During the Cold War, thousands manned remote radar stations around the world to serve early warning of possible nuclear attack by the Soviet Union. Especially Airmen served at radar installations—mostly small, mostly far from towns or air bases—throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Cold, barren, far from medical services, these radar sites presented a challenge to service members’ mental and physical health. We talk with Radar Station Veterans who scanned the skies 24/7 for incoming aircraft and missiles, including those with the Radar Station Veterans Facebook Group as well as those at the National Air Defense Radar Museum. Listen to Bob Ritter, Lars McKie, Rich Banta, Pete Sarmiento, Michael Horton, Mike Mullins, Ron Henderson, Ron Stachevich all talk about life in the jungles, on the mountains, and across the tundra of some of the most dangerous places on earth. A highlight is talking with 101-year-old Durwood Williams, WWII P-47 pilot and, after WWII, was instrumental in creating the Ballistic Missile Early Warning system. Durwood is only the second-oldest person on the program, as WWII Navy WAVE 102-year-old Julia Parsons joins us also.
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