[Alas Babylon!]

I was on Titan II Missile Combat Crew and we were deep in the center of fighting the Cold War. The daily Intel briefings sometimes curled your toes and the Alerts were tough and dangerous (we were one of a handful of jobs authorized hazardous Duty Pay inside CONUS). We were young and partied like heck off duty and pulled Alerts ten times per month and were all keenly aware of politics, both national and international.

I hear you! I was deep inside Cheyenne Mountain during those same times. Used to watch the Missle Warning screens when we ran scenarios and think, "Someday, this is going to happen. Some mad man will turn the key and kaboom!"

Almost a miracle that we didn't.

Yet....

[OldMissileer]

Like your handle. I had to read that book in high school and loved it.

I told my then fiance, now wife, that if the balloon went up I would try to call her from the capsule/launch control center and use that phrase. Not original but still...