Serving as a training base for new pilots, the base was a prominent part of Laredo life when I was growing up.

During that time, public officials and much of the citizenry were scared to death that the base might close. Like many people on the dole and like many other American communities with military bases, Laredoans were convinced that without LAFB, the city would die.

Then, in 1973 the unthinkable happened. U.S. officials announced that the base was being closed. The official explanation was that the base was no longer needed given the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam. The unofficial reason was that President Nixon had decided to retaliate against Laredo for supporting Nixon's Democratic Party opponent in the 1972 presidential election, Sen. George McGovern.