June 6, 1962 - JFK addresses the graduating cadets at West Point and pardons 20 from room confinement. #jfk #military #veterans #vietnam #army #navy #airforce #marines
May 7, 1962 - A “tremendous need” for manned aircraft still exists, and fliers will be in demand for many years to come, President Kennedy said today. Mr. Kennedy made the statement at a meeting with 52 Civil Air Patrol cadets in the Rose Garden of the White House. He was presented an honorary lifetime membership in the organization by the cadets, most of them teenage boys and girls. The President told the cadets that they and their associates and advisors in the patrol were
May 4, 1962 - The Air Force displayed its manned weapons and its ability to get them launched in a hurry to President Kennedy today at Eglin Air Force Base near Valparaiso, Fla. From a stand beside a runway, the President pressed a red alert button; the 64 jet motors of eight B-52 nuclear bombers were started; the planes roared down the runway 5 seconds apart. The time between the President’s signal and the take-off of the last bomber was 7 minutes 34 seconds. There followed
Aug. 25, 1961 - The Pentagon today ordered to active duty 76,500 members of the reserve military forces - 46,500 in the Army, 23,600 in the Air Force, and 6,400 in the Navy. Most of the reservists will be called to report by Oct. 1. No Marine reservists were called because the Marine Corps is meeting its increased manpower goals through voluntary enlistments and service extensions. Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara (second from left) would not say whether any of the res