60 Years ago

[Fox Mike]

60 years ago today I walked through this very same gate (though it was a lot better off then),

was escorted to the Orderly Room (the building in back that you can see a window) of B battery, 3 Missile Battalion, 70th Artillery (NIKE AJAX),

and joined, what was to be my life's work.
Surprisingly this is one of only a few old NIKE sites whose buildings are still standing. This one was turned into the Croom Vocational High School, and has since been abandoned. It is located just a couple miles south of Upper Marlboro MD

 

[tom black]

Thanks for your service Mike.
Tom

 

[Jeepnik]

There's another old Nike and before that a WWII coastal battery near me. Pretty interesting place, part of which is now a museum/park. Like your old site many of the buildings have been re-purposed for community and educational use. Funny to think that as kids we played in and around those sites and really never realized why they were there.

I'm very glad they never fired in anger. But thanks for being there.

 

[exavid]

There was a Nike site on the ridge just North of Nome, AK back in the 60s. I don't know how much of it is still standing now but things to hold up for a long time in cold climates.

 

[Jeepnik]

Another thought occurred. Some years back I was working on the construction of three federal prisons. The new prisons were located on part of what was George AFB. That was my first permanent duty station. So naturally I cruised over to take a look. I took a few photos (film, have to find and scan them). The only one I did scan was this. It had been a "plane on a pole" outside the base headquarters when the base was shutdown. It was drug off into the dirt at the end of the flightline and left to rot.

Something about this Phantom seem familiar (hey don't they all look alike?). When I finally figured out the tail number I realized that this is the one that blew a tire and sent part of it through the windshield of the P-2 crash truck I was driving. It hit the crew chief's side (he was out of the truck at the time). Came darned close to getting us. Still to see it like this tugs at my heart a bit.

 

[exavid]

Sometimes it seems as if one's past is being erased. At my age I expect old friends and acquaintances to be fading away but it seems as it even the houses I lived in have disappeared. Base housing I lived in growing up at Elmendorf Alaska, Kadena Okinawa and Edwards AFB have been torn down and replaced. My grandparents and one of my parents houses have burned down in recent times, the house in Kotzebue where we had our first daughter was torn down, the house in Ketchikan where we had our second daughter is gone. The brand new house I owned in Juneau is about to be washed away by the Mendenhal River. Sometimes I feel that there's a force chasing me to erase all traces of my past.

If it wasn't for the Medford Rifle and Pistol Club and the Goldwing Riders group here in Medford I'd know more dead people than live ones. These kinds of things can get one to thinking about your own mortality as you lay in bed waiting for sleep to come.

 

[Fox Mike]

There was a Nike site on the ridge just North of Nome, AK back in the 60s. I don't know how much of it is still standing now but things to hold up for a long time in cold climates.

There were three around Anchorage and four up near Fairbanks. Look here for ALL the sites everywhere.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nike_missile_sites

 

[RSIno1]

My dad was an aerospace engineer. He took me to a base one time in SoCal. https://www.uer.ca/locations/show.asp?locid=24267 We also went into Azusa Canyon to watch torpedo tests at a dam.

 

[Aqualung]

I grew up around the Mantua, NJ and Woolrich Township sites...rode my bike past the Mantua site.

Aqualung

 

[Tensaw]

Sometimes it seems as if one's past is being erased. At my age I expect old friends and acquaintances to be fading away but it seems as it even the houses I lived in have disappeared. Base housing I lived in growing up at Elmendorf Alaska, Kadena Okinawa and Edwards AFB have been torn down and replaced. My grandparents and one of my parents houses have burned down in recent times, the house in Kotzebue where we had our first daughter was torn down, the house in Ketchikan where we had our second daughter is gone. The brand new house I owned in Juneau is about to be washed away by the Mendenhal River. Sometimes I feel that there's a force chasing me to erase all traces of my past.

If it wasn't for the Medford Rifle and Pistol Club and the Goldwing Riders group here in Medford I'd know more dead people than live ones. These kinds of things can get one to thinking about your own mortality as you lay in bed waiting for sleep to come.

exavid, my brother spent a year stationed at Katzebue during the '60's.

 

[Colonialgirl]

60 Years ago in December 1959, I was in Oklahoma City, OK attending my First year of college.

 

[Fox Mike]

60 Years ago in December 1959, I was in Oklahoma City, OK attending my First year of college.

Are you insinuating that I am OLD? :shock:
Actually I was 22.5 when I signed up. Left for basic training, at Ft Knox KY (D-10-4), in February of 1960.

 

[sfhogman]

For those interested in seeing what a Nike site looked and felt like during the day, I would suggest this:
https://www.nps.gov/goga/nike-missile-site.htm

Jeepnik, I know what you meant about the Phantom. Recently I was at a small air museum in Santa Rosa, Ca. I was working at our VA Clinic there, and over lunch went over to the museum. There was an F-4E parked outside. As I laid my hand on the fuselage I felt something very like grief...surprised me.


Jeff

 

[Fox Mike]

For those interested in seeing what a Nike site looked and felt like during the day, I would suggest this:
https://www.nps.gov/goga/nike-missile-site.htmJeff

That site has lots of information. Thanks for posting. I do have a problem with anyone telling how it felt to be assigned to one of the sites. Each individual more than likely had a different feeling about what he was doing and what he might be required to do. Personally I can say that when required to open the two man safe, authenticate an alert, then open a packet to find out if this was a drill or the real thing brings a 'flutter' to your stomach

 

[Sturgis270]

One of these bases was located in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Just east of the City of Milwaukee. I believe the site is now a City of Waukeha park. Several times over the years I've thought about driving over and checking it out but never quite get there. It's only 18-20 miles from home si I'll have to do it. Worked in Waukesha building electrical transformers for 44 1/2 years. RTE Corp. which was bought by Cooper Industries which was later bought by Eaton.

 

[graygun]

60 Years ago in December 1959, I was in Oklahoma City, OK attending my First year of college.

Are you insinuating that I am OLD? :shock:
Actually I was 22.5 when I signed up. Left for basic training, at Ft Knox KY (D-10-4), in February of 1960.

You were old going in. :lol:

 

[Fox Mike]

60 Years ago in December 1959, I was in Oklahoma City, OK attending my First year of college.

Are you insinuating that I am OLD? :shock:
Actually I was 22.5 when I signed up. Left for basic training, at Ft Knox KY (D-10-4), in February of 1960.

You were old going in. :lol:

That is a fact. Little brother wasn't yet driving (legally); he was just 14. He joined in 65. I was at Ft Bliss when he showed up on my doorstep. He was sent there, Logan Heights, for AIT. When next you should talk to him ask how drunk one can get in Juarez on their first trip.

 

[graygun]

I didn't know Jim was a vet.

 

[wwb]

One of these bases was located in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Just east of the City of Milwaukee.........

Kinda wet if it was "just east of the City of Milwaukee" wasn't it? I had always heard that Waukesha was WEST of Milwaukee and Lake Michigan was east.

 

[Fox Mike]

I didn't know Jim was a vet.

Jim was full time Guard from '65 till about '75. He gave it up, packed his bags, and went to Florida and hooked up with Paul E. I think you knew Paul.

 

[Fox Mike]

One of these bases was located in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Just east of the City of Milwaukee.........

Kinda wet if it was "just east of the City of Milwaukee" wasn't it? I had always heard that Waukesha was WEST of Milwaukee and Lake Michigan was east.

Here is a list of all the Wisconsin sites: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nike_missile_sites#Wisconsin

 

[Sturgis270]

My bad....Waukesha has never moved, always has been WEST of Milwaukee and always will be!