While stationed at the Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, we drove up to visit the Alamo, about 100 miles north in San Antonio. We all knew the history of how Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, Colonel Travis and the other martyrs had held out against the big Mexican army for two weeks in 1836. Since "Remember Pearl Harbor" was still fresh in American minds at that time, we were familiar with the rallying cry from that earlier war, "Remember the Alamo!"

*We found the Alamo in the downtown area, near the touristy River Walk. The original old Spanish mission was modest looking, nothing heroic about it, with the required gift shop inside, tourist families and peddlers hawking goods outside. We were told admission was free, maybe because we were all in Navy and Marine uniforms.

The Alamo wasn't much to look at inside either. Some musty old uniforms and weapons, an overgrown courtyard, a lonesome cannon and some paintings of the battle. Also, all kinds of postcards, packaged candy, cigarettes, framed pictures and other junk. There have been several Hollywood movies made about the battle up to that time, with the most memorable and colorful one produced by John Wayne. He also portrayed Davy Crockett in the movie.

However, despite the disappointingly shabby look of the Alamo, we all felt the historic atmosphere and, just maybe, sensed some of the ghosts who inhabit the old mission.

Submitted by John F. Adams, USN, Retired