I know Eglin well. Spent time there as a Ranger student and later as an instructor training students. We used to traverse some of those ranges going in and out of the swamps along the Yellow River. Bomb casings everywhere sticking out of the sand. Loved watching the AC-130s out of Hurlburt doing their thing on the ranges at night.
My Sister worked at Hurlburt during Summers when she was in college. This was back in the early 60s and it was called Field 9 back then. While she worked there the Cubans were training for the “Bay of Pigs” invasion. They were using B-26 attack bombers. Each had 8, .50 caliber machine guns in their noses.
There were Cubans all over the place. My Sister was brought home after work by one who looked just like Desi Arnaz, I mean he could have been his twin. They were going on a date but my Mother put her foot down. “You are not going out with a Cuban, Period!” Evelyn complained and said every girl on base wanted to date him but Mother was firm.