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The 8th & I Reunion Association
An organization of Marines
who served at
Marine Barracks
8th & I Streets, S.E.,
Washington D.C.
|
Memories of the Cuban Missile Crisis |
ED ELDER'S MEMORIES OF THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
11-1-12 ... From 1960-1963, I was assigned to "D" 2ndBn 10th Mar. On 25Aug62 we boarded the USS THUBAN AKA 19 at Morehead City NC and disembarked at GITMO on 29Aug62. For all we knew, we were there for our 6 month tour. (the 1st of 3, 6 month tours there) It was easy living... We slept in a barracks, ate hot meals in a real mess hall and when the sun was up, it was swimming in the outdoor pool. Thinking these are the real "good olde days." We happened to be part of a Bn. Landing Team (BLT) that spent a good deal of its' time in the Caribbean, usually we were practicing amphibious landings on island Vegas, living in tents and eating K-rations and going on liberty in Isabel Segundo. Being on base at GITMO, man did really we make out. However, when October rolled around, we were put alert. That meant that we moved from the barracks to a bunker, from the mess hall to C-ration there was no more swimming pool and we didn't know when we'd take the next shower. "Why" We had no clue of what this alert was all about. Some of the"Old Salts,"were muddling around calling themselves "mushrooms." This also was in the days of the new radio that didn't need an electric source to plug into. Yesss, "The new transistor radio. " Every bunker had one radio. They were our real and only connection to the outside world. We thought. They played the latest American hits tunes and would broadcast some news.
After living in the bunkers for a few days.. and not getting any WORD about why we were in bunkers and still in the alert status, we became a little concerned. However, talking among ourselves, we decided that whatever was going on, it couldn't be that serious. That was but for one "major reason." Even though the gate was closed to civilian.. and they came everyday including Sunday, we knew that nothing would or could happen...as long as the Dependants were still on base. That was what we thought. That was our "major reason." Laughing, joking and kidding around while listening to the radio, we noticed there were bus loads of dependants heading towards the docks, "There go our "major reason," and the radios were playing over and over, "Big Girls Don't Cry." Needless to say we became a lot concerned. Still in the bunkers, still eating C-ration and listening to music with no explanation about a Cuban Missile Crisis. We knew nothing about of a crisis until we got back to the States.
The strange thing was.... the same Unit, Was part of another BLT, only this time we were aboard USS WOOD COUNTY LST 1178.. One year earlier, October 1961, we were in the calm waters of a bay, picking up civilians from a beach. The ships crew had painted over all ships' markings and we were not allowed to talk with anyone about where we were or what we did. It wasn't until I reported into the Barracks for my 2nd tour, was I allowed to wear my Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal. (The Marine Corps had a BLT in the Bay of Pigs.)
Ed Elder, 8th & I, H & S Co., 1967-70 & 1978-80, Salisbury, MD
GOD BLESS OUR MARINES
11-1-12 ... From 1960-1963, I was assigned to "D" 2ndBn 10th Mar. On 25Aug62 we boarded the USS THUBAN AKA 19 at Morehead City NC and disembarked at GITMO on 29Aug62. For all we knew, we were there for our 6 month tour. (the 1st of 3, 6 month tours there) It was easy living... We slept in a barracks, ate hot meals in a real mess hall and when the sun was up, it was swimming in the outdoor pool. Thinking these are the real "good olde days." We happened to be part of a Bn. Landing Team (BLT) that spent a good deal of its' time in the Caribbean, usually we were practicing amphibious landings on island Vegas, living in tents and eating K-rations and going on liberty in Isabel Segundo. Being on base at GITMO, man did really we make out. However, when October rolled around, we were put alert. That meant that we moved from the barracks to a bunker, from the mess hall to C-ration there was no more swimming pool and we didn't know when we'd take the next shower. "Why" We had no clue of what this alert was all about. Some of the"Old Salts,"were muddling around calling themselves "mushrooms." This also was in the days of the new radio that didn't need an electric source to plug into. Yesss, "The new transistor radio. " Every bunker had one radio. They were our real and only connection to the outside world. We thought. They played the latest American hits tunes and would broadcast some news.
After living in the bunkers for a few days.. and not getting any WORD about why we were in bunkers and still in the alert status, we became a little concerned. However, talking among ourselves, we decided that whatever was going on, it couldn't be that serious. That was but for one "major reason." Even though the gate was closed to civilian.. and they came everyday including Sunday, we knew that nothing would or could happen...as long as the Dependants were still on base. That was what we thought. That was our "major reason." Laughing, joking and kidding around while listening to the radio, we noticed there were bus loads of dependants heading towards the docks, "There go our "major reason," and the radios were playing over and over, "Big Girls Don't Cry." Needless to say we became a lot concerned. Still in the bunkers, still eating C-ration and listening to music with no explanation about a Cuban Missile Crisis. We knew nothing about of a crisis until we got back to the States.
The strange thing was.... the same Unit, Was part of another BLT, only this time we were aboard USS WOOD COUNTY LST 1178.. One year earlier, October 1961, we were in the calm waters of a bay, picking up civilians from a beach. The ships crew had painted over all ships' markings and we were not allowed to talk with anyone about where we were or what we did. It wasn't until I reported into the Barracks for my 2nd tour, was I allowed to wear my Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal. (The Marine Corps had a BLT in the Bay of Pigs.)
Ed Elder, 8th & I, H & S Co., 1967-70 & 1978-80, Salisbury, MD
GOD BLESS OUR MARINES
DAVE "DB" WRIGHT'S MEMORIES OF THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
Though I was not yet assigned to the Barracks I was a member of HMM-261, MAG-26 of the 2nd MAW during the Cuban Crisis. I recall being alert in the early AM to prepare for immediate mount-out. We began moving all our pre-palletized mount out package to the flight line and prepping aircraft and personnel gear. At first light the next morning we commenced flying all this and our personnel out to the USS Boxer then lying just off Onslow Beach and unloading onto that ship. HMM-261, 263, 264 and our Heavy Squadron along with our Observation Squadron were also doing the same to the same ship. Once this was concluded the helicopters commenced hauling both troops and external equipment to various other ships. By the end of the day all the many ships assembled around the USS Boxer got under way heading south. I recall being told that there were over 6,000 embark troops aboard in addition to the ships normal crew. Incidentally the USS Boxer's crew at this time was a unique experiment being conducted by the Corps and the Navy. Half of the ship's crew was Sailors and the other half Marines. Marines earned Navy MOS ratings like Quartermaster, etc., etc., just like the Navy and actually wore them down above the cuff of their dress green blouse. It was a bad experiment! To get all the aircraft aboard the ship only the #1 spot forward on the port side of the flight deck was available for air operations and was filled with the ship's SAR helicopter. The entire rest of the flight deck was packed as tightly as possible with all the MAG 26 aircraft. The overflow was packed into the hanger deck with the fixed wing light Observation planes (Cessna's) tipped onto their noses to save space. Needless to say the mess deck lines were so long that if you got into line for lunch you probably didn't get lunch but were sure to get supper!!! Most of the aviation Marines simply "located" C Rats and lived and ate in and under our planes. Once we reached NAS Mayport we began flight operations flying all of MAG 26's aircraft, equipment and personnel off to NAS Mayport with the exception of the Heavy Squadron, the Observation Squadron and one HMM Squadron which remained behind on the USS Boxer.
Once ashore at Mayport my Squadron, HMM-261, boarded the USS Thetis Bay, LPH-6 the first Helicopter Squadron in the USN. Previously in WWII she had been an Auxiliary Carrier taxing planes and pilots from the US to replace lost aircraft and pilots of the big carriers. She had commenced this duty in 1944 and made 20 crossing of the Pacific Ocean. Half of HMM-261 (12 planes) had already been aboard and down on maneuvers off Vieques Island already so we joined our mates at the dock in Mayport where she was tied up. This was the last 4 smoke stack ship in the US Navy, was only 512 feet in length and had no A/C as well as having limiting fresh water making capabilities. This meant that while underway the scuttlebutts were only turned on for 10 minutes at every hour and showers for only 30 minutes 15 0600, 1600 & 2100 hrs. each day, so we kept a canteen filled and took mostly salt water showers.
One very interesting thing was that we had aboard a US Army Reserve Unit from Ohio that was a Psychological Warfare and Civil Affairs Company. It's mission was to establish the new Cuban Civil Government, Police and Military once we had landed and defeated the Cubans. They spent nearly every day pouring over huge lists of all officers in the current Cuban government, military, police and other branches and lining out those to be purged and those to be retained. Apparently that lesson was lost by the time we "won" in Iraq!
I was really surprised to learn about Mo Upton (Maurice Upton, 8th & I, H & S Co., 1964-67) having been aboard the Boxer during this and our never having discovered that link before. I was also surprised at Drum Major Gene Belchner's (8th & I, Drum & Bugle Corps, 1947-51 & 1956-67, USMC Ret.) duty during this time, though not at the level at which he performed! Both friends!
Semper Fi
Dave "DB" Wright, 8th & I, Drum & Bugle Corps, 1965-1974, Alpharetta, GA
Though I was not yet assigned to the Barracks I was a member of HMM-261, MAG-26 of the 2nd MAW during the Cuban Crisis. I recall being alert in the early AM to prepare for immediate mount-out. We began moving all our pre-palletized mount out package to the flight line and prepping aircraft and personnel gear. At first light the next morning we commenced flying all this and our personnel out to the USS Boxer then lying just off Onslow Beach and unloading onto that ship. HMM-261, 263, 264 and our Heavy Squadron along with our Observation Squadron were also doing the same to the same ship. Once this was concluded the helicopters commenced hauling both troops and external equipment to various other ships. By the end of the day all the many ships assembled around the USS Boxer got under way heading south. I recall being told that there were over 6,000 embark troops aboard in addition to the ships normal crew. Incidentally the USS Boxer's crew at this time was a unique experiment being conducted by the Corps and the Navy. Half of the ship's crew was Sailors and the other half Marines. Marines earned Navy MOS ratings like Quartermaster, etc., etc., just like the Navy and actually wore them down above the cuff of their dress green blouse. It was a bad experiment! To get all the aircraft aboard the ship only the #1 spot forward on the port side of the flight deck was available for air operations and was filled with the ship's SAR helicopter. The entire rest of the flight deck was packed as tightly as possible with all the MAG 26 aircraft. The overflow was packed into the hanger deck with the fixed wing light Observation planes (Cessna's) tipped onto their noses to save space. Needless to say the mess deck lines were so long that if you got into line for lunch you probably didn't get lunch but were sure to get supper!!! Most of the aviation Marines simply "located" C Rats and lived and ate in and under our planes. Once we reached NAS Mayport we began flight operations flying all of MAG 26's aircraft, equipment and personnel off to NAS Mayport with the exception of the Heavy Squadron, the Observation Squadron and one HMM Squadron which remained behind on the USS Boxer.
Once ashore at Mayport my Squadron, HMM-261, boarded the USS Thetis Bay, LPH-6 the first Helicopter Squadron in the USN. Previously in WWII she had been an Auxiliary Carrier taxing planes and pilots from the US to replace lost aircraft and pilots of the big carriers. She had commenced this duty in 1944 and made 20 crossing of the Pacific Ocean. Half of HMM-261 (12 planes) had already been aboard and down on maneuvers off Vieques Island already so we joined our mates at the dock in Mayport where she was tied up. This was the last 4 smoke stack ship in the US Navy, was only 512 feet in length and had no A/C as well as having limiting fresh water making capabilities. This meant that while underway the scuttlebutts were only turned on for 10 minutes at every hour and showers for only 30 minutes 15 0600, 1600 & 2100 hrs. each day, so we kept a canteen filled and took mostly salt water showers.
One very interesting thing was that we had aboard a US Army Reserve Unit from Ohio that was a Psychological Warfare and Civil Affairs Company. It's mission was to establish the new Cuban Civil Government, Police and Military once we had landed and defeated the Cubans. They spent nearly every day pouring over huge lists of all officers in the current Cuban government, military, police and other branches and lining out those to be purged and those to be retained. Apparently that lesson was lost by the time we "won" in Iraq!
I was really surprised to learn about Mo Upton (Maurice Upton, 8th & I, H & S Co., 1964-67) having been aboard the Boxer during this and our never having discovered that link before. I was also surprised at Drum Major Gene Belchner's (8th & I, Drum & Bugle Corps, 1947-51 & 1956-67, USMC Ret.) duty during this time, though not at the level at which he performed! Both friends!
Semper Fi
Dave "DB" Wright, 8th & I, Drum & Bugle Corps, 1965-1974, Alpharetta, GA
GEORGE NAVADEL'S MEMORIES/CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
The Missile Crisis was the only time I ever served with a combat Marine outfit that was both TO and TE. There were Marines at the Barracks that were not on the Hotel Company roster that were standing in line to volunteer should a Marine in the company become sick or injured so they could step up and fill the open billet. We came back from Quantico to fill out our last will and testament. Then liberty call was sounded - and what a liberty call it turned out to be. We had not yet got the word to stand down from the deployment.
Semper fidelis,
George Navadel, 8th & I, Ceremonial Guard Company, 1960-1963, Vista, CA
NOTE: Col. Navadel served 30 years in the Corps and we honor him on our website's Hall Of Valor.
The Missile Crisis was the only time I ever served with a combat Marine outfit that was both TO and TE. There were Marines at the Barracks that were not on the Hotel Company roster that were standing in line to volunteer should a Marine in the company become sick or injured so they could step up and fill the open billet. We came back from Quantico to fill out our last will and testament. Then liberty call was sounded - and what a liberty call it turned out to be. We had not yet got the word to stand down from the deployment.
Semper fidelis,
George Navadel, 8th & I, Ceremonial Guard Company, 1960-1963, Vista, CA
NOTE: Col. Navadel served 30 years in the Corps and we honor him on our website's Hall Of Valor.
STEVE DEBOCK'S MEMORIES/CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
I was on the Boxer during the Cuban flap too, as an office pinky with HqCo, HqBn Personnel, S-1. Lots of memories, but one stands out. Our junior personnel officer, a 2dLt fresh out of Quantico, decided to hold a personnel/rifle inspection on my squad. On our way to combat, yet! Told my squad to make sure their rifles and magazines were spotless, but to scuff their boots and dull their brass with spit.
Well, we fell out at 1300 as ordered, and as squad leader I was first in line. The Lt. took my rifle, found it 8th & I perfect, and then did a double take at my appearance. "Co'p'l," he drawled, "Your boots aren't polished." No sir, I answered, eyes front. "And your brass isn't shined." No, sir. "Why is that?" "Sir," I replied, "according to the Marine Corps manual, when in a combat situation or anticipating one, the Marine must wear nothing shiny, which might reflect sunlight and reveal his position to the enemy."
"Co'p'l DeBock," he said after a slight pause, "when you fall out for inspection with me, your boots will be polished, your brass will be shined, and if I say so, your skivvies will be starched too. Do you understand?" "Yes, sir." Visions of friendly fire danced in my head as the Lt. went down the line. "Did Co'p'l DeBock tell you to dull your brass and scuff your boots?" Yes, sir, they all replied. "Hmp."
After the inspection, I reported for duty to my supervisor, a crusty CWO-4 who'd been a DI before earning his bars. "Hear you got your ass chewed today, DeBock," he said. Yes, Gunner, I replied. He tried really hard to hide a grin as he said, "Well, let's get back to work here."
There were no repercussions from my alleged insubordination. (I thought of the incident as my own Boxer Rebellion.)
Steve DeBock, 8th & I, 3dPlt., Ceremonial Guard Company, Feb 1960-Mar '62, Hershey, PA
8TH & I, 23 OCTOBER 1962, ORDERS TO TRAINING FOR CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
10-21-2012 ... This and last week mark the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile crisis of October, 1962, in which Marines of 8th & I were assigned a combat role. Below is a copy of the original orders whereby the listed Barracks Marines were issued M14 rifles and other then-current rifle company weapons and went to Quantico to train with them in live fire exercises. This was Company H of 2dBn 22nd Marines, which had long been assigned as a Cold War additional duty for the Barracks. The parent battalion was headquartered at Quantico, and comprised a contingency reserve force for FMFLANT.
As Company Commander at the time, I attended a briefing at HQMC and there learned that our battalion would participate as part of the assault forces in an invasion of Cuba. The invasion was called off only when the Soviet Union's Prime Minister submitted to the naval blockade and agreed to withdraw the newly installed Soviet missiles from Cuba. This crisis demonstrated the power of deterrence when backed by real military capability and unequivocal resolve. President Kennedy told the world that any Soviet missile launched from Cuba against any target in the western hemisphere would be regarded as an attack by the Soviet Union on the United States, and would be met by a full retaliatory nuclear strike against the Soviet Union. (By comparison in today's world, the most you'll hear said in a crisis -- even against a non-nuclear power -- is an equivocal "all options are on the table." No wonder we can't avoid wars, and no wonder they last so long and lack resolution.)
At the briefing, some Manpower Department staffers from HQMC were anguishing at the thought that so many of Company H's Marines held MOS's other than infantry, some of which were scarce and hard to fill at the time. The source of these diverse MOS's was mainly MCI Company and the Drum & Bugle Corps. But none of us in Company H had any doubts about the motivation and combat prowess of our Marines, no matter what their MOS. Indeed, Company H was an embodiment of the time-honored dictum that every Marine is a rifleman, which is to say that every Marine knows how to fight with basic infantry weapons. As an example, the now legendary Gene Belschner, MOS Field Music, then a GySgt and D&B's Drum Major, led and trained the machinegunners in the Company's Weapons Platoon.
Another characteristic of Company H was the extraordinary quality and character of its men, a reflection of the quality and character of personnel at the Barracks as a whole. Nowhere else where I served was I surrounded by such extraordinary quality and character at all levels. Nowhere else did I feel that extremely high standards were universally demanded of me as much from those serving under me as from those serving above. If it had been Company H's destiny to land in the assault in Cuba and fight its country's battle there, these men would have distinguished themselves exceedingly and written some proud new history for the Corps.
When the Soviets backed down, Company H was ordered home to the Barracks. When we arrived on November 2, we filed into the parade field where we found the rest of the Barracks personnel assembled. There Colonel Wheeler addressed us all, remarking that we had "walked across a page of history together." I wish a copy of his remarks could be found, as I'm sure you'd find it as inspiring now as it was then, even if only in written form.
In a real sense, the mission of the Barracks -- then as now -- is not just to show off the Marines' unparalleled parade ground prowess. It is to inspire patriotism to the point of tears in the nation's leadership as well as in the general population. The sense of national pride, confidence, and unity so engendered is equal to many regiments in time of war or other great national crisis. By its role in the Cuban Missile crisis, the Barracks demonstrated that the ability to inspire and the ability to fight go hand-in-hand as pillars of military strength.
Marines have always been blessed. May we continue to deserve it, for all time to come.
8th & I Marine Col. Robert D. King, MCI Company and Ceremonial Guard Company, 1961-1964 / USMC (Ret.), Madison, NH
Orders to training for Cuban Missile Crisis, Co H-2-22, October 1962 (PDF)
Get the Adobe PDF Reader to view this:
More Information on the Cuban Missile Crisis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_missile_crisis
To read Gordon Ferrie's (8th & I Marine, L/Cpl, 8th & I, Ceremonial Guard Company, 2nd Platoon, 1960-1962, Chapala Jalisco, MX)
account of the Cuban Missile Crisis, click here. (Requires Office Word)
I was on the Boxer during the Cuban flap too, as an office pinky with HqCo, HqBn Personnel, S-1. Lots of memories, but one stands out. Our junior personnel officer, a 2dLt fresh out of Quantico, decided to hold a personnel/rifle inspection on my squad. On our way to combat, yet! Told my squad to make sure their rifles and magazines were spotless, but to scuff their boots and dull their brass with spit.
Well, we fell out at 1300 as ordered, and as squad leader I was first in line. The Lt. took my rifle, found it 8th & I perfect, and then did a double take at my appearance. "Co'p'l," he drawled, "Your boots aren't polished." No sir, I answered, eyes front. "And your brass isn't shined." No, sir. "Why is that?" "Sir," I replied, "according to the Marine Corps manual, when in a combat situation or anticipating one, the Marine must wear nothing shiny, which might reflect sunlight and reveal his position to the enemy."
"Co'p'l DeBock," he said after a slight pause, "when you fall out for inspection with me, your boots will be polished, your brass will be shined, and if I say so, your skivvies will be starched too. Do you understand?" "Yes, sir." Visions of friendly fire danced in my head as the Lt. went down the line. "Did Co'p'l DeBock tell you to dull your brass and scuff your boots?" Yes, sir, they all replied. "Hmp."
After the inspection, I reported for duty to my supervisor, a crusty CWO-4 who'd been a DI before earning his bars. "Hear you got your ass chewed today, DeBock," he said. Yes, Gunner, I replied. He tried really hard to hide a grin as he said, "Well, let's get back to work here."
There were no repercussions from my alleged insubordination. (I thought of the incident as my own Boxer Rebellion.)
Steve DeBock, 8th & I, 3dPlt., Ceremonial Guard Company, Feb 1960-Mar '62, Hershey, PA
8TH & I, 23 OCTOBER 1962, ORDERS TO TRAINING FOR CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
10-21-2012 ... This and last week mark the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile crisis of October, 1962, in which Marines of 8th & I were assigned a combat role. Below is a copy of the original orders whereby the listed Barracks Marines were issued M14 rifles and other then-current rifle company weapons and went to Quantico to train with them in live fire exercises. This was Company H of 2dBn 22nd Marines, which had long been assigned as a Cold War additional duty for the Barracks. The parent battalion was headquartered at Quantico, and comprised a contingency reserve force for FMFLANT.
As Company Commander at the time, I attended a briefing at HQMC and there learned that our battalion would participate as part of the assault forces in an invasion of Cuba. The invasion was called off only when the Soviet Union's Prime Minister submitted to the naval blockade and agreed to withdraw the newly installed Soviet missiles from Cuba. This crisis demonstrated the power of deterrence when backed by real military capability and unequivocal resolve. President Kennedy told the world that any Soviet missile launched from Cuba against any target in the western hemisphere would be regarded as an attack by the Soviet Union on the United States, and would be met by a full retaliatory nuclear strike against the Soviet Union. (By comparison in today's world, the most you'll hear said in a crisis -- even against a non-nuclear power -- is an equivocal "all options are on the table." No wonder we can't avoid wars, and no wonder they last so long and lack resolution.)
At the briefing, some Manpower Department staffers from HQMC were anguishing at the thought that so many of Company H's Marines held MOS's other than infantry, some of which were scarce and hard to fill at the time. The source of these diverse MOS's was mainly MCI Company and the Drum & Bugle Corps. But none of us in Company H had any doubts about the motivation and combat prowess of our Marines, no matter what their MOS. Indeed, Company H was an embodiment of the time-honored dictum that every Marine is a rifleman, which is to say that every Marine knows how to fight with basic infantry weapons. As an example, the now legendary Gene Belschner, MOS Field Music, then a GySgt and D&B's Drum Major, led and trained the machinegunners in the Company's Weapons Platoon.
Another characteristic of Company H was the extraordinary quality and character of its men, a reflection of the quality and character of personnel at the Barracks as a whole. Nowhere else where I served was I surrounded by such extraordinary quality and character at all levels. Nowhere else did I feel that extremely high standards were universally demanded of me as much from those serving under me as from those serving above. If it had been Company H's destiny to land in the assault in Cuba and fight its country's battle there, these men would have distinguished themselves exceedingly and written some proud new history for the Corps.
When the Soviets backed down, Company H was ordered home to the Barracks. When we arrived on November 2, we filed into the parade field where we found the rest of the Barracks personnel assembled. There Colonel Wheeler addressed us all, remarking that we had "walked across a page of history together." I wish a copy of his remarks could be found, as I'm sure you'd find it as inspiring now as it was then, even if only in written form.
In a real sense, the mission of the Barracks -- then as now -- is not just to show off the Marines' unparalleled parade ground prowess. It is to inspire patriotism to the point of tears in the nation's leadership as well as in the general population. The sense of national pride, confidence, and unity so engendered is equal to many regiments in time of war or other great national crisis. By its role in the Cuban Missile crisis, the Barracks demonstrated that the ability to inspire and the ability to fight go hand-in-hand as pillars of military strength.
Marines have always been blessed. May we continue to deserve it, for all time to come.
8th & I Marine Col. Robert D. King, MCI Company and Ceremonial Guard Company, 1961-1964 / USMC (Ret.), Madison, NH
Orders to training for Cuban Missile Crisis, Co H-2-22, October 1962 (PDF)
Get the Adobe PDF Reader to view this:
More Information on the Cuban Missile Crisis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_missile_crisis
To read Gordon Ferrie's (8th & I Marine, L/Cpl, 8th & I, Ceremonial Guard Company, 2nd Platoon, 1960-1962, Chapala Jalisco, MX)
account of the Cuban Missile Crisis, click here. (Requires Office Word)
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