CAMP PURGATORY LIBRARY
Don't let this one-room library fool you... there's lots to read. In addition to the regular collection, the 1995 Liberal Reeducation of the Military Program provided the library with The Complete Works of Angela Davis, Ten Days That Shook The World, It Takes a Village, and Das Kapital. If interested, there are five copies of Earth in the Balance available as well.
PATTON ("BLOOD AND GUTS") SNACK BAR
The General himself would be proud to have his name put on this facility. The Blood n' Guts Burger is named in his honor and, despite what the wags around Post would have you believe, it is NOT made with horsemeat.
POST THEATER
Unfortunately, Camp Purgatory is a ways down on the Armed Forces Film Distribution List.... somewhere between Camp Doha, Kuwait, and Farraway Listening Station in the Aleutians. Currently, the Saturday double feature is Ishtar and Lou Ferrigno's Hercules.
CENTER GYM
The Center Gym features a variety of activities for soldiers stationed at the camp. The weight room is equipped with three nautilus machines and several (six) weights. There is a basketball court and a nearby baseball diamond. It is recommended that you look for tarantulas when using the locker room and rattlesnakes when using the baseball diamond (this is why even the outfielders carry bats).
POST EXCHANGE
Normally, the PX wouldn't be a source of entertainment, but there is the occasional issue of Time or Vogue that gets through. There is also unsanctioned betting on when the next shipment of veenie weenies will come in.
HOWARD FINE AUDITORIUM
The U.S. Army and the USO schedule live entertainment at the Fine Auditorium. And let's face it: what red-blooded American soldier DOESN'T enjoy an evening of Sousa marches or piccolo solos? Occasionally pop acts are also booked, like Blue Tungsten. Once a month there is also an amatuer night. The less said about this the better.
THE CAMP PURGATORY POOL
Although not very long or wide (20 feet by 30 feet) the Pool makes up for it in depth. Originally designed to support the U.S. Army desert Scuba School (which died a remarkably quick death) the pool is 100 feet deep. As you can imagine, this is quite a surprise for newcomers who want to relax and touch bottom...
ALL-GRADERS CLUB
The All Graders Club is the only establishment at Camp Purgatory which is allowed to serve alcohol. As such it is pretty popular. Newcomers are warned not to stay after midnight on the weekend, however: there is a tradition of nailing patches of units visiting Camp Purgatory to the "Honor Wall" of the bar. If one takes a close look, you'll notice that some of the patches were still attached to uniforms when nailed up.
THE HILL
The Hill towers at least 20 feet above the rest of Camp Purgatory. There are picnic tables set up, but no shade so sunscreen is a must!
BUS STOP TO TARANTULA SPRINGS
And if the pace of the Camp isn't fast enough for you, try getting away to the nearby (20 miles) town of Tarantula Springs, New Mexico. There they have an old-fashioned saloon (spitting on the floor is still alive and well!) and tour of the old uranium mine (headlamp not required). In keeping with its "wild west" appearance, the town occasionally has shoot-outs down main street with live ammunition. These never seem to be scheduled, so it is best to head for cover once you hear bullets flying.
