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Kansas Fall Night Part One

His story goes : This particular cool Kansas fall night in 1970 approximately 23:30hrs, my sergeant and I had parked our patrol truck upon a hill over looking the Kansas country side being night the darkness was dotted with lights from the farmhouse yard lights. In the distance you can see the highway with the head and tails lights moving along the road. We were listening to the radio, eating our boxed lunches and discussing world problems. Of course the major topic was how many of the squadron had received orders to Viet Nam and wondering who was next on the list. There was a long stretch of silence when the patrol radio beckoned our call sign. The sergeant answered after a brief pause. “You have a SAM at K12, motion detectors no further, code 2 authorized.” We acknowledged with “10-4 K12″. This sounded like any other routine SAM (Security Alert Message). Except that this one allowed us to proceed over the posted speed limits without sirens.

From our advantage point we could see K12’s Christmas Tree Lights. The Christmas tree was a very tall and large VHF antenna that required navigational lights for aircraft. As we looked toward the missile site we could see that the site lights were on but they were much brighter then usual and lit up more of the area then we thought possible. At the same time the word “Sh—” left our mouths. The ride there was very quiet not a word was spoken just prior to reaching K12 the base was calling for a status check. “All clear, approaching access road” the sergeant responded. We rolled up onto the entrance road and turn off our head lights. Strangely the site lights were turned down; only the two area lights were on. Then sergeant turned to me and said “This one by the book”. I got out of the patrol truck and started the long walk the access road toward the missile site. Taking up a combat crouch I searched one side of the road then the other, as the sergeant weaved the truck back and forth following me up the road.

Our training took hold and with the precision of countless rehearsals, we started the surface search. The sarge pulled the patrol truck to the side of the road and took up a concealed position by the truck and weaved me on. His duty was to observe me while conducting the surface search while maintaining radio communication with the base. I ran to the entry, picked up the gate phone, which rang the launch center deep inside the missile silo. After relaying the password and identifications, the nervous voice said” We don’t know what going on up there, all sector motion detectors when down and the same time and didn’t reset until a few minutes before you arrived. At that, the main surface lights came on and the gate unlocked. I opened the gate, stepped in and closed the gate behind me. I kneeled on one knee and began to look over the site from one side to the other. At that moment, it dawned on me how unusually quite it was. Normally, I could hear the low hum of the lights and the Kansas insects chirping. It was so quite it was deafening, I started my way to the access portal again I noticed I can only hear the crunching of the gravel behind my feet. I reached the portal and looked through the window peering at the stair case leading downward into the darkness.

I opened the door, and flipped the light switch. The dim light came on and I saw the grey concrete steps and walls; the area was empty all but. Normally when I checked the portals, a cool breeze would come from the bottom of the pit this time it was still and the cold concrete felt warm. A chill went up my spine, like a low current of electricity. I turned allowing the door to shut behind me; again on one knee I surveyed the launch cover. Suddenly, a squelch came from my radio; I must have jumped a foot. “- All clear -” I whispered back. I proceeded to the north side of the hatch searched the cover for any foreign objects, shown my flashlight down the exhaust events checking the wire seal. The seal was not broken, but I noticed the low drone of the equipment deep inside the silo, and beside the quite I started to beware, that is was warm, that the air temperature was about 10 degrees warmer on the site then it was on the access road. My mind was registering that things were not right, but nothing concrete to put my finger on. I searched the three other sides of the cover with the same results, nothing here. After calling the sarge on the radio with an “All Clear” began the perimeter search checking the motion detector cones and stands, then to the fence line. As I was walking along the fence checking for breaches, any digging or tunneling. As I was doing this, I noticed the temperature on the outside of the fence was definitely cooler, this continued to bother me, so I studied very feature both sides of the fence before I approached them. I made the complete circuit, of site with nothing really to report. I called down to the launch center and reported the site was clear.

The voice asked are you sure? “Yes, why” I said? A pause of silence then, “well nothing”. The gate unlocked, and I stepped out, by this time the sarge had moved the truck to the gate I secured the gate and got in the truck. “Well”, the sage urged, “Nothing there, nothing at all, nothing was wrong” I replied not to reveal my intrusion or gut feeling that this was very strange. We started to drive around the perimeter road checking the barbed wire outer fence, and the lagoon system. Suddenly the sergeant slammed on the brakes, stuck his head out the window and said “shhhhh do you hear that?” I sat motionlessly listening for whatever. After a few seconds I said, “No what?” He waved to me to be quite. We sat looking and listening to everything, the road in the lights of the truck, the shadows in the lagoon, and the stars. “The locusts are making noise again, I can hear the corn rustling in the breeze, why there’s a breeze again”, sarge ranted. I felt comfortable again; at least the sarge had noticed the oddities of the night like I did. We than exchanged the feeling we both shared. As we left the site, he said we should go into town and come back later.

The small Kansas community was abandoned, as usual the sidewalks are rolled up and the streets are vacant. We cruised the main street up and back a couple of times and decided to return to K12. When we got there, the sarge pulled the truck into the middle of the access road turn off the lights and got out. “Need to water the lily pads.” Slammed the door and unzipped his pants. We stood on opposite sides of the truck, and just looked around and listened to nothing but, bugs and wind. We drove around the perimeter road, with the same results. He stopped again, the entrance to the access road and said, “Ah, hell” and drove away. We went back to his favorite parking place sarge and found a comfortable spot behind to wheel and snuggled in. “Hold the fort”, he as he settled down. I began the wait listening to the hiss of the radio and the occasional snore from the sage. I was thinking of K12 and what happened while stirring at its Christmas tree. I noticed a faint glow what I thought was a semi going down the highway, when I realized that there was no road in that area it moved slowly low to the ground crossing fields of corn and headed directly to K12. I woke the sarge, “look, look, look” unable to say more. He jumped up and looked around the truck thinking something else. Finally, he focused on the glow which got brighter as in hovered over the site.

The radio rang out the SAM and we took off this time, we were speeding to the site, not even slowing for stop signs. I tried to watch the site as long as possible, but with the curves, and corn fields it was impossible. We squealed on to the access road, total darkness greeted us the area was again silent and still. We followed procedure again, this time, looking up more often. I felt uneasy, like I was being watched like the feeling you get when someone is looking over your shoulder. When back at the gate phone the voice was, more aggressive, make sure you check the motion detector cones, and vents. I made the same sweep as before, stopping only to look up. I checked the vent seals and hasps as before nothing was out of place. I checked the cones, deflectors, and any exposed wiring other than being slightly warm to the touch nothing was out of place or tampered with. I picked up the phone and it rang, the all clear was given and I explained my visual results of the cones and vents. The closing was done as usual the gate opened, I climbed in the truck and we drove to the back of the site, turn off our lights. The surface lights were turned off and we sat in the dark. After about fifteen to twenty minutes the surface lights came back on. We jumped from the truck and started to survey the night sky. The portal access door crept open and a captain appeared. He walked around the launch cover and inspected the vents then walked to each of the motion cones. He stood by the portal door for a little while and then disappeared through the door. The surface lights went off and we left alone with the chirping insects. Without a word the sergeant started the truck and slowly drove without lights down the access road and on to the road for a few hundred yards and pulled into a farmer’s field hiding next to the corn rows and some over grown bushes.

Sarge turned down the radio and we sat watching the site and the night sky. After what seemed to be an eternity the morning sky was coming and sun started to appear on the eastern horizon. Our shift was over, sarge cranked the engine and back to base we went. On the way there we re-lived our exciting night and laughed nervously. We wondered if anyone was going ask about our night. We arrived at the base washed our truck, exchanged equipment with the on coming team, and passed on our SAM information about K12. The on coming shift and no questions, we turned in our weapons to the armor, and passed by dispatch and operations all without a word or inquiry. We decided for the best we would never speak of this.

For the rest of the story go to www.worldstruth.blogspot.com

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