Hawaii receives an alert that an ICBM that may be nuclear capable was on its way to the Islands, and “this is no drill” was a part of the alert.
“This is no drill” were the very words contained in the radio message announcing the Japanese attack on Hawaii in 1941. If I had been in Hawaii this day those four words would have made me firmly believe an attack was a stone-cold fact.
In May of 1972, American forces worldwide were on alert because we began dropping sea mines in Haiphong Harbor in North Vietnam. The Russians, wanting to flex their power, sent strategic bombers hell-bent for attack directly toward Alaska. Stationed at Fort Richardson Alaska next to Elmendorf Airforce Base with its strategic mission, we would have been ground zero ofa Russian attack.
The Air Force (correctly in my mind) pushed the air attack imminent button. Sirens were blaring, folks were running in all directions to get to their emergency redeployment locations, families were terrified, sphincters were tight.
At the last second, the bombers turned and ran back to Russian air space; they called it brinksmanship back in those days.
I do know how all the good folks in Hawaii felt for those 13 to 43 minutes or so, an eternity to be in terror;
before the alert was canceled they were scared and confused. Most did not have a plan or even given any thought to being attacked. Let’s face facts: many people alive today were born after the Cold War ended. Preparing for an attack is just something most of us just do not consider.
We were living in South Korea in the mid-1980s; the Kim Dynasty did not have an atom bomb, but they were dangerous and being with in artillery range of the North we lived with a daily threat. I cannot imagine what the military families in Korea today must be thinking today.
The thugs in North Korea are probably happy; at no cost to them they forced us to look at them as a true threat.
Perhaps it is time to look at a bit of emergency planning for us all. A few days of food, water, medication and a source of heat may be an idea whose time has come, or need I say comeback?
Our Emergency Management officials are always promoting to have an emergency plan in place with a store of water, food and meds. Mostly for storm issues. People don’t pay any attention however.
Mr. Miller,
Thank you for the comment. You are 100% correct, perhaps it is time we do pay attention.
Some of us are “Old School” and do make preparations for an emergency. I am always amazed at how unconcerned some people are during the winter. Having gone through a couple of really rough winters myself, I still start stocking up for winter on the basic groceries. When there is a threat of a power outage, be it from lightening or falling trees, I still fill containers with water.
I can only imagine the frightening experience that so many Californians have gone through lately. I wonder, if the Emergency Management officials sponsored classes on how to be prepared, how many people would be interested. Most of our preparedness goes toward man made disasters that we usually just shrug off with the usual “it won’t happen here”. People should still be aware of natural disasters.