From his earliest days, Senior Chief David “Blake” McLendon was aware of brave individuals who had devoted their lives to the service of their country. His hometown of Thomasville, Georgia, as well as the surrounding county, is named after Jett Thomas, an accomplished U.S. Army officer in the War of 1812.
The following is an excerpt from a previously classified letter written by Admiral Robert Dennison (CINCLANTFLT, 1960-1963) to Lieutenant General Gordon A. Blake (DIRNSA, 1962-1965) on 17 November 1962 regarding the contribution of SIGINT during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Continue reading “17 November 1962: A Letter of Commendation and Thanks”
The high frequency direction finding (HFDF) fix in the above message was one of many prosecuted by dozens of U.S. Navy, British, and Canadian direction finding stations in the Atlantic periphery on the days following the President’s initiation of a naval blockade. Matthew M. Aid, in his book, The Secret Sentry, writes: Continue reading “Find and Fix: Direction Finding in the Cuban Missile Crisis”
To those of you on watch, we thank you for your service.
For those of you fortunate enough to be home, enjoy the time with your family.
From the team at Station HYPO,
Happy Thanksgiving!
The USS Oxford (AG 159) was originally commissioned a Miscellaneous Auxiliary ship in July 1961 in New York. She was immediately outfitted to participate in the National Security Agency’s Technical Research Ship (TRS) program — though she would not be redesignated an Auxiliary Technical Research Ship (AGTR-1) until years later in 1964.
Continue reading “USS Oxford: The Largest Producer of SIGINT in the Cuban Missile Crisis”
History has recorded the Cuban Missile Crisis as having occurred October 16, 1962 – October 28, 1962: a total of thirteen days. October 16th being the day after photographic intelligence confirmed the existence of Soviet medium-range ballistic missiles in Cuba and October 28th being the day Khrushchev directed the dismantling, and return, of offensive weapons in Cuba. In reality, the story began long before October 1962.
Continue reading “Thirteen Days? The Naval Security Group in the Cuban Missile Crisis”
Station HYPO 