The El Paso County Historical Society recently acquired a collection of New Mexico high school & university yearbooks. Included in the acquisition were some high school yearbooks of Mesilla resident, Verna Lowry, who was a member of the Las Cruces Union High School Class of 1942. 
Hidden gems are often to be found amongst archive materials, & these yearbooks were no exception. Tucked inside Verna’s senior class yearbook was this newspaper clipping about her classmate, Anastacio Contreras. The 1944 article highlights some of Technical Sergeant Contreras’ wartime missions, injuries, & decorations.
“Chico, the triple threat man” (as he was known to his buddies) flew missions on B-24 flying ships with such colorful monikers as “Homesick Susie,” “Susie’s Sister,” “Pistol Packin’ Mama,” & the “Chug-a-lug.”
The El Paso County Historical Society has an impressive (& possibly the largest) collection of yearbooks for the El Paso & southern New Mexico region. It is one of our most popular & heavily researched collections. If you have any El Paso or local area yearbooks you would like to donate to the EPCHS, please contact us at curator@elpasohistory.com or 915-533-3603.
