Actually, the Cold War commenced with Russia during the last of the fall of Germany in 1945, and lasted past Vietnam.
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a defining moment in it, making Russia withdraw from Cuba with the missiles they had placed there as I have described here several times, and was in October of 1962 - mere days after the birth of my daughter on September 30th.
My boys were then 7 & 8, and we lived in Rapid City, my husband in SAC at Ellsworth AFB, 10 miles out on the plains.
He was in Security Police, guarding all the B-52's that were the guts of our bomb delivery systems of that day. At all times, 1/3 were in the air - 1/3 were in hangars awaiting takeoff - 1/3 in for maintenance.
His orders were to literally shoot to kill anyone who came into a hanger not on his published "Access List" when he was guarding them before going out to the runway for flight - - one night, he heard a lot of banging and talking, and in came three men not on The List.
He hesitated slightly as they spreadeagled on the concrete, and in dashed another guard shouting "They are supposed to be on The List!"
His Company Commander said loudly, "I ought to court-martial you!" and under his breath, ("Thank God, you DIDN'T open fire, Martin!!") with tears in his eyes.
When the Cuban Missile Crisis began, he was on 30 days of 12 hours on - 12 off duty, and we knew if one missile flew, he never would return - literally Last Man off the base, ensuring our eagles were safe.
What many did not then or since realize is what was targeted by Russia, and that those involved in Security did know.
The Number One target was NOT Washington, D.C....it was Offutt AFB, our Intelligence Center in the Midwest.
The Number Two target was where we were in Rapid City, South Dakota - - the reason being not only our B-52's, but more importantly, the fact all our missile-launching capability was within a hundred-mile radius of there, scattered around the Rocky Mountains.
Destroy those, and America could not retaliate against Russia.
Security during the Crisis had shoot-to-kill orders for anyone who tried to get on base who was not authorized - - and were informed that 70 % of the populace (then 45,000) in Rapid City were either a communist or communist sympathizer, who had moved there in previous years to try to take out the SAC base and its men who manned the launch sites.
A week after the crisis ended, Bernie received orders to go to Eielson AFB, 30 miles south of Fairbanks, Alaska and we arrived there 6 January 1963.
That involved U-2 spy planes based there - AFTER the Gary Powers Incident when Eisenhower promised the Russians we'd stop the flights..:)), and a Secret Project in a hangar where even Security was not permitted to go!
Even had Russian jets fly over the base and waggle their wings, knowing the F-102's couldn't catch them....when they did it again, however, we had F-106's brought in from Seattle into hangars "at the ready" for them - and caught up with them before they reached Russian airspace.
One pilot described to Bernie he had drawn alongside (had orders not to fire first) - lowered his missile rack and pointed his finger at the Russian pilot - and his face turned chalk white..:))
End of Play Time...
There are rare moments of fun in war - - -
LOL!
Lowered the missile rack and pointed at the russkie!
This could explain why South Dakota elects Senator Dashle.
Wow - what a history lesson!! Thank you very much.
BTW - your daughter is 2 years younger than I am. September 24, 1960.