Category Archives: Military

Cold War Mancation Part Two: Nekoma Missile Base (UPDATED)

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This giant pyramid is about the last thing you’d expect to find out in the middle of the North Dakota prairie… yet here it sits. It’s part of the defunct Stanley R Mickelsen Complex, part of the Safeguard anti-ballistic missle program.

The pyramid is the most striking feature of this complex, which operated for about four months before being closed. It housed the Missile Site Radar (MSR) with circular antennae on all four sides of the pyramid. This phased-array radar allowed tracking of incoming ballistic missiles as well as control of the ABMs.

Sadly, this structure has seen better days. The inside is flooded and the equipment has been removed. The outside is beginning to show its age as well. Can you imagine the power needed to operate these huge arrays?

That’s what these giant structures are for. Among the more confusing of the site’s many protuberances, these are actually the intakes and exhausts for six absolutely monstrous engines, used to spin generators capable of powering the facility.

Without an aircraft I can’t give you a photo of this that does it justice. It’s the missile field, which at one time contained both Spartan and Sprint anti-ballistic missiles. The Spartans were designed for long-range interception, and in case of failure the Sprints would be deployed. Both used nuclear blasts to knock out an incoming warhead, which due to EMP concerns really isn’t practical. One cool thing is that the Sprint missiles went from zero to Mach TEN in five seconds. How do I strap one of those to my Suzuki?

This base was built in the 1970s, operated for a matter of weeks, and was then shut down. The town was all set for the boom of having a military base next door, and then suddenly it all evaporated on them. Here’s a must-read article about the impact of this base’s construction and subsequent closure on the little town of Nekoma.

The Library of Congress has a small collection of photos from the site’s construction available online. A really nice aerial photo of the facility is available on Wikipedia and I think may come from the LoC collection.

Here’s a link to a Google Map I’m working on with various photo sites marked for your enjoyment. This link will allow you to view the site from above via satellite. This gives a good idea of what the missile fields look like.

Many more mundane buildings still inhabit this facility, although the base housing has been moved away. Various shops, administrative buildings, the security station, the chapel, and other such buildings are still maintained on site in case the Army chooses to return.

WARNING * (Don’t say you haven’t been warned) * WARNING

This base, while abandoned for purposes of the Safeguard program, is still a US Army facility and protected government property. YOU MAY NOT ENTER THIS PROPERTY WITHOUT PERMISSION. PERIOD. I don’t know what the punishment is for trespassing on a site like this, but I don’t recommend it. You can get really great views from the road on the south side. While doing so you’ll see signs indicating that this still belongs to the Army. Take them at their word.

I wish I’d taken photos of some of the other buildings in the area, including the chapel with the Christmas decorations still hanging in the window. If I find myself in the area again, I’ll be more thorough.

(UPDATE) I came across this website today, srmsc.org. It’s got a ton of information about the entire Mickelsen Complex and its function. Check it out!

Cold War Mancation, Part One (updated)

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As I mentinoed before, I took a little photo vacation last weekend with one of my closest friends. It was a trip dubbed the “Cold War Vacation” due to the nature of many of our stops. One of them was to the Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile Historic Site, north of Cooperstown. I’d been there before, he had not. This was a great opportunity for both of us, as I have a new camera this time.

You can see more about the topside part of this historic site by reading my previous post about this facility. This time I’m just going to focus on the two capsules down below. This is the doorway to the hardened equipment building, a capsule-shaped bunker with a blast door weighing around twelve tons if I recall correctly. One guy can move it.

Generators, pumps, filters, the works. Everything required to keep things functioning down below…all hung on a suspended platform stabilized by giant gas shock absorbers.

Next we have the launch control capsule, with its own puny little 8 ton door. The doors on these capsules are only as large as is required to get equipment in and out. Unlike the front door of the capsule at the Minuteman I national historic site in South Dakota, this one is not painted with anything witty. I got to peek behind here and check this time, a luxury I didn’t have during my first trip.

The last crew to serve down here marked the occasion on their way out. My understanding of the Latin at the bottom is something along the lines of “in the care of eagles.” Those holes are where the giant pins of the blast door interface to secure the capsule.

Inside the capsule are the facilities to accommodate the crew, communicate with topside and command, and of course launch the missiles. There’s a potty even smaller than the one in your average camper as well as a single bunk.

One of two stations manned by the missileers during a shift. Notice that the chair is secured to the floor on rails, as well as the five point harness used to keep the operator in his seat in case of an anticipated attack. The men and women serving in these capsules need to be able to launch their missiles, and being knocked out of their chair would impede that.

Here’s where the shift commander would sit. I appreciate the scenery adorning the wall on the upper right, I bet it broke up the monotony a little bit. Obviously there’s no window seat!

Here’s where the serious stuff happens. Each station has one of these, where the infamous “keys” would be inserted and turned simultaneously. Funny thing about those keys…

“DO NOT DUPLICATE.” Seriously. I found this so hilarious, that a key capable of launching a nuclear weapon would have the same stamping as the key to my dorm room! Even though it should go without saying, these keys bear the warning. If you look at the toothed head of the key as well as the really interesting shape of the end and cut grooves, it’s obvious that Ace Hardware probably isn’t going to have a blank for this anyway.

On the way out of the capsule you get a look at what I’m told is dubbed “the Norwegian snowflake.” The list on the right is from the crews as they each served their last shift with this missile wing before decommission.

This site is amazing. You can get more information and listen to some relevant podcasts by clicking here for the State Historical Society’s page. If you visit, tell them you heard about the site here. I got to hang out for a while and chat with some of the staff and the site director (a former missileer and narrator of one of the SHS podcasts). It was a real treat. There’s plenty more I haven’t even described here, so you’ve got plenty of surprises awaiting.

Update: Announced yesterday was the news that this site has won an award: click here for more information.

Cannon in D…HD, thanks to my Canon

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As a video professional, I’ve watched with guarded optimism as digital SLR “still” cameras have begun to shoot HD video. While I admit the quality is amazing, it does have come with some caveats. Since this is my line of work I’m well equipped to deal with ’em. While I’d be just fine if my camera didn’t even shoot video, I have to admit the idea of being able to post moving versions of the photos I shoot is pretty keen!

Memorial Day 2010

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I was able to attend the Memorial Day services at the Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery south of Mandan today. It’s always moving to take a special day to honor those who serve on our behalf, although naturally we should be so mindful all year long.

I have a lot of photos of course, and they’ll likely trickle in over the next several days. Due to time constraints I’m going to simply post some observations.

Governor Hoeven received enthusiastic applause and even cheers. Senator Conrad and Representative Pomeroy received courteous applause, each time after a short pause. It was as if people were waiting for someone else to start. Someone’s horn playing “Dixie” went off as Congressman Pomeroy came to the podium, which I thought was inappropriate. The Standing Rock color guard performed a drum circle after the official ceremony ended. Someone started playing music over the speakers, two of which are near the memorial where the drum circle was performing. I unplugged the one nearest me; these men deserve our respect.

The most moving words I heard were from today’s amazing keynote speaker, Major General (Retired) C. Emerson Murry: “To be born free is an accident. To live free is a responsibility. To die free is an absolute obligation.”

The day itself was wonderful weather-wise, a refreshing break from the cloudy and cool Memorial Days of the recent past. There was an overwhelming turnout, of course, which is typical for our area. The spirit of the place was very respectful and truly part of what makes America great.

On a photography note, I also got to play around a little with the video function of my new camera. I’ll post those results too, as time allows. Time has not allowed much lately, as I’ve been busier at home and work than any May I can remember in a long, long time.

Once again, here’s a ROCK that’s more patriotic than Earl Pomeroy

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This enormous rock, about five feet tall and parked in a very remote location outside of Bismarck, has more patriotism than the American left. The owner of the land on which it sits, I presume, has adorned it with an American flag, the names of some North Dakota soldiers killed in the global war on terrorism, and the following quote from our President:

“We will not waver; we will not falter; and we will not fail. Peace and freedom will prevail.” George W Bush

 

It’s just a shame that very few people will ever see this rock; I stumbled upon it by accident while out getting the truck dirty. Can you imagine the heartfelt pride in our soldiers the artist must have felt as they painted this tribute to their sacrifice? It’s very moving and I had to tell you about it. At the bottom of this post I’ll give you directions on how to find it; it’s not that hard, really.

On the other hand, this reminded me of the cowardly Earl Pomeroy, the hapless US Representative from our fair state. While I and several hundred other motorcyclists stood guard outside the funeral of a fallen soldier, he came by to attend the funeral and offer waves and salutes. This happened less than 24 hours after he voted against House Resolution 861, titled “Declaring that the United States will prevail in the Global War on Terror, the struggle to protect freedom from the terrorist adversary.”

This is so typical of the liberal Democrat mantra of “I support the troops, but I don’t support the mission.” Have you seen the text of the resolution that Earl voted against? If not, click the link above. But first let me point out that this resolution was a show of support: it didn’t promise funding, it didn’t have any policy riders in it, it was simply a declaration that Americans are doing a good work and that they’ll succeed. Earl disagreed.

Here’s some of the text. I left out all the “whereas” clauses because, while they’re part of the text, they are not the meat of the resolution:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives–

(1) honors all those Americans who have taken an active part in the Global War on Terror, whether as first responders protecting the homeland, as servicemembers overseas, as diplomats and intelligence officers, or in other roles;

(2) honors the sacrifices of the United States Armed Forces and of partners in the Coalition, and of the Iraqis and Afghans who fight alongside them, especially those who have fallen or been wounded in the struggle, and honors as well the sacrifices of their families and of others who risk their lives to help defend freedom;

(3) declares that it is not in the national security interest of the United States to set an arbitrary date for the withdrawal or redeployment of United States Armed Forces from Iraq;

(4) declares that the United States is committed to the completion of the mission to create a sovereign, free, secure, and united Iraq;

(5) congratulates Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki and the Iraqi people on the courage they have shown by participating, in increasing millions, in the elections of 2005 and on the formation of the first government under Iraq’s new constitution;

(6) calls upon the nations of the world to promote global peace and security by standing with the United States and other Coalition partners to support the efforts of the Iraqi and Afghan people to live in freedom; and

(7) declares that the United States will prevail in the Global War on Terror, the noble struggle to protect freedom from the terrorist adversary.

What was so objectionable to cowardly Earl that he couldn’t vote YEA on this? Did he object to a “Whereas” in there somewhere? The only one that should count is this one:

Whereas the United States and Coalition servicemembers and civilians and the members of the Iraqi security forces and those assisting them who have made the ultimate sacrifice or been wounded in Iraq have done so nobly, in the cause of freedom;

That clause alone is worthy of a YEA vote. Instead, spineless Earl the Pearl voted along with such notorious wackbags as Nancy Pelosi and Charles Rangel, one of the guys who keeps saying our soldiers are too dumb or poor to choose other career options. Then he has the nerve to show up at the funeral of a fallen soldier the very next day, putting on his North Dakota face on the flight back, and presumes (correctly) that it will go largely unnoticed.


“Representatives” like Earl Pomeroy do not represent North Dakota or the majority of Americans. Some of them, like our beloved Representative, are backstabbers when it comes to our soldiers at home. They make all the right somber appearances here in North Dakota, then run back off to Washington to be who they really are. I’m glad people like the person who painted this rock are up to the task of supporting our fighting men and women worldwide. If I was a member of Travis Van Zoest’s family the day of the funeral, I’d have denied the two-faced Earl Pomeroy entry into the ceremony…at least until he explained to the hundreds of real patriots outside why he voted the way he did.

The official roll call of the vote can be found here. Pomeroy’s name, quite appropriately, appears right next to that of Nancy Pelosi.

The full text of House Resolution 861 can be found here.

I know right now the struggling Earl Pomeroy is running TV ads claiming he’s such a friend of the veterans. If that’s the case, perhaps he’d like to answer a simple question: Why couldn’t he break Democrat party ranks even ONCE and cast a symbolic vote in favor of soldiers representing North Dakota and the USA as a whole?

To visit this rock, something that might be especially appropriate this Memorial Day, simply take Expressway north from where it intersects with Century Avenue. When you reach 57th Avenue, take a right and head east. It’s at the end of the road a short while later with a little cul de sac where you can park and/or turn around. Here’s a little map I put together:


View Bismarck-Mandan Blog in a larger map
On a side note, I’m messing around a little bit with Google Maps and may post some favorite photo spots (or simply points of interest around Bismarck-Mandan) from my GPS as time allows. Happy Memorial Day! Please thank as many soldiers, veterans, and their families as you can this weekend (and all year ’round). Stand with them in support for their mission; your United States Congressman chose not to do so.

Talons spotted in Bismarck yesterday

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I was out with my little boys yesterday afternoon and noticed something very eye-catching as we drove past the airport on our way home: a pair of Air Force jets, T-38 Talons. Sweet! They were parked on the tarmac near Executive Air and preparing for flight, so the fellas and I grabbed a spot of fence to watch ’em.

This one was up and running already when we got there, while the other one was about to spin up on the APU. These jets are pretty quiet from the front, thankfully.

Soon they began to taxi to the end of the runway, cockpit canopies open, and then they took off in quick formation. My boys were thrilled to see “fighter jets” (yes, I know they’re trainers and not armed) and surprised at how fast they were. There were a few other onlookers over by EA to see these supersonic beauties take flight. Wow, talk about great timing, eh?

In memoriam this Christmas

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The Patriot Guard Riders donated wreaths to adorn the Global War on Terror Memorial, located near the entrance of Fraine Barracks in west Bismarck. This memorial honors any North Dakota soldier who gives the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of the rest of us in this ever-important war.

I have been doubly proud of this memorial not just because of the honor it bestows on these brave soldiers, but also because it acknowledges the Global War on Terror. President Obama and his lockstep liberals are too pusillanimous to acknowledge the threat of evil against the forces of freedom. This memorial shows that North Dakotans have the sack to stand up and call it what it is: a Global War On Terrorism. Period.

As you celebrate this Christmas with your family, please be mindful of the soldiers’ families who will be celebrating with loved ones absent. In most cases, they’ll have someone special deployed away from home. In some, however, they won’t have any more Christmases with that person. This memorial stands as a testimony to that. It isn’t just the soldier who sacrifices; it’s everyone they love and who loves them. If you or someone you love serves in our military, I’m grateful for what you give on behalf of your country.

Something special today at the All Veterans Memorial

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Last night I got done working on the wife’s truck and decided to pay a visit to the All Veterans Memorial on the grounds of the North Dakota state capitol. With today being Veterans’ Day, there will be a lot of visitors here. This memorial does something special on this day, and I didn’t feel like intruding on the day with my camera during a solemn occasion (although I may be visiting to pay my respects).

For anyone who doesn’t know, the top of this memorial is only square on the outside; the inside is a spherical dome. That’s important for many reasons, which are evident when you’re there. At the center of the monument is a globe on a pedestal.

As the placard describes, something special happens here at 11 o’clock on the eleventh hour of the eleventh month every year, in commemoration of Veterans’ Day.

At precisely that time, the rays of the sun travel down this hole in the dome of the monument, beaming their way directly toward the globe at its center. I was kinda hoping that someone would be able to clean that stain off the wall where water sometimes drips through the tunnel.

On the globe, North Dakota is raised and polished above the surrounding terrain. The light of the sun strikes it directly for a brief period of time every Veterans’ Day at 11 am, lighting it up for those in attendance. Hopefully someone can tidy up this globe before it sees all the attention today; I tried to dab a couple of spots off with a clean handkerchief, but that didn’t help like an actual cleaning would.

While this is a really neat phenomenon, it’s really all about remembrance. Millions have served this great nation over the past couple hundred years and every one of them sacrificed a great deal, even if they didn’t lose their life or suffer physical injury in battle. Today is only one of the 365 days each year that we should hold them in high regard and thank them for the freedoms we enjoy because of their commitment to duty. If you’re there to see the light of the sun strike North Dakota on the globe, that’ll be really neat. Then take some time to peruse the names on those metal placards and consider the men and women who protect this great nation.

Memo to all you pusillanimous liberals: We’re calling it the Global War on Terror, kthx

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Tomorrow a new memorial will be dedicated at the entrance to Fraine Barracks, near River Road. It’s a memorial whose progress I’ve watched eagerly since its announcement, and now it’s finished. It’s a memorial to North Dakota military personnel who perished during the Global War on Terrorism.

I was especially pleased to see the term “GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM” on this monument, because the pantywaist liberal multi-culturalist apologists, in their suicidal quest to love our enemies and hate our nation, have abhorred this term since its inception. Our current President, for example, has ordered that the term not be used in the federal government. North Dakotans, however, see it for what it is.


All gave some. Some gave all.
 

This monument will be officially dedicated on September 11th. Sadly, I have something else going on and can’t attend. I stopped by this weekend to read the names and ponder the sacrifice of those who died fighting on our behalf, and I’m sure I’ll be back again. As the monument declares, We Will Never Forget.

Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile Site (updated)

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I took an amazing trip this weekend – to beautiful Cooperstown, North Dakota for a tour of the Ronald Reagan Minute Missile State Historic Site! I’d been waiting for this trip for years, since I heard there was a possibility that one of the decommissioned missile launch facilities would become a historic site. I wasn’t able to make it to the grand opening on July 31st because I was at the National Minuteman Missile park in South Dakota, but this turned out to be even better. I’ll post some pics here, but you really need to go take the tour and hear details about the site for yourself. I can’t be emphatic enough about how important this site is.

We got to tour the above-ground part of the facility first, including this security office. The guys in here determined who goes where, if anywhere, on the facility grounds.

I imagine riding out a North Dakota winter here was made a little easier with the presence of a game room! The books and magazines on the racks are from the time the facility was decommissioned.

Pretty cozy for a military chow facility, isn’t it? After this and a tour of the bunk rooms and facility commander’s office, we went down the elevator to the really cool stuff.

This gigantic steel door leads to the capsule containing the environmental control equipment which provides power, air, and water to the missileers. I say “capsule” because it really is shaped like a cold medicine capsule. Now I know how those little dots of Contac feel.

This is the doorway to the launch control capsule. Yes, that hole is small. You have to duck through it. This is a small door compared to the one leading to the equipment building, and it weighs eight tons. The other one must be four times as heavy, but they needed to be able to get big equipment in and out of that capsule.

This is one of the control panels, giving status indications of the ten missiles under Oscar Zero’s control as well as other important data. This facility can also control missiles at another facility in case those other personnel or their facility are incapacitated.

The contents of these rooms are on suspended floors, stabilized by pressurized shock absorbers. If I recall correctly, they’ve got three feet of travel available. The chairs are on rails and have five-point harnesses to hold the crew in place in case of bomb attack. This would keep the equipment and personnel in place and operational in the event of an attack.

I’m guessing artwork has been an Air Force tradition since some guy painted the nose of the first airplane. This is no exception. Here we see a painting from the inside of the launch control capsule, depicting an Oscar Zero crew. The tour guide explained that yes, everything in this painting means something.

The last guys to serve in this capsule memorialized the end of the day with this note in black marker. “In aquilae cura” means, “In the care of Eagles.”

There is a companion part of this trip, a deactivated and empty missile silo. I didn’t have the time to fly out there and check it out, even though it isn’t far away; I took time from my wife and little boys to make it to Oscar Zero at the last minute, and needed to get back to them. This photo is from the silo at the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site in South Dakota. It’s an older missile than what North Dakota has (I don’t believe the November 33 site has the glass cap and “missile” in it, however).

One thing I’m curious about is whether the face of the doors at Oscar Zero are decorated in any way resembling this door in the South Dakota facility. There were railings and chains that I wasn’t about to cross, so I didn’t get the opportunity to peek on the other side of the open doors.

Naturally I bought one of the souvenir coins available at the facility. The proceeds go to help the site and I like souvenirs of stuff like this. Suitable for framing, or laying on your scanner for a blog post. Mine’s staying in the plastic and going in my prize souvenir box.

I’ve got a LOT more photos thanks to the hospitality of the site staff, who accomodated my enthusiastic geekdom for most of the afternoon. I’ll throw up a gallery and post a link here shortly. When I got done with the tour, the day was over. I was able to sit with three of the guides and converse with them for a long time until it was pretty much quitting time, and they were absolutely friendly and fantastic. Go meet ’em!

One thing you absolutely must do before visiting this site: visit the NDSHS web page for this facility and click on the MP3 link titled “SHSND Podcast: The Atomic Age in North Dakota: Interview with Mark Sundlov” to listen. I was enthralled by this podcast when it was released a long time ago, and then pleasantly surprised to find out that Mark Sundlov is the site supervisor for Oscar Zero.

You’ll also want to check out the Friends of Oscar Zero website for information about the site and the surrounding area. I’m told there’s a Cold War interpretive museum in the works in Cooperstown. Your experience at Oscar Zero will be greatly enhanced by listening to the Atomic Age podcast MP3 and doing a little bit of homework on these sites.

My wife was pleased to see how giddy I was when I got back from this trip, and you can be sure I’m going back again. I also plan a gallery of photos, and when I do there’ll be a link here.