DESTINATION UNKNOWN – COLD WAR ERA MISSILES AIMED AT CUBA
Food and Travel Nation – DESTINATION UNKNOWN – COLD WAR ERA MISSILES AIMED AT CUBA
with Elizabeth Dougherty
Broadcast Date: 3/12/22
So who knew that near the southern tip of the Florida Everglades is a cold-war era missile base pointed south at Cuba?
Decommissioned in 1979, the HM 69 Nike Missile Base is now part of the National Park Service and is open to curious tourists just a few months of the year.
From the NPS website: The area includes 3 missile barns, a missile assembly building, a guard dog kennel, barracks, 2 Nike Hercules missiles, and various support elements. HM69 was also significant because of the technology employed. The South Florida Nike Hercules sites were integrated with Hawk missile sites to provide an all altitude defensive capability around South Florida. Approximately 140 soldiers staffed the 3 above-ground missile barns of HM69 to protect against an air attack from Cuba. The personnel of HM69, along with the members of other South Florida unites, received the Army Meritorious Unit Commendation which was one of the few times that it was awarded for deterrence rather than engagement with the enemy.
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