I remember it vividly. I was a SGT assigned to MacDill AFB during the Cuban Missile Crisis. I lived 4 blocks off of Dale Mabry and less than a mile from the base. My specialty was Personnel, but I did not see the personnel office for weeks. I instead opened up WWII barracks that had been shuttered when the base was due to close for incoming aircrew I also mixed napalm and took the full tanks to the flight line. I personally saw the small arms hole on the planes that had taken the low level photographs which were used in the Kennedy and other speeches on TV. Twelve hours on and twelve hours off was the norm, and being so close to Dale Mabry it was difficult to sleep when the semi-s carrying munitions, with police escorts, traversed Dale Mabry Blvd. Sure was an experience getting the loaded napalm tanks to the flight line and to the aircraft for a bunch of guys that had administrative, supply, medical specialties' - not munitions. I was later in Vietnam for a year where I was awarded the Bronze Star for combat and I have always said I felt as threatened at MacDill AFB during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Hardly recognize MacDill AFB anymore......
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