Cuban Missile crisis Part 2

  It this point I hope you had read part 1 the background.   Now for me and my thoughts.  I was young and had faith in my nation. Special John Kennedy who was my hero.  I even started combing my hair is his style.  I wish I had this hair today as head to bald.  

   Junior High events that shaped my generation.  Several of our male teachers where WW2 veterans.  Who quietly  talked among themselves about the possibility of be called up.    Mr Kraft (history teacher) Mr Edwards (Science teacher) and Mr Gilles ( Math teacher).    Kraft and Gilles both served in the infantry in Europe.  Edwards was a Navigator on B-25s.   He didn't talk about it much.  I believe he flew in the Pacific theater.    Kraft along with Gilles taught us the brutally of war.   I remember Kraft who had few issues, would drink a little cough medicine during the class.   In later year I found out it was Jack Daniels variety.   In every class one would have the smart ass boys that pull crap it the class.  During the period we where studying WW2.   The class clown challenge Mr Kraft  " What do you know old man".  His respond was I watched by Captain get his head cutoff by tank shell.  That brought silence to the class. His next remark was we the younger generation in this class could wiped out by a H-bomb.  As Detroit is a major part of the defense system the supplies parts and equipment for the military.

  Later in the day the same smart ass challenge Mr Edwards.  If you know so much how big of blast from H-bomb.  He removed his glasses to speak.  " Well Mr Crabtree.   The crater would be a bout a mile across.  It the blast didn't kill you.  The fire storm will melt you as you sit here in class.  If not the fallout will kill you in a week if you are lucky."   That shook pretty will everyone up. But back in the 60's you bucked up to that thought.

      Mr Gilles was the claiming voice out of all the teachers.  He said live your life, respect your friends and neighbors.  Enjoy your freedom that my generation sacrificed for you.  This crisis will pass and make you stronger.

    The day of Halloween the school had its first duck and cover exercise.  It was in Mr Edwards class.  When the alarm bell sounded. The was instructed to duck under our desk look away from the window. Using our hand to cover our heads.   After that someone asked how long before the blast.  5 to 10 minutes from the missiles in Cuba. After which he said not to worry as President Kennedy was a good leader.  As President he would keep us safe.

     A week later we had another drill. This time we all went into the wall way.  The veteran teachers had talked to the Principal  about the danger of flying glass. Each class room had massive glass windows.  At a later date the plan was to go into the basement of the school.  This was after the maintenance men cleared up the area. Along with cleaning.   By this time the basement had filled with food and emergency medical supplies.  The verbal sparing between Kennedy and Khurchev was at an all time high.

  The home front.

      My mother was German war bride.  She survived the massive bombing of Berlin. Plus other parts of Germany.  So the war was still fresh in her mind.  My father at this was to old for military service.

 The one neighbor who was married to Cuban lady was in the naval reserve. He was a X-ray specialist. For the life of me can't recall his name.  Some how he had gotten his future wife out of Cuban shortly after Castro took over.   Her name was Josephine, a very sweet and kind woman.   Some she got her younger brother out in 1960.   The neighbor was called up and shipped to Florida.

 My Dentist who also was in the Naval reserve had been called up.  I believe he worked in intelligence.  Dr Schimidt will only say in was classified after he returned.  

 Back to my father, he had just been hired into Ford Motor in Sterling Heights.  From 1958 to 1962 my family life was rough.  Why my father helped founding the UAW in the early 40's.  Because of this he was blacked balled in Detroit because of his union activates.   This is where our neighbor the was the X-ray specialist got my father in Ford's.  Part of the deal was the he would have to stay out of UAW activates and leadership.   For first time in my life things got better.    Next what I learned years later form veterans of the Cuban Crisis.