I was in kindergarten (4 years old) during the Cuban Missile Crisis. I remember our assistant teacher walking us home, all of us children holding hands in a long snake down the sidewalk. My Dad was a scientist at one of our national labs and had to stay there for the duration. That lab was considered high on the target list.
I was just a tiny girl, but I remember how my teacher and her assistant were all pale but seemed to be putting on a front for us kiddies, the strange walk home, how my beloved Daddy couldn’t come home (and I had an awful feeling he was in danger), how my mother rushed to the phone every time it rang, the scary stuff on TV. Goodnight Chet, Goodnight David.
You know how early childhood memories are like those five-second videos on the early digital cameras? Those are my little “video clips” of memory from those days. I’m sure your memories are me more rounded out and include much more context.
I always admired and supported our Vietnam vets, but when I was living and working in Cambodia in the very early 1990s, I learned to appreciate and admire you even more. I’m just a civvie, but I salute you, sir.
It’s interesting how those of us who have been in the middle of real shooting wars (whether military like you or civvies like me) have a much, much higher bar for going to war than those who have not.
You know what’s really scary? The way so many today have lost all concern over nuclear war. Yes, it was probably overblown at times in the past, but the present utter disregard for its danger is truly disturbing.
One of my brothers was a bomb loader at an air base in FL during that. He loaded those “special” bombs.
Only loaded them. Never took them off. Someone else did that.
What did we prevent there? Removal of Castro? Well, they are still in power.
Vietnam? Became communist anyway. Laos? Managed to kill off tens of thousands of people.
BTW, brother got the watch a bomber cartwheel down the runway after it crash landed with one of those “special” bombs on board.
These kids on here think this is some video game. They’re fond of war and are gonna find out the hard way it aint all fun and games like they think.
And have had 500 pounders, and bigger, dropped very near and around us while in Laos.
It aint funny and it aint nice.
BTW, i wasnt in the military.
I’ll let you figure that one out.