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 and 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 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 am Ken Lautzenheiser and was a comm. Officer from ’63
through ‘65 at B-1-60, Site C-32, Porter, Ind. The CO actually gave me a
furlough and it was the first time I got away from the Btry since getting
there. I handled TS and all the other documents and we received a one-page
replacement in one of the manuals the day I left. I replaced it and secured it
according to current SOP. The next day, BN wrote a new SOP requiring all
documents to be destroyed the day of receipt.
The CO called me to get my ass back to the Btry and destroy
the document according to the new SOP – There was no assistant and he couldn’t
do it. The call came about 6:00 PM and I had to be in his office before 7:00AM
the next morning. I was there in dress uniform and my security NCO and I took
care of the business of document destruction. The exciting part of the story is
that I received the call in Monteagle, TN where my mother lived, 540 miles
away.
No problem, though. I was young and eat chicken shit by
the bucketful. Hopefully, I kept a good attitude.
Good training for life.
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
I was a young 2LT -- Launcher
Platoon Leader at a Nike site in
Herminie, PA -- Battery B 3rd
Battalion 1st Artillery from
1968 -70. I was also the
Battery Security Officer.
Story #1
A very good friend of mine had
applied to the FBI and listed me
as a reference. One day two FBI
agents showed up at the Launcher
Control Area gate. Of course
they were not on the access
roster but showed the guard on
duty there FBI identification.
They insisted since they were
Federal agents they should be
let in. He correctly refused and
ordered them to leave. They then
mentioned my name and that they
needed to see me. The guard
contacted me and I went to the
gate. I complemented the guard
on duty and went out to talk to
them. They still wanted to come
onto the site to talk to me in
my office. I told them no and I
escorted them to my off site
house where they interviewed
me. It went well my friend was
accepted into the FBI. He had a
34 year career as an agent and
was the agent in charge of a
liaison team that coordinated
all of the investigations in
Florida after 9-11.
Story #2
I was escorting a Major around
the Launching Area during -- I
think it was a NAICP test. When
we approached the Exclusion Area
guard shack he asked me to give
the guard the duress code. I
said I can categorically vouch
that everyone knows the duress
code and will take appropriate
action. He said I want you to
give the code. I reluctantly
complied. The guard without
hesitation through the Major to
the ground and cocked his weapon
and put it directly on his
temple. I had to physically pull
him off and explain it was only
a test and that there was no
threat. It took some convincing
but the guard backed off. I
don't think the Major ever did
that again.
All the best !!
|
As an M.P., I was assigned to a Security unit at
B-4-44 in South Korea 1966-1967. It was a Sunday, I was working the main
gate at the Admin.area, when a ROK jeep pulled up to the gate with a ROK
driver, and a ROK Army General. The ROK General spoke very fluent English,
and explained to me that he was educated in the U.S.,he needed fuel and chow
for himself and his driver. I explained to him that I could not allow him on
the Compound, but I would call the BOQ, and let the Batt.Commander talk with
him. The ROK. General became beligerant,and nasty. He claimed to be in the
area contacting Korean families who had casualties in Vietnam.
Batt.Commander arrived with 5 gal.can of fuel,and a bag of sandwiches from
the mess hall for the 2 ROKs. Bottom line, security was very strict on our
Battery. I was and still am very proud of our troops in Korea. Bob Hopkins,
Eaton Ohio
