Che & Bolivia
I was part of an MTT, our Bn sent from Panama, to the Bolivian Army Staff College, in Cochabamba, either 84 or 85.We were all pretty curious, hoping to get the real story about Che. There were three that claimed they were there. There was a Col. right age, with a Slavic surname, family was from Yugoslavia, fluent in Slovenian, English etc. He was the Brigade commander, had more than a passing interest in Company & Bn Mortars, and I was the our Bn's 4.2 Platoon Leader. He would ask to talk during breaks, a couple of meals. He never brought it up but. At the going away party, I decided to ask directly. They brought out galvanized buckets, with the National drink, think moonshine. it was raw and strong. I asked him, he got real serious, then laid his index finger alongside his nose. I think he was saying yes but, for whatever reason he was not going to talk to me.
It had been a good trip, everyone seemed to get along so, we kept drinking. One group of Bolivians decided to have kind of a surprise "election", with guns and shootings. We were hustled onto the bus, with an Lt as our escort. The Bn ALO
was a Major was quite drunk, very happy but, most importantly, he was a happy, drunken Aggie. We were all in our Class A's stopped by large mob. There were several what looked like Mat 49's, shotguns etc. Our Bolivian Lt. was not having much luck. The ALO did not have any SA. When came back into focus, he wanted to know what was happening the officer seated next to him told him to quiet down we were in trouble. He hears the word trouble, jumps to his feet, sticks his head out the window and hollers " HEY, OLD ARMY!" the officer grabs him, sits him down. From the crowd comes back "HEY, OLD ARMY!" a minute later we're moving down the road no problem!
Noslack
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