Veterans honored on 25th anniversary

End of Cold War celebrated

Five area veterans were presented with the Cold War Service Recognition Certificate on Thursday in a ceremony in the Senate mezzanine. Local military historian Jeremy Amick, standing behind podium, spoke about each veteran, followed by the certificate presentation by Sen. Mike Kehoe. Veterans, from right, are Jack Boswell, John Brady, Gary Ellion, George Kishmar and Winiford Lewis.
Five area veterans were presented with the Cold War Service Recognition Certificate on Thursday in a ceremony in the Senate mezzanine. Local military historian Jeremy Amick, standing behind podium, spoke about each veteran, followed by the certificate presentation by Sen. Mike Kehoe. Veterans, from right, are Jack Boswell, John Brady, Gary Ellion, George Kishmar and Winiford Lewis.

Just a few decades ago, school children were taught to duck under their desks as an air raid precaution in the same way they conduct fire or tornado drills.

The threat of a global missile strike weighed heavy on Americans' minds until 25 years ago Thursday, when the former Soviet Union disbanded.

Five Cold War veterans were honored at the Missouri Capitol, commemorating the end of the conflict.

The potential devastation and casualties from that time period would dwarf other war theaters. Yet it is often overlooked.

"Not all wars are fought in a military sense," local military historian Jeremy Amick said.

That is why Amick organized Thursday's event - to remember.

"In Russellville (school), they taught us to be terrified of the Soviet threat," the author said. "This current generation was born after the Cold War ended."

Some of the honorees drew parallel concerns of today's current events and what was faced during those decades.

"We're not looking at our history," veteran Gary Elliott said. "If you don't study your history, you'll make the same mistakes again."

The men honored Thursday helped write this nation's history. Those not native to Mid-Missouri may be unaware local geography also served as part of that history.

State Sen. Mike Kehoe presented them with the Cold War Service Recognition Certificate.

Winiford Lewis was a classified military weapons specialist for the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, during the 13-day Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

George Kishmar worked with the U.S. Army's Nike-Ajax missile system and the Nike-Hercules missiles before becoming an instructor at Fort Bliss, Texas, teaching missile system maintenance and operation.

John Brady was a digital data processing repair man and radar technician for the U.S. Air Force.

Elliott rose through the U.S. Navy ranks from a mess cook aboard the supercarrier USS America to serve on aviation squadrons for the P-3 Orion and the F-4 J.

And Jack Boswell had the unique role of working in the U.S. Air Force underground missile facilities in Kansas, constantly vigilant to be able to launch the Titan missiles in less than 60 seconds.

"As a ballistic missile analyst technician, if the missile did not go (when launched), our role was to hotwire it to get it to go," Boswell said.