'Desert Rats' reunite 30 years after last patrol

  • Published
  • By Lisa Camplin
  • 95th Security Forces Squadron
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The 6510th Security Police 'Desert Rats' last patrolled the streets of Edwards when the first floppy-disk drive for small computers had just shipped, Starsky and Hutch was a hit television show on ABC, and rock music pioneer Elvis Presley was still performing. 

Now, more than 30 years later, the former cops of 1973 to 1979 reunited here Saturday, April 25th to tour the 95th Security Forces Squadron and to experience Edwards all over again.

Seventy 'Desert Rats' alumni (ranging in age from 52 to 80) and their family members were given a private tour through Air Force Flight Test Center Museum, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center and the flightline. The tour also included an extended visit with the 95th Security Forces Squadron who impressed the attendees with a full display of modern weaponry, ATV's, patrol vehicles, and deployment gear. 

During the 70's, the patrolmen and women of the 6510th carried .38 caliber Smith & Wesson's, a night stick, and brick-sized Motorola radios. The unit had four Chevy trucks and one sedan to share between 188 members, none of which had air conditioning or radar. 

"Back then you had to stand on the roof of your patrol vehicle with a radar gun to get a strong signal," said retired Chief Master Sgt. Wayne Wall. 

After a full day of touring Edwards the 'Desert Rats' assembled for a reunion dinner at Club Muroc to share old stories and discuss the changes in today's security forces field. 

"I am amazed at how everything from the uniforms to installation security has evolved over the last thirty years," said Staff Sgt. Eric Garza, 95th SFS patrolman. 

When comparing challenges faced by patrolmen of the 6510th SPS and the 95th SFS the answers were stark. Since Edwards was an open-base during the 1970s, anyone who wanted access simply had it. 

"I bet it was exciting to write tickets on the 395!" stated Garza. 

Homicides, sexual assaults, body dumping, armed robbery, and commercial burglary were just a few of the regular crimes making the blotters during the open base years. 

"We averaged about four drug warrants per week, 10-15 DUI's per month, and six traffic fatalities per year without counting the more serious crimes," said Chief Wall. 

But not every story was serious in nature. 

Stories of Edwards urban legends surfaced as attendees traded memories of their bizarre experiences on patrol such as seeing 'Blue Eyes,' the local version of a Yeti near South Base; or 'Marvin of the Mojave,' a ghost who could be heard but not seen and left size-10 sneaker imprints in the sand; or observing unexplainable objects in the skies or seeing disappearing tail lights on the dry lake beds. 

"It was the right time, the right place, and the right mix of people that made Edwards the best Air Force base in the continental U.S. to be a cop in the '70's!" Chief Wall said.
At the conclusion of the three-day event, heartfelt emotions swelled as reunion members reflected on the gracious support and unit activities provided by the 95th SFS and other base agencies. In fact, several of the former patrolmen were ready to throw on a uniform, grab a gun belt, and return to work once again.