Do you remember the Cuban Missile Crisis?

[tomwed]

When I was 10 years old every night during summer vacation a siren would go off at 8pm in my home town. Children under the age of 16 had to go home. We had a curfew. Whenever there was a fire in town the siren would also go off. We had a volunteer fire department. As children we were told that if the siren remains at a high pitch that meant there was a nuclear war and we should seek shelter. At least once a day we would hold our breath until the siren’s pitch went down. When school was in session we practiced hiding under our desks just like they did in the instructional movie.

I didn’t realize how close we actually came to a nuclear war until I recently watched a PBS documentary.

[TexaninVA]

When I was 10 years old every night during summer vacation a siren would go off at 8pm in my home town. Children under the age of 16 had to go home. We had a curfew. Whenever there was a fire in town the siren would also go off. We had a volunteer fire department. As children we were told that if the siren remains at a high pitch that meant there was a nuclear war and we should seek shelter. At least once a day we would hold our breath until the siren’s pitch went down. When school was in session we practiced hiding under our desks just like they did in the instructional movie.

I didn’t realize how close we actually came to a nuclear war until I recently watched a PBS documentary.

Yes, I remember it very well. I had just started High School in Houston TX. I remember my family stocked up on supplies and drinking water, and all of us were ... maybe not scared right away in that it didn't seem real, but as that week progressed everyone was anxious and concerned. After it was over, it was sobering and very scary once I started to think more about the "what if's" .... good thing JFK was at the helm at the time. Steady hands on the ship of state, and wise sober leadership proved to be crucial.

[DougB]

When I was 10 years old every night during summer vacation a siren would go off at 8pm in my home town. Children under the age of 16 had to go home. We had a curfew. Whenever there was a fire in town the siren would also go off. We had a volunteer fire department. As children we were told that if the siren remains at a high pitch that meant there was a nuclear war and we should seek shelter. At least once a day we would hold our breath until the siren’s pitch went down. When school was in session we practiced hiding under our desks just like they did in the instructional movie.

I didn’t realize how close we actually came to a nuclear war until I recently watched a PBS documentary.

While in school in Miami, they actually had us practicing hiding under our desk in case of a nuclear attack. Must have been very well constructed desks.

[Rags123]

When I was 10 years old every night during summer vacation a siren would go off at 8pm in my home town. Children under the age of 16 had to go home. We had a curfew. Whenever there was a fire in town the siren would also go off. We had a volunteer fire department. As children we were told that if the siren remains at a high pitch that meant there was a nuclear war and we should seek shelter. At least once a day we would hold our breath until the siren’s pitch went down. When school was in session we practiced hiding under our desks just like they did in the instructional movie.

I didn’t realize how close we actually came to a nuclear war until I recently watched a PBS documentary.

Remember it well..was discharged from Navy in late summer 1961. Got one year of college in, and was "invited" to go back active for a short time in fall of 1962.

Actually, was more concerned in 1958 when we had the first middle east crisis. Iraq and Egypt in early 58 and then we actually invaded Lebanon that same year.

Tense times for sure.

[Whalen]

While in school in Miami, they actually had us practicing hiding under our desk in case of a nuclear attack. Must have been very well constructed desks.

No wonder we all grew up not quite right. :loco:

Drills to Prepare Children for Nuclear Attack - Civil Defense Training Drills - 1950s - YouTube

[bluedog103]

I remember it well. From our home in Alabama we could see the trains transporting troops and equipment to Florida in preparation of a possible invasion of Cuba, even though the President said there would be no invasion.
I was glad Kennedy was POTUS at that time. It was later that we realized that our President had a great deal to do with causing the crisis.

[redwitch]

Ah, those magic desks! Never made much sense to me to crawl under a desk for protection but did it most of the time. Being a military brat, the Cuban crisis terrified me. I understood all too well what it could have meant for so many even at eleven.

[tcxr750]

I remember hiding under the school desks in the early 50's in elementary school. The bombers from Russia would be flying down from the north over Canada. In junior and senior high school we didn't hide under the desks. I think we were to go to a designated fallout shelter. Graduated from high school in 62'. I remember the Nike missile sites in Bratenahl that among others were there to defend Cleveland from attack by Russian bombers.
I think the U.S removed Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles from Turkey as part of the effort to defuse the Cuban Missile Crisis.

[bluedog103]

I remember hiding under the school desks in the early 50's in elementary school. The bombers from Russia would be flying down from the north over Canada. In junior and senior high school we didn't hide under the desks. I think we were to go to a designated fallout shelter. Graduated from high school in 62'. I remember the Nike missile sites in Bratenahl that among others were there to defend Cleveland from attack by Russian bombers.
I think the U.S removed Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles from Turkey as part of the effort to defuse the Cuban Missile Crisis.
The U.S. did remove Jupiter missiles from Turkey and Italy to help end the crisis. The U.S. had in 1961 placed and aimed these missiles at the U.S.S.R.

[kb8tpw]

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......

[NotGolfer]

Ah yes!! Was in college at the time...even though our technology with communications back then weren't as they are today I remember crowds of kids in the lounges watching the t.v.'s etc. I was scared and we lived in the midwest (not near any shorelines etc).

Times have definately changed over the past 50+ years since then....thinking of our whole world-scene now.

[jblum315]

I remember it quite well. I was awake all night listening on a radio, scared to death My future husband's Army reserve unit had been called up and he was stationed at Fort Bragg ready to move out.

[tomwed]

After it was over, it was sobering and very scary once I started to think more about the "what if's" .... good thing JFK was at the helm at the time. Steady hands on the ship of state, and wise sober leadership proved to be crucial.

I thought about that too. “Cuban Missile Crisis: Three Men Go to War" said that
JFK and Khrushchev were the only ones in power who did not want to start a nuclear war. Their advisors wanted them to push the button, making the first strike, as did their military staff. Castro who was kept out of negotiations was furious about that fact and offered to die along with his people in support of Khrushchev.

[TexaninVA]

I thought about that too. “Cuban Missile Crisis: Three Men Go to War" said that
JFK and Khrushchev were the only ones in power who did not want to start a nuclear war. Their advisors wanted them to push the button, making the first strike, as did their military staff. Castro who was kept out of negotiations was furious about that fact and offered to die along with his people in support of Khrushchev.

Castro was a hothead ... consumed with hate towards the "imperialist" yadda, and would have started a nuclear war if he could have. I'm also pretty sure he is the guy that actually pushed the launch button on the Cuban SAM that brought down Major Anderson's U-2

[billybye]

I remember because I was in Navy at time. Ready to go on leave, when I heard my ship was going to sea. Called my mother and told her I wouldn't be home, but didn't know where we were going, she said she knew because it was on TV. She was right - there for about a month, then circled Haiti for another month.
Had nightmares after I got out, thought they were sending me back.

[DonH57]

When was that again, like in 1961? I wasn't even old enough to be in school then which means if I was outside and the sirens blew, old Sport's doghouse would have been the go to place!

[LI SNOWBIRD]

I remember it well --I was 12 and for the first time in my life I was scared s---less.
In my school district grade school students hid under the indestructible desks. In junior and senior HS we graduated to girls in the auditorium and boys in the gym. THERE WILL BE NO END-OF WORLD FRATERNIZATION!

[applesoffh]

While in school in Miami, they actually had us practicing hiding under our desk in case of a nuclear attack. Must have been very well constructed desks.

Same thing in NYC pubic schools! I remember being absolutely terrified that my family would all die because we didn't have a fallout shelter! Guess I was 10 or 11, and it was during this horrible time that the RC Church we went to began the recitation of "The Memorare" after every Mass. We were praying for the conversion of Russia, and the end of hostilities.

[rp001]

I lived in extreme north dade (Miami)at the time. The last paved road on the north end? Across the street were hundreds of acres of cow pastures. Literally, I went to bed and a wakened the next morning with Nike missiles in my front yard. They built an underground silo in the area and just recently dismantled it, right in the middle of a very crowded residential neighborhood. Very scary times but it just got worse in Vietnam.

[Bavarian]

Living in Philly, 10 years old, all the news we heard was that Presindent JFK was going to make a speech in the evening of greatest National Importance. Spenr the day wondering what it would be. Speculation was that WWIII had started, Soviet troops marching thru Poland. Was a tense time.

Did those Air raid drills in Grade school in 1959-1991, then no more. Guess worry was debris.

Funny point on nuclear War. Once on travel to a U.S Air Force Base in FL, staying in BOQ as required for DOD personnel to save tax payers money, reads the bedsid disaster manual, on Hurricanes and Thermo Nuclear War, Said just stay in shelter 48 hours and dust the Fallout off the food outside before eating, thought it made nuclear war like

[Hancle704]

My AF Reserve Troop Carrier Wing was next in line to be activated. Fortunately, the crisis was resolved by a President who did not draw a phony line in the sand.

[rubicon]

I remember it well. While I was stationed at Oceana Va Naval Base we had to stand watch 24/7 and I was in Personnel.

My brother was stationed at Gitmo Bay Naval Station during the crisis and had quite a few interesting stories he related years later

[MikeV]

I was just 13 yo and we followed the Crisis in school. Pretty scary if I remember correctly.

[John_W]

I was 12 and living in St. Petersburg. What I remember most was one of my friend's father who worked for Florida Power, had bought some used steel shafts that were 4'x4' by 2" thick steel. He dug a huge hole in his backyard and dropped in 20' length of shafts about 10' down. He surrounded them with gravel and concrete and filled over with dirt. It was their bomb shelter. The next year it became our fort and hangout, it was pretty neat.

[raynan]

I was 10 and remember going to the basement in our elementary school and worrying that the whole school would come down on us. Also remember young pregnant mothers on our street sitting on steps in groups worrying about their husbands who were in the National Guard as I was in earshot playing with some of their toddlers. Very scary.

[Shimpy]

I remember it well. From our home in Alabama we could see the trains transporting troops and equipment to Florida in preparation of a possible invasion of Cuba, even though the President said there would be no invasion.

I also saw those trains with tanks and other equipment on flat bed cars going thru Miami. I remember going to school one morning and having to wait for the train carrying all that military equip.

[BobnBev]

Our air base in Indiana was on lockdown due to DEFCON 2.
I was on the flightline gate to the Alert A/C pads.
The base commander, a full bird Colonel, came running up to the gate and didn't have his gate pass with him. Our orders were that NO ONE entered w/o the proper credentials.
He insisted I let him in, so he went face down in the rain at gunpoint.
The Provost Marshall came up and verified who he was.
I thought "Oh boy, my ass is grass now."
Just the opposite. I got a commendation for taking the proper action,. and a handshake from the Colonel, after we went back to DEFCON 3.:thumbup:

[SALYBOW]

Like it was yesterday. I was so scared that we were going to get into a war with Cuba and the US would be invaded. I also remember watching Kennedy throughout it.