From Cold War Surveillance to Whale Listening - That's a Switch!

This past week, I've brought you a story on razing a Cold War Nike site for a new municipal building, then a story on a refresh of an old Cold War radar site for updated military use, and today, to quote Monty Python,

 "Now for something completely different" 

Well, not "completely", but different. To carry on the theme of what is happening to Cold War military sites, I decided to share this one. It is different, that is for sure.

A Cold War era UK listening post is to be converted into a tourist attraction where you can listen to whales. That is right, enviro-tourism. I support that the community receives approval from the Ministry of Defense to buy the base and convert it.

Actually, I'd prefer the Ministry of Silly Walks! (explanation link here)

The Cold War existed, in part from the west's viewpoint, to stop the nuclear annihilation of the world, whales are part of that world as well as people. What better way to celebrate winning the Cold War than to convert and old military base into an attraction where environmentalist can educate the public on these creatures and the whale's place in our world. (yes, I am being silly)

Monty Python could have written the script for this story.

On a serious note, I hope there is a section of the attraction that explains the previous purpose of the base so the Cold War era history can be preserved as well as the land. In my real opinion, it is a great idea. I was just having fun by sharing a little British humor to go with the story.

Whale song plan for Cold War listening station on Lewis. Follow this link for the entire article.

The radar station was part of NATO's early warning system against Soviet submarines and aircraft

Thank you to the BBC News website for allowing me to re-post this article.

Thank you to youtube.com and TheDaveyDuck and harhaus posters for the video use. (Click on the above highlights for video snippets of the comedy routines)

And especially, thank you to the Monty Python troupe for instilling their sense of humor into my life since the 1970s. I enjoy their comedy style immensely.

The Voice of Jazz Behind the Iron Curtain

Here is a little something for my European and Russian followers and visitors. Or, if you are just a jazz lover like me.

A trip down memory lane, music wise that is , especially if you are old enough to remember this.

Willis Conover, The Voice of Jazz Behind the Iron Curtain

"Willis Conover was known around the world, but not so much at home. He was the voice of jazz over the Voice of America for over 40 years, most of it during the Cold War. 

Imagine what it was like to sit in the dark of a hushed room in Prague, Moscow or Warsaw, in the 1960s, . . . "

Follow this link to read the full article: The Voice of Jazz

Willis Conover, an expert on jazz, broadcast "Music USA" from his Voice of America studio

Thank you to the website, Public Radio East, for allowing me to re-post this article.

42 year old Cold War site gets a new lease on life

The other day I posted on how a Cold War Nike site was being razed to make way for a new municipal center. It garnished quite a bit of traffic from around the world. Today, I'd like to share a site that is getting a facelift and new purpose. Cavalier Air Force Station, North Dakota

The Cavalier Air Force Station, which has seen limited improvements since it was built in the early 1970s to deter the Soviet Union's nuclear arsenal, is getting a major facelift. It includes. . .

Link over to read the balance of the article here.

New recreation area 

Early base photo

Part of the base's new mission is tracking all of the "stuff" we have floating around in space orbiting our world. Of course, the original mission still stands, watching space for incoming ICBMs. From the areal view photos I found in the web, you Air Force guys did get stationed in some out of the way places!

Here are a couple more photos of the base as it is today.

New Base Housing

Dormitory to be redone in future

Birth of the Cold War - Where did it all start?

This article is an excellent short read on the theory that the origin of the Cold War was at the Pottsdam Conference in Berlin after Germany's surrender. In fact, many of the references in this article are supported by various books I have read about Truman, Churchill and Stalin. Each leader's biography shares their own opinions on just who trusted whom, who sided with whom, and what they wanted out of the conference. I found researching this part of the Cold War very interesting in that each successive article or book I read, spoke to the distrust each had for the other.

No wonder the world ended up in the Cold War!

Between the fall of Germany and the Japanese surrender, Truman, Churchill, and Stalin met for two weeks in a Berlin suburb to negotiate Europe's fate. Then things went south. . .

Use the this link to access the full article:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/07/19/how-potsdam-gave-birth-to-the-cold-war.html

Thank you to thedailybeast.com website for allowing me to link to this article.

A Cold War relic revived in the new James Bond movie SPECTRE

Most of us Cold Warriors were serving during the height of the James Bond movies. It all started with Dr. No in 1962,

there are a couple with specific Cold War story lines but in reality they all had Cold War overtones.

"From Russia With Love" is one,

and "For Your Eyes Only" is another.

The franchise went on and on until this year's release, SPECTRE. By the trailer it does look like a throwback to the early days of an evil organization (that was a thinly disguised Soviet Union reference by Ian Fleming) causing havoc and James Bond saves the day.

Personally, I liked all the movies but have always liked the early ones more. Yes, I know the Roger Moore starred ones were campy and tried to infuse too much comedy into what was supposed to be an action spy movie series. They reflected the times. In fact, all the movies reflected the issues of the day at their release. It is part of the genre. Even this one, SPECTRE, it is a throwback movie and what better time to release a look back then as the Russians are saber rattling like the old Soviet Union?

What is your favorite James Bond movie?

My favorite - "Thunderball"

It looks like I'm going to have to plan a week or two or three streaming the James Bond movies!

Here is the SPECTRE trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujmoYyEyDP8
Look for it in theaters in November.

Here is a chronological list of the entire series - http://www.imdb.com/list/ls004489992/

Missing from the list is the 1967 Peter Sellers-David Niven Casino Royale spoof version - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061452/

Thank you to Sony Pictures and YouTube for use of the trailer. Thank you to IMDB for allowing me to link to their site. And, thank you to all the people who posted the movie poster images on the internet.

Remnants of Cold War Fading Away – New Jersey Nike Site To Be Razed

A little bit of the Cold War disappears every day. It is up to us Cold War Veterans to remember and share the history of those times. I am doing my part with this blog, The Proud Cold Warrior. Please link over to the article and then share the story with others. And, while you are at it, feel free to share your Cold War story with me and I will post it. The verbal passing down of personal stories has always been the precursor to recorded history. The internet helps make that easy in modern times. Do any of you Nike service veterans out there know what building this photo is of?

Here is a link to the site: Nike Missile Site PH-23/25 - Google Earth View

Here is a link to the article: Lumberton finds new use for old Nike site

Thank you to the Philly.com website for allowing me to reference their story on this blog.