15FEB50 - USSR & PRC Sign Mutual Defense and Assistance treaty - the pact called for either of the parties to assist the other if attacked and settled disputes left over from the end of WW2. The agreement eventually broke down as the Chinese started to distrust that the Soviets completely adhered to Marxism-Leninism doctrine by adopting the Peaceful Coexistence policy towards the West. You can read more here.
14FEB62 Kennedy Authorizes U.S.Advisors to fire in self-defense - It may not be well known but it was President Eisenhower that initially sent the advisors to Vietnam. President Kennedy increased the size of the force in 1961. By the time of this executive order there were thousands in country and they were dying in combat. This order only authorized what was already happening on the ground. You can read more here. The book is available here.
19FEB70 - Chicago 7 Sentenced - There were actually 8 defendants, Bobby Seale was tried separately through the judges order but was still convicted. Of the other 7, 5 were convicted and sentenced. For those that do not know this part of history; the 8 were protestor organizers at the 1968 Democratic Party Convention in Chicago, IL. I was 14 in 1968 and felt the world was coming to an end. War footage on TV, anti-war protestors everywhere, race riots in the cities; it was a frickin' mess. It was also the year I realized that if Vietnam kept going, I would be there some day. The full trial has been recorded and made public through this Federal Courts document.
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| Poster in Support of the 8 |
20FEB86 - Soviets launch MIR Space Station core module - The Soviets hoped to regain the lead in space by placing the first modular space station into orbit. The initial base module was followed by others that eventually became a platform that supported the world's science for 15 years. The funny part of it all is that the space station outlived the communist regime that put it in orbit. Check out NASA's overview of MIR here.
1990s - While searching to find an article to share from 1990 or 1991, I ran into this one. This should of interest for the Army and Air Force Cold War vets that were stationed in Germany. I found an online PDF file of troop strength, base locations, and a section on the affects on the end of the Cold War. The chapter title is; After The Cold War: Restructuring the US Presence in Germany (page 17). You can link over to the document here.
Personal Cold War Story - Wayne Tachell - Wayne provided this story after reading last week's article on the Black Sea incident about Soviet Navy interference in fleet operations.
"N.VET. USN. 64-70. I gave a Soviet Commander on a Tin Can, The Finger. He was trying to break through our circle of Tin Cans to get through to our carrier, so they could say we beat you and take pictures. We would go to full ahead and aim to ram and at the last moment, the Soviet ship would veer off. I was on the starboard side as I had just got off watch in the hole and saw that ship come so close, you could see the smile from their Skipper. I was scared at the thought of ramming and a tad bit pissed off. He saw me with my arm outstretched, giving him the F/U finger. I don't think he liked that much, as his smile disappeared and he went back in to the Bridge. That SOB gave us a hard time all night as we had to go full ahead, to half ahead, and then back to full ahead. Being on the boilers and doing your damnedest not to blow safeties was a bitch. Finally got off watch and hit the sack only to wake up to us sitting still, the whole fleet, and looking at that bastard sitting next to our carrier. Man, we were some really pissed off Snipes. We could have chewed up nails. We got up steam and our ships moved on. The Soviet ship stayed put. I gave him my best shot. There was, and still is, some satisfaction in knowing that. You may quote me on that. USS Frank E. Evans DD-754. Lest We Forget." - Wayne Techell
Editor's note: The U.S.S. Frank E. Evans DD-754 was involved in a fatal crash at sea off the coast of Vietnam with the carrier HMAS Melbourne on 3JUN69 and cut in two. 74 souls were lost. There is an effort underway to get their names added to the Vietnam Memorial Wall. The DOD has ruled that the Evans was outside the Vietnam combat zone and are not entitled to be on the wall. They have offered to do a separate memorial.
A second personal contribution comes from Bill Thilbeault in the form of a song honoring his shipmates of the Evans. Bill was aboard that fateful night. He is doing a cross country music tour to build awareness of the incident for the upcoming 50th Anniversary of the crash this June. You can listen here. You can buy the album at his website.
Please share your Cold War story - proudcoldwarrior@gmail.com - I'll gladly share it here on the blog.
Special Report - Timothy Hutton - actor - I noticed a continuing instance of this actor being in roles as a Cold War spy. So far I have discovered three spy movies he is in, The Falcon & The Snowman (last week's post), Aldrich Ames: Traitor Within (next week's 1990's article) and, The Good Shepard (a movie I will post in the future).
Entertainment -
The Silencers - movie release 18FEB66 - The first in a series of four movies based on the character in Donald Hamilton's novel series, Matt Helm. Hamilton's books were serious spy novels but Hollywood chose to make the Matt Helm movies as spy spoofs with outrageous plots, over the top sexual fantasies, and extraordinary spy gadgets. It was a huge hit at the box office with Dean Martin in the role of Matt Helm. Check out the movie trailer here.
This week in 1978 on the top of the Billboard Hot 100 is Stayin' Alive by the BeeGees. Saturday Night Fever! The movie's opening is John Travolta strutting down the sidewalk dressed to the nines in the best disco style clothes with this song playing! And, who knew that Vinnie Barbarino could dance like that? The late 70s sure were interesting times. Link on over and groove to one of the best disco era songs ever made.
Saturday Night Fever movie opening sequence here. Full BeeGees song here.
Cold War book of the week - In honor of the 74 souls lost on the Evans - here is their story: Unsinkable Sailors.
Citations -
University of Central Arkansas, political science department website.
History.com for the This Day in History feature.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library website.
Federal Judicial Center website.
President Nixon library website.
NASA website.
YouTube for the links to the music videos.
Amazon.com for the book link.
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