MCB 4 Cuban Missile Crisis 1962

This is one of my many memoirs of my experiences during my long career in the Navy as a Seabee ( 25 yrs). But will not stop there since my life also included service with the U.S State Department (12 yrs) which I will bring up at a later date .

First let me start before I get waylaid on MCB 4 during the Cuban Missile Crisis .

My memories of  time in history as a young Seabee while a part of MCB 4 in Cuba at Naval Base Guantanamo Bay  during the Cuban Missile Crisis  of  October 4,1962. Which was at the brink of a nuclear war .

This is my story of Oct 21,1962 .When what turned out to be other than a routine base defense exercise that day  had suddenly become the real thing . The Naval base at Guantanamo   Bay had the worlds attention focused on it . Civilians and Navy families were being evacuated and front line Marine Corps units were being airlifted in to reinforce the base .But it was us  a small handful of Seabees and Marines who manned the strategic perimeter positions during the 72 hours that it took to reinforce and evacuate the base who bore the brunt of the crisis. Little did we know at the time that we were greatly outnumbered by the Cuban forces that were maneuvering into position just across the fence , like us prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice.

I was assigned to a 81 MM mortar section consisting of 4 men ,we moved into position the night of  Oct 21. Not fully understanding the situation . All we were hearing was stories and taking them for what they were worth .Turned out most of  stories were just fabricated or made up but they sounded good and the time ,since we never did get any real information from  our officers . I believe they themselves never did know what was happening  .I remember that we took a truck with our equipment by dirt road up a hill and we passed a group of men who with what looked like a rocket launcher position next to the hill to our position .I  Never did find out exactly what the equipment that I saw was , but it was impressive . Finally when we arrived at our position we assembled our mortars and made our foxhole . That night we just stared into the darkness .and all was still . I don’t even remember ever getting any ammunition for our weapons, I know we never did for our  M-16 maybe they thought we would accidentally fire them at night . Not knowing this was a smart move or not on there part but I believe it worked out for the best. Any individual by mistaking the noise  of a rat for a Cuban  coming would fire there weapon. ,could have started a war  . Remember we were all on edge . The next  morning when the sun came up and we had a chance to look around there was something very strange . We were up front near the perimeter fence while the rifle company’s were in back of us .  Mortars are always in back of the front lines, so if there was a fire fight we would have been basically slaughtered from the Cubans on one side  and our own men on the other since we were right  in the middle of the field fire. A mortar section has no real protection they are out in the open with the mortar tube , ammunition and all people assigned exposed that is why they are always set up in the rear . If we did survive any attack which would have been a miracle . Knowing what I know now the Cubans were  battle hardened since already having gone through many conflicts since the revolution and the bay of pigs, and coming out the winners.. We were fresh meat to say the least . It would have been a one sided fight with the Cubans the winners. Honestly we were not ready for anything coming our way . ammunition, coordination, training , logistics, medical , food, communications, transportation you name it.  I guess god was on our side at that time in history. Just thinking what could have happened those days ,it could have turned out to be a great tragedy .One comment we did over hear which I believe, was that if we were attacked and overrun ,which I believe the high command already new we were no match against the Cuban forces. Any help would have come from Puerto Rico with jets the closes support ,which would have been to late to save us. One  jet did come screaming over the hills the next days which did lift our spirits a little knowing that some one out there besides ourselves was also involved, and we were not alone. .

I watched from my position during the day of October 23 when a Boeing C-135B-BN Stratolifter crashed on approach. It went right though the fence at the end of the runway . Later on to find out it was delivering ammunition and that 7 airman lost there lives. luckily it did not explode.

After the 3 days Marines came to relieve us I guess it was a very big surprise for them to see Seabees mostly bearded and not fellow Marines in the positions that they were going to occupy from that day forward .

Once the Marines set up there positions they went ahead and set mine fields up at the perimeter fence lines . I always remember that after it was setup and it was supposedly mapped out . Latter the exact location of the mines  was found not to be correct and they had a hell of a time figuring out where it was safe to walk and not. We needed the exact location of all the mines to perform work  in the area. It was a scary feeling knowing that since they were not sure where the mines were placed we could step on one . This is something that will always stick in my mind . Maybe the mines were laid out in hast at the time because of the situation , and location was not important . Not thinking that work had to be done and entering a mine field was necessary to perform it .

After three days of excitement or should I say tension and stress we all went back to work digging and reinforcing bunkers, command post, building roads, chow halls, toilets, showers, housing, ammunition storage areas in support of the 5000 Marines.that arrived.  The civilians and family members who were evacuated during the crises started to return to base.

I left Guantanamo Bay (GITMO for short)  on December 1962 for Davisville  R.I.  our home port . I was a Third Class Construction Electrician at the time.

Please if there is anyone out there who can add any further information please let me know . I want to be as accurate as possible on the events of the time. I would particularity like to know what type rockets were their on the hill at that time . I know that they were there to fire into Cuba if all hell was to break out .

I have included articles and pictures from those times on GIMO. with MCB 4.That I saved over the years. The two pictures of men marching with helmets on and green uniforms are MCB 4 men not Marines.Also you can see the American flag and Navy flag  You can see one of the hills in the background. The picture of the mortar crew are MCB 4 men again not marines .