By L.D. Keter Santa Monica
I read with great interest [a letter to the editor entitled] “Save the Bison” by Kim George of Claremont.
I am a survivor of the 1933-34 civilian conservation corps. I was stationed in the Custer State Park in the Black Hills of South Dakota, about 400 miles west of my hometown of Sioux Falls.
In our daily truck rides to our work areas we would see on occasion buffalo grazing in the open fields.
One day on our way to work we saw a big palomino or buckskin horse, I don’t know the difference, if there is any, that was gored by a buffalo. When we came back about 4 p.m., the horse was dead, we saw no buffalo.
I never heard anything official or newspaper account of the incident. I agree with Kim George, these magnificent beasts should be protected.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 17, 2008. Read the original PDF.