Jimbo, I was a 6521 Aviaton Ordnance Munitions Technician, dont know about the com/cadre thing, that must be something new. I was there 1983-84 and part of '81. I know the base is bigger now since El Toro closed

I went to desert once, the place was Death Valley. it was a 23-day hiking trip. ohh my the place was bueatiful, yes bueatiful in a sense. It is not the romantic way of Albert Biersdat's painting, but the bueaty of other side of natual. you know what I mean? it is cruel, deadly, and it is also timeless ageless. behind what you see, it might once was a valley full of greens or a city filled with laughters. i just can feel the work of history whenever I look over the desert, the strong wind blowing and sand floating, and those might just be what had witnessed the history. the winds and the sand are the witnesses of the flow of time, and you are one such a tiny little traveler among the never-stoping time river. it is hard to express the feeling but I hope you understand it http://www.tgeweb.com/ironworks/cgi-...iles/smile.gif

and this is a painting of Albert:

http://sunsite.dk/cgfa/bierstadt/bierstadt16.jpg

Wel I still live in the desert. It is not too bad, but am about to move east. No more desert, but looking forward to living near some woods..