National Military Appreciation Month: A NORAD Experience

 


In honor of National Military Appreciation Month, Arthur Yavelberg, author of the multi-award-winning book, A Theology for the Rest of Us, relates a story told to him by his father, who served at NORAD --

My father was a "career man" in the Air Force for 25 years, starting when it was still the "Army Air Corps."  He was supposed to be a radio man on bombers--until someone in charge of the training program noticed he was wearing glasses.  

"How long have you been wearing those?" the officer demanded to know.  

"I believe I was born with them, Sir!" 

My father was one of those who believed the term "military intelligence" was an oxymoron, but he was intelligent enough not to say so in so many words.  As it turned out, he was reassigned to NORAD, essentially a string of military bases across Canada and the northern US in anticipation of a Soviet nuclear strike launched across the North Pole.  He came home one day and somberly announced, "I hate to break it to you, but we're all going to die."  

We gasped, but then he went on to explain with a reassuring smile that the radar at the post had identified a barrage of missiles coming from the North.  The military immediately took steps to respond.  After all, given the speed of intercontinental missiles, the margin for error was very slim.  

Fortunately, this "missile barrage" turned out to be a flock of Canadian geese.  We all laughed--as my dad did with that glint in his eye.  

But I thought about it and asked him, "But suppose it really was a missile strike, and it was dismissed as just a flock of geese.  What then?"  

My dad looked at me and said, with the same smile but none of the glint in his eye, "It's nothing to worry about.  Trust me, if that happens, there will be nothing to worry about."



A Theology for the Rest of Us has earned the following awards:

Best Indie Book Award
Literary Titan Silver Aware
American BookFest Best Books Award finalist


For more posts about Arthur and his book, click HERE.

For more military appreciation stories, click HERE.

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