I was a Fire Data computer operator, in a power test station, on a Combat Alert Station with a Pershing Battery in Germnay.
In 1979 we received launch codes for our weapons, which caused the rounds to be counted, PAL (Permissive Action Link) was enabled, ball lock pins were pulled, Nine Missles were erected, fire buttons were exposed, recorders were copying launch codes, within the (BCC) Battery Control Central, all you could think of durning that time was do your job, you don't think of family, you don't think "What If". We had no idea what happened all we knew was an attck was in progress and we were to have First Strike Capability (NATO Doctrine). We were very close to launch, when abort, was announced, it was a chore to get those weapons down back into their cradels and relocked in place. Many of us whent outside and smoked a cigarette and reflected, on the then "What If". That was my only close call with God All Mighty.
In 1979 we received launch codes for our weapons, which caused the rounds to be counted, PAL (Permissive Action Link) was enabled, ball lock pins were pulled, Nine Missles were erected, fire buttons were exposed, recorders were copying launch codes, within the (BCC) Battery Control Central, all you could think of durning that time was do your job, you don't think of family, you don't think "What If". We had no idea what happened all we knew was an attck was in progress and we were to have First Strike Capability (NATO Doctrine).
We were very close to launch, when abort, was announced, it was a chore to get those weapons down back into their cradels and relocked in place.
Many of us whent outside and smoked a cigarette and reflected, on the then "What If".
That was my only close call with God All Mighty.