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Tough 'Ombres LbNA #63651

Owner:Lone Star Quilter
Plant date:Dec 1, 2012
Location: Eisenhower State Park
City:Denison
County:Grayson
State:Texas
Boxes:1
Found by: Silver Eagle
Last found:Nov 13, 2020
Status:FFFF
Last edited:Dec 1, 2012
This letterbox is located at Eisenhower State Park on Lake Texoma. Lake Texoma is one of the largest reservoirs in the United States, the 12th largest Corps of Engineers' lake. Lake Texoma is formed by Denison Dam on the Red River between Bryan County, Oklahoma, and Grayson County, Texas. It is located at the confluence of the Red River and Washita Rivers. The damsite is approximately 5 miles northwest of Denison, Texas, and 15 miles southwest of Durant, Oklahoma. In other words, this lake is claimed by two states, Texas and Oklahoma. We stayed at the state park recently and I was struck by this fact. It reminded me of some genealogical research I did recently. My grandfather, “Slim” O’Neal, was drafted in 1917, only a few months after the United States Joined the war which was called The Great War and later, World War I, to serve in the United States Army. He was joined by other recruits from Texas and Oklahoma to form the 90th Infantry Division and went to Fort Travis in San Antonio for training. The division insignia incorporates the letters “T” and “O” to symbolize both states. These letters yielded the nickname “Tough ‘Ombres”, symbolizing the esprit de corps of the unit. The 90th was also sometimes called the “Alamo” division during World War II.

Directions: The park may be reached by taking U.S. Highway 75 North out of Dallas; take Exit 72 to State Highway 91 North to Denison Dam to FM 1310 West, and travel 1.8 miles to the Park Road 20 entrance. Pay your fee, get a trail map and enter the park.

To the box: On the map, find Trail Marker 9. Park in the designated area. Go the trailhead and proceed downhill to the Ammonite Scenic Point (see map). Go to the wooden bridge and, standing on it, look across to Oklahoma. Walk on up a few steps to the bench on the right and have a seat with your back to the lake. When you’re ready to go for the box, proceed up the trail about 12 steps from the end of the bench, then look to the left up the slope. About 20 steps up you’ll see several trees of different sizes grouped together. Walk to them and look left on the ground for a small rock outcropping 8 to 10 feet away. The box is under the rock with smaller rocks covering it. Take care to place it back the way you found it. Thanks.