Fort Bliss Bugle looks back 71 years

If you picked up a copy of the Fort Bliss Bugle this week, you likely noticed something a little different.

In the upper right-hand corner of the paper the date is stamped Nov. 8, 1942.

The date was no mistake, in fact, the entire paper is written as if it were 71 years ago. It was a first-of-its-kind newspaper, a nod to the 1st Armored Division’s storied history — and ties to a major campaign on this date in 1942.

“It’s something that honors, not only the veterans that received their baptism by fire, but all veterans,” said Maj. Joe Buccino, one of two men who worked on the project. “I get the sense that folks in the community didn’t fully appreciate the history of the 1st Armored Division — because the division hadn’t been here.”

In 1942, the 1st AD didn’t call Fort Bliss home. The division, and its history, transferred to El Paso back in 2011 under the command of Maj. Gen. Dana Pittard.

Operation Torch signified the first time an armored division from the United States saw action in World War II. Buccino and Sgt. 1st Class Dave McClain spent two months scouring military records, archives from the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune to produce the most accurate depiction they could of the opening moments of a new front in World War II as seen through war correspondent and soldiers’ eyes.

Headlines span from the opening moments of a new fight, to information about changes coming to Fort Bliss. There is even an article about Adolph Hitler’s vow for revenge. The ads, including one showcasing movies for the Plaza Theatre, are historically accurate.

“That really played on those days,” said Buccino pointing to the ad.

Bob Chisolm, a retired Lt. Col. who fought in World War II, told ABC-7 he saw the Fort Bliss Bugle and was presently surprised. Chisolm travels to schools throughout El Paso educating younger generations about military history. He, like Buccino, said this paper was a great way to teach people about history.

“I was somewhat surprised to see the edition come out, and I thought it covered history very well,” said Chisolm.

The Fort Bliss Bugle’s special commemorative edition is available on post, now. If you can’t get your hands on a paper, there is also an online version available here: