasting. When Mr. Coe went looking for someone to fill an entry-level position at his radio station, he went to the right place. 

A Career Boost

By the time I walked into the broadcast studios of KUKA-AM in early 1970, I had already developed a keen ambition to become a rock-and-roll radio disc jockey. Needless to say, my father was not thrilled. A gruff World War II veteran, he made it clear he would never stand for a long-haired rock-and-roll radio DJ in his midst. Somehow, my mother intervened and assured him it was alright. 

Henry Peña and Rudy Rocha

In all honesty, my ambition could have easily been mistaken for what it really was: cockiness and self-assuredness, totally opposite of my former self. Some would say I might have been too "full of myself." Nonetheless, I walked into the DJ booth into what became an unexpected humbling experience. In front of me were two popular radio DJs performing their cool antics live on the air: Rudy Rocha and "Little Junior Jesse" Vallado.

Henry "Pepsi" Peña

In another part of the studio, I caught a brief glimpse of Henry "Pepsi" Peña who was on his way to another job as the host of a new teen dance show to air on KWEX-TV.  All three were already established as the key members of KUKA's Top Teen Tunes radio show. Their level of creativity, talent and loquaciousness, along with their ability to communicate to the masses kept me in total awe. In my state of starstruck bliss, I recall thinking to myself there's no way I can match up to these guys. I admit my self-confidence suffered a little that day but after a few days of introducing songs and reading "KUKA Power dedications" on the air, I was hooked on radio broadcasting. To this day I hold Rudy, Henry and Jesse in the highest regard for their mentorship and guidance that later led to many successes in my own career. I am happy to say that a little bit of their coolness rubbed off on me too. 

The Rise of Hispanic Radio 

Even as far back as the 1940s, young Hispanic kids in San Antonio were battling to fit into two cultures - American and Mexican. Many of them were first- or second-generation

Mexican Americans who embraced rock and roll and American pop music to the dismay of their parents who were still listening to traditional Mexican bolero ballads and conjunto music on KCOR-AM. 

Thanks to the foresight of people like the Coe Family, owners of KUKA-AM and the Davila Family, owners of KEDA-AM, several young Hispanic DJs began appearing on the radio, spinning music that reflected the musical tastes of a young and flourishing demographic. In essence, this type of radio programming became the foundation for what we now call Tejano music.

Today, Tejano music accounts for a substantial portion of the $1.1 billion Latin music industry, according to Variety Magazine. Tejano is undoubtedly deeply ingrained in the culture of South Texas and many parts of the American Southwest. 

However small and insignificant my role might have been, I am grateful to have been a part of its beginning.

Roy Ortega may be reached at rortega54@elp.rr.com. All comments are welcome.

Related Links: 

Earning a place on the dial: Raoul Cortez, KCOR, and Spanish-language radio | National Museum of American History (si.edu)

Latin Music Revenue Hits Peak of $627M in 2023, Música Mexicana Up 56% (variety.com)

H-E-B Heaven Can Wait

By Roy Ortega

 A recent article in a San Antonio newspaper asking why there are no H-E-B food stores in El Paso got me pondering the same question. However, my conclusions differ radically from those reached in the article. Frankly, H-E-B is not really a good fit for El Paso.

First, full disclosure. I am a confirmed El Pasoan. My bonafides were strictly forged in El Paso. But I wasn't born in El Paso. I was born in San Antonio, home of H-E-B. My loyalties over the span of 50-years have been almost equally divided between the cultures of two great cities.  

What Works in San Antonio Doesn't Necessarily Work in El Paso.   

One of El Paso's strongest appeals is that it is nothing like the rest of Texas. Call it the "un-Texas." I have often argued that El Paso is so different from the rest of Texas, it doesn't even belong in Texas. 

El Paso is located on the farthest reaches of the realm. It is so far to the west that it exists in a different time zone. The landscape is notable for its high deserts and mountains that are found nowhere else in Texas. West Texas politics are totally opposite of the wide conservative stripe that tends to run everywhere east of the Pecos River. El Paso's dry and cloudless weather differs dramatically from San Antonio's often hot and steamy weather. I say it again. El Paso is not like the rest of Texas. Period. 

Over the years, there have been numerous efforts by some well-meaning El Pasoans to emulate the successes of San Antonio. Among those was a silly attempt to redirect the Rio Grande near downtown El Paso to create a River Walk. Of course, those plans ended up flowing downstream unrealized.  

Another effort was a private endeavor to establish a "La Villita" shopping district complete with reenactments of old-west gunfights and shady ladies. Another fail. 

Tejano music and Tex-Mex food: Not Really a Thing in El Paso 

Truth is that Tejano music was never fully embraced by El Paso music lovers. Even at the height of the Tejano music craze of the 80s, 90s and 2000s, El Paso Hispanic music tastes remained loyal to the popular northern Mexican norteña and banda genres.

Finally, when it comes to food, don't mess with El Paso. Chico's Tacos reign. Over the years, Tex-Mex cuisine has been largely ignored in El Paso. Restuarant chains like Austin-based Chuy's and San Antonio-based Taco Cabana have made noble efforts to lure diners away from the typical Chihuahuan and New Mexican-style menus that dominate in El Paso. Again, few takers. 

Photo Credit: L&J Restaurant

Don't get me wrong. I would love to see H-E-B establish a presence in El Paso. But regionalism is a strong current to run against. El Paso is nothing like San Antonio. It doesn't want to be.

 H-E-B heaven can wait. 

Comments and criticism are welcome. Roy Ortega may be reached at rortega54@elp.rr.com. 

H-E-B has stores in Texas cities big and small. Why not in El Paso? (expressnews.com)

Don't Tell Me the Border Is Not Secure

By Roy Ortega

Every election cycle, the immigration issue becomes the easiest, most convenient target for politicians seeking to trigger emotions and generate votes. Today's news is dominated by breathless shouts of invading immigrants and a severe border "crisis" that threatens the safety and security of an entire nation. 

As a 50-year resident of the U.S. - Mexico border, I'm here to say, "puras pendejadas!"  (Pure nonsense) 

We've Seen This Before

Let's get a few facts in order. What is happening on the southern border right now is nothing new and certainly nothing to get worked up about. Contrary to what right-wing politicians and conservative media pundits say, there are no massive waves of desperate, wild-eyed immigrants looting, raping, pillaging and terrorizing our border communities. It's just not happening. The images you're seeing on Fox Entertainment TV represent a ridiculously small part of our border reality. I happen to live a few minutes from the Mexican border and I can tell you first-hand that life in my community is no different than in any other American city. I feel as safe in El Paso as I do when I visit my kin folk in Des Moines, Iowa.

Border Security  

Photo credit: Reuters

Fears of an impending invasion by rampaging hordes of immigrants are completely unfounded. It's also comical to suggest that a foreign government could easily penetrate the border.  At this writing, the southern border has more than 20,000 U.S. border patrol agents and a total of 5,000 local police, state troopers and sheriff's officers on duty at all times. On top of that, numerous military installations are located all along the entire length of our 1,254-mile border with Mexico. In my border community of El Paso, Texas, Fort Bliss is situated a stone's throw away from the border. The massive army post is home to 38,500 active-duty personnel and 1,000 reservists. Also, there are over 21,000 active-duty personnel stationed at nearby Holloman AFB.  If you try to argue that our border is not secure, you are wrong. 

Immigration History

So, for the sake of understanding, let's take still a larger view of this hot-button issue. Truth is, immigration matters are a constant feature of American life and have been for decades. Historically, there have been frequent dips and spikes in the numbers of people attempting to migrate into the U.S. Every time a Central American country erupts in turmoil, immigrants make their way to the U.S. in search of safety and security. This has been going on for the better part of the last 80-years or so.

Sure, you can argue that the number of immigrants fleeing violence and economic turmoil from mostly central and south American countries is alarmingly high right now. But let's put it all in correct perspective: Following the Vietnam War, the U.S. allowed more than 1.6 million refugees to enter. In time, almost all blended respectfully well into American society. Today, Vietnamese Americans can accept credit for their impressive contributions to every aspect of American culture. In 1980, more than 120,000 Cuban refugees were processed into the U.S. during the Mariel Boatlift. Again, the vast majority of this group has made positive contributions to the fabric of America including business, science, the arts, education and government. 

Under every surge in immigration we've seen, immigrants were allowed to enter and stay under existing immigration laws and policies. It's no different today. Of course, the number of illegal entrants is something to take seriously. Illegal apprehensions are high, but that's a good thing. That means the U.S. Border Patrol is performing its job admirably. 

Border Crime

If you're concerned about crime along the border, let me assure you the vast majority of American citizens will never be affected by illegal activity at the hands of Mexican cartels. Again this year, El Paso and other American border communities were ranked among the safest, according to FBI crime statistics. But if you want to quibble over border crime numbers, let me make one more glaring comparison to illustrate my point: According to the Citizen Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice, the city of New Orleans, Louisiana had a murder rate of 70.56 per 100,000 residents in 2023. That's higher than Ciudad Juarez which had a murder rate of 67.60 per 100,000 residents.

To conclude, one can't help but wonder when the truth about immigration will finally get a fair airing. Not any time soon I suspect and certainly, not during a presidential election year. 

Your thoughts and criticisms are welcome. Roy Ortega may be reached at rortega54@elp.rr.com. 

Related link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_by_homicide_rate