[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by DougB

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.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q899D06W53k]Drills to Prepare Children for Nuclear Attack - Civil Defense Training Drills - 1950s - YouTube[/ame]

[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by TexaninVA

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]

Originally Posted by tomwed

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.