Saddle Up White Lightning
Posted Sunday, November 1, 2009 11:23 AM

In January of 1965 I wanted to see my uncle Harry before he went to Viet Nam. Uncle Harry had already served his country in two wars, having served with Patton in Germany and in Korean, where he was among the “Chosen Frozen.” I traveled eastward to Arizona with my roommate Rich McDowell.

 
The first of our adventures involved my driving 75 mph in the left lane on the highway. We were stopped by an Arizona Highway patrolman who informed me that the left lane is only used for passing in Arizona, and the speed limit was 65. He reached for a pen to write me a ticket and discovered that his last “client” had kept the pen he signed the ticket with.
 
“Either of you have pens?” he asked.
 
“I think” I started to say, but Rich kicked my leg and said quickly,
 
“No sir, we don’t.”
 
The officer smiled and said, “Then this is your lucky day.”
 
We sped away at 55.
 
My aunt lived in base housing at Fort Huachuca. Fort Huachuca is a product of the Indian Wars of the 1870s and 1880s. In 1886, General Nelson A. Miles designated Fort Huachuca as his advance headquarters and forward supply base for the Geronimo campaign. Geronimo’s surrender in August 1886 practically ended the Apache danger in southern Arizona. The Army closed more than 50 camps and forts in the territory, but Fort Huachuca was retained because of continuing border troubles involving renegade Indians, Mexican bandits, and American outlaws and freebooters. In 1913, the 10th Cavalry “Buffalo Soldiers” arrived and remained almost 20 years. The fort eventually became the headquarters of the Strategic Air Command in the 1960s, but it retained a good deal of its frontier charm.
 
When we arrived at my aunt’s home, she asked us what we wanted to do. I said I wanted to ride a horse; the fort still retained a full stable of military mounts. Rich wasn’t as enthusiastic, but she fixed us up for the next morning. I realized later that she must have cautioned the sergeant in charge to be sure to put us on some gentle mounts, because neither of us could get them to do much except circle the barn. At no time were we out of sight of that structure. The horses were probably old, and neither of us was assertive enough to force our will upon them.
 
I was disappointed, and the next day I asked to try again. Rich was less excited about the horses, but he consented to go along to watch.
 
“Listen, today let me have a horse with some spirit,” I said. I could tell the soldiers were looking at me with amusement.
 
The sergeant looked at me carefully and then said,
“Pepe! Saddle up White Lightning.”
 
Pepe threw a saddle on the biggest horse I had ever seen and it wasn’t long before I was mounted. The sergeant reviewed the basics of horse etiquette and then asked,
 
“Are you ready?
 
I was about to say, I was born ready, when the sergeant slapped White Lightning on the hindquarters and yelled,
 
“EEEEEEEEEYAAAAAAAAA.”
 
The horse leaped in the air, nearly unseating me, and took off at a gallop. I was finally able to get him stopped about a mile later, but not until I had been considerably bounced about. I wasn’t able to get the synchronized motion an accomplished rider feels naturally. I was up when the horse was down, and then we collided, painfully. I got off the horse and walked him a little ways, then fed him some sugar I had brought with me. I considered him sufficiently bribed, as he let me rub his head and ears, though I was careful not to let go of the reins.
 
I then grabbed hold of the saddle pommel, but before I could get my leg in the stirrup the horse jumped and bolted. I hung on to the saddle and the natural pull of the horse actually swung me into the saddle, but I lost hold of the reins. We galloped about like that for about a half mile. When the horse slowed a bit I was able to get both reins into my hands and regain a tenuous control over my mount. We rode about for awhile and then I turned him toward the stables.
 
I had quite an audience when we trotted into the yard. I’m sure now I looked like a real fool, but at the time I thought I was doing pretty well, and I am sure my face betrayed a look of satisfaction, if not smugness. It was at this point that White Lightning decided to stop abruptly, without checking with me, and I pitched headfirst on to the ground. The horse seemed to enjoy this, but nevertheless checked my pockets for sugar, which I produced on cue.
 
I thanked everyone, and Rich and I started back to my aunt’s house.
 
“I was doing OK there until that last one,” I said.
 
“You did great, the tall guy bet the other one five dollars the horse would come back without you,” Rich replied.