A Bombing & A Border Crossing
Naco, Arizona….AND Senora
Well, as you may know, I like timing my posts with pertinent anniversaries or current events. So, as the chaos on our southern border comes to a sad crescendo, let me tell you about my recent border town visit. Naco, Arizona, is an extremely small town (population 800 ish), located in the south Arizona desert on the border of Mexico. Thus, if you cross the border in Naco, AZ, you end up in Naco, Senora…i.e. Mexico. Other than the usual border crossing problems, Naco, AZ, really only has one claim to fame. That is, Naco, AZ, is the only municipality in the continental USA ever to be aerial bombed by a foreign power. So, please let me tell you the tale of a bombing & a border crossing.
Attempting to Make Long Story Short
It was April 1929. At this time, the Mexican government was in a war with Mexican rebels trying to overthrow their government. The war had come to Naco, Senora. Furthermore, one of the tactics employed by both sides was to hire crop duster pilots/planes to drop bombs on the opposing force. These pilots (there were only 2) were Americans who spent most of the day drinking in Naco, AZ. However, once or twice per day, the pilots would do bombing runs on the force they were paid to bomb. Conveniently, one pilot bombed the Mexican government. Then, the other pilot bombed the rebels. Anyway, on one April morning, the pilot who was intending to bomb the Mexican soldiers in Naco, SENORA…accidentally dropped his bombs on the wrong side of the border…
Thus, he inadvertently and drunkenly bombed Naco, AZ, USA. So, even though the pilot was an American, he was technically hired by a foreign power. Therefore, Naco, Arizona, is the only municipality in the continental USA ever aerial bombed by a foreign power. Thankfully, the bombing resulted in no series injuries. The most significant casualty was the Dodge touring car pictured abovel Sadly, I could not find any plaque or marker recognizing this historic moment.
Road Trip to a Border Town
So, with this historic backdrop, and the lure of being a border town, a road trip to Naco seemed like a PugsleyTonks thing to do. Upon arrival in Naco, AZ, I discovered there were only 2 things in town that showed any signs of life: the Gay 90’s Bar and the US Customs and Border Protection crossing station.
I have never walked across the Mexico border. So, I felt that some intelligence gathering would be appropriate prior to crossing. Therefore, I entered the Gay 90’s Bar and bellied up to the bar. As it was about 2pm in February, there were only two people in the bar. That would be me and the bartender, Sonia. So, I spent the next 45 minutes drinking PBR and gathering information from Sonia on border crossings…e.g. required identification, local drug cartels, sex traffickers and the beauty of tequila.
Before Sonia thought I was a total wuss, I paid my tab, tipped her generously, and headed to the border.
Cross it Already…
Once you step foot on the US Customs and Border Protection property, there are no pictures. So, I took my last pause on US soil to appreciate the warm feeling from the Trump wall running off in both directions…
Then, I began my walk on the designated sidewalk to Mexico. I kept waiting for something to hinder me. You know…a mean guard to check my credentials, a gate, a drug sniffing dog…something. But no, the path winds its way through the crossing station then you pop out the other side…unmolested…into Naco, Senora, Mexico.
Enjoying Naco, Senora
Well, the first thing that struck me in Naco, Senora, was that Mexico-Naco was way more active and interesting than USA-Naco.
Approximately, 74% of the businesses in Naco, Senora, are either a bar, a pharmacy, or a dentist office. We all know the normal costs of prescription medications and dental work…not in Naco. Bars, pills, and dental work are the life blood of the Naco economy. Americans cross the border regularly for cheap generic drugs and dental work. Of course, it goes without saying that you must do some eating and drinking while getting your pills or dental work.
So, I found myself in Naco, Senora, with no major commitments and no Carol to suppress my partying. What’s a fun loving American guy running loose in Mexico supposed to do??? You guessed it. I walked around the town for about 20 minutes, checked bourbon prices at the liquor store, and bought a $1 strawberry ice cream cone. Then, I quickly headed north and re-entered the wonderful USA before the sex traffickers could take me.
Wrap It Up
As you might expect, my crossing back into the USA had more process than my path to Mexico. First, I had to flash my driver’s license to a US Border guard to start the crossing. Then, I actually had to go inside the USCBP office. They took my picture, rechecked my license, wished me a good afternoon, and sent me on my way. I returned briefly to the Gay 90’s bar to let Sonia know that the sex traffickers had not taken me. She was much relieved. I then departed Naco to return to my desert home in Tombstone.
I found my trip to Naco-Naco to be enjoyable, as well as educational. Normally, at this point in the post, I say something like…”if you ever find yourself near this place, I highly recommend that you make time to visit.” Let’s get real on this one, you will never be near Naco. So, you will just have to live vicariously through my story of a bombing & a border crossing in Naco-Naco. Have a wonderful day. PT
I hope you have enjoyed reading “A Bombing & A Border Crossing” on Traveling with PugsleyTonks.
Here was another visit to a bar in the middle of nowhere https://travelingwithpt.com/hanging-at-the-rattlesnake/
If for some reason, you wish to learn more of Naco, here was a good article https://raulersongirlstravel.com/arizona-border-town-naco-mexico/
