Nike Security

Security on a Nike Missile Site was very tight, especially at the Launcher Area. Personnel who worked in the Launcher Area, Service and Assembly Area, and the Integrated Fire Control all had security clearances ranging from Secret to Top Secret. The use of the phrase, "The need to know" was widely used and the level of system knowledge and operations was controlled. For example, the Launcher Area personnel and the Integrated Fire Control personnel had separate barracks and were strongly encouraged not to socialize with each other or even sit at the same table in the mess hall. It even went further than that. Lets say you worked in the HIPAR building. You were allowed to go into the Corridor Building, but were not to go into either the Battery Control, or Radar Control Vans that were connected to the building, yet the van crews could go into the HIPAR building. Launcher personnel could not go into the Warhead Assembly building or the Launcher Control Trailer. It went into more detail then this, but you can see how "The need to know" was controlled. There were access rosters at every guard station and if your name was not on the roster you didn't go in unless you were escorted, or didn't go in at all! For example, there was a captain who recently was promoted to major. On the access roster at the Exclusion Area Gate he was still listed as a captain. The major received a broken arm and other bodily damage when he attempted to walk by the M.P. at the gate.

Above photo courtesy of NPS GGNRA Ezio Nurisio Nike Collection

Security was always being tested and sometimes individuals received a wake up call on what was meant by the word "security". There was a time when an attractive women drove up and stopped in front of the main gate to the Integrated Fire Control. The guard walked up to the gate and inquired what she was stopped there for. In the brief conversation that ensued the attractive woman asked the guard if she could take his picture. The guard consented. She had the guard unlock the gate, walk outside, and took his picture. After another brief conversation, she drove off. About 30 minutes later the guard was called in front of the Battery Commander. The Battery Commander showed the guard the photo he recently posed for, but that really wasn't the topping on the cake. It was what the guard was standing next to: the restricted area sign that stated no photographs, etc.!

Then there was the time when a civilian employee of the U.S. Army drove up to the Admin. Area gate and told the M.P. that he had some fire extinguishers replacements for A-pit. He was allowed to enter. He then drove up to the Launcher Area gate and informed the M.P. on duty there about the fire extinguishers. The M.P. checked the access roster and found that the civilian's name was on it. He then signed the civilian in, issued him an access badge and allowed him to enter. The civilian then drove up to the Exclusion Area gate. He informed the M.P. manning the gate that he had fire extinguishers for A-pit. The M.P. on duty recognized the civilian employee and knew he was on the Exclusion Area's access roster, but also was aware that he required an escort. The M.P. called for an escort then proceeded to sign the civilian employee in and issued him the proper badge. When the escort came to the Exclusion Area gate, the M.P. let the civilian worker in. Under escort, the civilian employee removed two fire extinguishers from his truck and went down into A-pit where he replaced two old extinguishers with the two new ones. He then came back upstairs, got into his truck and exited the Exclusion Area, the Launcher Area, and the Admin. Area, and then drove away. A short time later a Group security team paid a visit to the battery. They met with the Battery Commander, who accompanied the team to the Exclusion Area. Once in the Exclusion Area the team descended A-pit stairs, along with the Battery Commander. Once in A-pit team members walked directly to the two new fire extinguishers. The extinguishers were removed from their hangers and the Battery Commander was asked to look at them closely, which he did. Once he was satisfied, he stated, "they look like normal extinguishers". The head of the Security Team turned each extinguisher upside down. On the bottom of each extinguisher there was small piece of paper taped to it. The piece of paper had four words written on it. "This is a bomb." Even though the M.P.s at both the Launcher Area and Exclusion area verified that the civilian's name was on the access roster, signed him in, and issued the proper badges, they failed to completely search the civilian's vehicle.

Do you have some security stories to tell? If so send them to the Webmaster, and I'll post them.

Security Tale

I was a young PFC assigned to NIKE C Battery 2nd Battalion, 517th ARTY at Detroit Metro Airport. When I arrived the battery commander was away on TDY and I had never seen him although his picture was on the wall of the mess hall. One morning as I was standing guard at the launch area, a small sports car pulled up with an officer at the wheel. I waved him in and shortly afterward went back to the IFC area for breakfast chow. As soon as we arrived I was summoned to the first sergeant's office. Trembling with fear, I reported. Why, he wanted to know, did I wave a car into the launch area without requesting identification of an officer whom I had never seen. I grasped at the first thing that came to mind. I had seen his picture on the mess hall wall and recognized him as the absentee battery commander. The first sergeant dismissed me gruffly. I went to breakfast certain that I was in deep shit. In the middle of breakfast the first sergeant called the mess hall to attention and related the fact that a launch area guard had waved the newly returned captain in without requiring his identification. Then he went on to praise me as being alert and perceptive in recognizing the captain from his picture! I sat down to the best meal I had ever eaten in the army.

Gary Clark, former Nike Site GMIEER

I was a Military Police Dog Handler in the late 1960's. I was assigned to C battery in Pacific Mo. I eventualy became the Security Sgt. One day, this CWO forgot my dog was a sentry dog and walked right up to us to pet him. My dog bit his hand so deep he had to get stitches. From then on, he always called the Guard Shack to make sure the dog was put away before he came up to the launcher area.

I dug up a purple heart and gave him a letter stating how much my dog enjoyed his hand!

I have many stories like that....

Paul Braun
Lt. retired CCSD