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Aug 14, 2021

In Berlin, U.S. Troops Stage Simulated Battle 200 Yards from Soviet Zone

Aug. 14, 1961 - A company of American troops staged a simulated city battle in Berlin today. The training maneuver was held in a mock town built by the U.S. Army only 200 yards from the West Berlin-Soviet Zone border. Staged by about 200 crack troops of the Sixth Infantry, the "battle" involved tanks, artillery, and a helicopter. A similar maneuver will be staged tomorrow for Brig. Gen. Frederick O. Hartel, commander of the US. Army troops in Berlin. #coldwar #war #warfare #g

Aug 14, 2021

🚨Two Soviet Divisions Ring Berlin in Support of Border Closure as Tensions Rise

Aug. 14, 1961 - Two battle-ready Soviet Army divisions were reported to have ringed Berlin this morning in support of East Germany's dramatic closing of the border between East and West Berlin. The Soviet divisions were said to have armor and artillery with them. Other Soviet Army divisions among the estimated total of 20 in East Germany were reported on the move throughout the country. The East German action to close the border brought angry exchanges between East Berliners

Aug 12, 2021

South Vietnamese Troops Disrupt "Ho Chi Minh Trail" in Laos

Aug. 12, 1961 - South Vietnamese troop units are reported to be operating in southern Laos to cut the flow of Communist supplies and guerrilla reinforcements moving down from Communist North Vietnam. They have taken up strategic positions and are patrolling the route the Communists use through southwest Laos known in Saigon as "the Ho Chi Minh" trail. There are also strong indications that small U.S.-trained special units of South Vietnamese troops are operating inside North

Aug 9, 2021

Gen. Walter Bedell Smith, Ike's Chief of Staff during WWII, Dead at 65

Aug. 9, 1961 - Gen. Walter Bedell Smith, Dwight D. Eisenhower's chief of staff in Europe during World War II, died of a heart attack today at Walter Reed Hospital. He was 65. Gen. Smith was involved in negotiating the armistice between Italy and the Allies in 1943, which he signed on behalf of Gen. Eisenhower. In 1944, he negotiated successfully for food and fuel aid to be sent through German lines for the cold and starving Dutch civilian population. In May 1945, Gen. Smith m

Aug 9, 2021

Khrushchev Warns of "Mega-Bomb"

Aug. 9, 1961 - Premier Khrushchev warned today that the Soviet Union was capable of constructing a rocket with an explosive warhead equivalent to 100 million tons of TNT. He asserted that the Soviet Union wanted peace and disarmament and preferred to sink all weapons into the sea. But, he added, if war breaks out, the Soviet Union will utilize all armaments at its disposal. U.S. officials said that the warhead Mr. Khrushchev described was indeed possible and that it would be

Aug 6, 2021

Atom Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima 16 Years Ago Today

Aug. 6, 1961 - Just before dawn today, the priests and the people of Hiroshima (pictured in August, 1945) gathered to pray before the green mound where the unknown victims of the first atomic bomb are buried. This is the 16th time that this city has observed the memory that never really leaves its consciousness - the memory of 8:15 a.m. on Aug. 6, 1945, when the "light of a thousand suns" flashed over the city and reduced it to poisonous ash. Hiroshima has been rebuilt almost

Aug 4, 2021

Cuban Communist Regime Forms "Vigilance Committees"

Aug. 4, 1961 - Five hundred thousand people - about one-twelfth of Cuba's population - are now enrolled in neighborhood, factory and farm "vigilance committees." In theory, these committees provide the Government with a formidable instrument for supervising the life of the Cuban people. Membership in the committees require a willingness to work fourteen hours a day, to attend rallies, to do guard duty and to acquire a "revolutionary" mentality. That mentality is defined as th

Aug 3, 2021

Movies: "Marines, Let's Go" with Tom Tryon

Aug. 3, 1961 - "Marines, Let's Go," a drama about the Korean War directed by Raoul Walsh, will open at New York's Paramount Theatre Aug. 15. Tom Tryon, David Hedison, Tom Reese, and Linda Hutchins appear in the 20th Century-Fox release. Four privates romp their way through occupied Japan while on leave, finding a romance and some laughs. Then they head to the front lines where brutality and death are constant. #movienight #movietime #movie #movies #film #films #classicmovies

Aug 1, 2021

Holland Chooses Israeli Uzi Machine Gun as Standard Weapon for Land Forces

Aug. 1, 1961 - The Netherlands has chosen an Israeli sub-machine gun, the Uzi, as a standard weapon for her land forces. A large order placed today would increase the number of Uzis to be used by the Dutch forces to more than 100,000. The order is the largest received by Israel's Government-owned armament industry. An Israeli Defense Ministry source said: "The fact that a highly developed country like Holland chose an Israeli weapon for their armed forces may contributed to d

Aug 1, 2021

McNamara Says Bomb Shelters Could Save 15 Million American Lives

Aug. 1, 1961 - Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara said today that 50 million usable shelter spaces could provide a "Spartan" minimum existence for one-fourth of the U.S. population. This does not mean that 50 million lives would be saved in the event of a nuclear attack, he stressed, since millions in shelters would die from blast, heat and immediate radiation effects. But he said such shelters could save as many as 15 million lives. Local officials, Mr. McNamara said, "sho

Jul 31, 2021

Viet Cong Launch Grenade Attack in Saigon

July 31, 1961 - Communist guerrillas staged a pre-announced hand-grenade incident in Saigon last night to demonstrate their ability to cause trouble in the stronghold of President Diem. One soldier was killed and two were injured when the grenade was thrown at a patrol truck in front of a theatre. The grenade thrower escaped. The incident was part of a guerrilla campaign of increased terrorism and sabotage in the Saigon area. This was viewed as an attempt to offset the effect

Jul 31, 2021

President Kennedy Empowered by Congress to Call 250,000 Reservists

July 31, 1961 - A resounding 403-to-2 vote of approval in the House completed today Congressional action to empower President Kennedy to call 250,000 reservists, including National Guardsmen, for active duty up to one year. It would also permit the President to extend the annual active duty training periods of the reservists. The only dissenters were Bruce Alger of Texas and Eugene Siler of Kentucky, both Republicans. Mr. Alger said he feared that a manpower increase would we

Jul 30, 2021

Communist Viet Cong Conduct Campaign of Assassination in South Vietnam

July 30, 1961 - In South Vietnam, Communist Viet Cong guerrillas (pictured) are now estimated to number 12,000. They are taking 500-700 lives a month in a systematic campaign of assassination. Many of the victims are village chiefs and health, agricultural and education officers. In this struggle, the Communists hold most of the cards. They are disciplined and operate in a terrain favorable to guerrilla activities. The South Vietnamese officialdom is often weak, inefficient a

Jul 27, 2021

Communist Viet Cong Terrorize South Vietnam

July 27, 1961 - Communist guerrillas have increased their activity in South Vietnam. Numerous acts of terrorism have occurred throughout the country in the last ten days. A direct engagement between Communist guerrillas and Government forces is taking place in Tayninh, northwest of Saigon. Last week the Government won a large victory on the Plaine des Jones. About 200 guerrillas were killed or captured, and the battle raised the sagging morale of the Vietnamese people. The ne

Jul 25, 2021

Castro Appears with Soviet Astronaut Gagarin at Revolutionary Rally

July 25, 1961 - Six Soviet-built MIG's flew over Havana today in the first public display of Cuba's new jet strength. The six jets streaked low over the Plaza de la Revolución at the start of a seven-hour exhibition of mass gymnastics, held as part of the celebrations in honor of the 26th of July, the day in 1953 when Fidel Castro launched his revolutionary movement. Maj. Yuri A. Gagarin (left), the Soviet space flier and guest of honor at the celebrations, watched from the r

Jul 20, 2021

President Kennedy Emphasizes Civil Defense, Will Address Nation Tuesday

July 20, 1961 - President Kennedy today put the Pentagon in charge of a greatly increased program to protect American civilians against the effects of nuclear attack. By executive order, Mr. Kennedy shifted operating responsibility for "a greatly accelerated civil defense effort, including a nationwide fall-out shelter program," from the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization to the Department of Defense. The President is expected to urge public support for civil defense in

Jul 16, 2021

South Vietnamese Troops Kill Over 185 Viet Cong in Bloody Fighting

July 16, 1961 - South Vietnamese Government troops crushed a Communist guerrilla force today in the bloodiest battle since South Vietnam gained independence from France in 1954. More than 185 guerrillas were killed and many wounded in fierce fighting that followed the surrounding of a 500-man Communist force in marshlands 80 miles west of Saigon. The Government's losses were 12 dead and 64 wounded in a battalion of 700 men. The battalion had lain in ambush for two days. When

Jul 12, 2021

Hingle joins Brando in Cast of "The Ugly American"

July 12, 1961 - Pat Hingle will portray one of the leading characters in the forthcoming Marlon Brando vehicle, "The Ugly American," based on the novel of the same name by Eugene Burdick and William Lederer. The novel depicts the failures of the U.S. diplomatic corps in Southeast Asia. It is believed that the Peace Corps was established partly as a result of the novel. George Englund will direct the Universal release. #movienight #movietime #movie #movies #film #films #classi

Jul 12, 2021

Castro Gets Soviet Military Hardware from Soviets

July 12, 1961 - The regime of Premier Fidel Castro in Cuba has acquired at least 26 MIG jets, officials sources said today. The MIG's are the first Soviet aircraft based in this hemisphere. The build-up of air power follows many months of heavy purchases by the Havana Government of guns, tanks and other war gear, chiefly from Iron Curtain countries. #communism #communist #coldwar #war #warfare #guerrillawar #cuba #soviet #sovietunion

Jul 10, 2021

Defense Secretary McNamara Press Conference (Video)

July 10, 1961 - Here is video of Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara's press conference from earlier today. #communism #communist #coldwar #vietnam #vietnamwar #war #warfare #guerrillawar #sovietunion