http://www.glynn.k12.ga.us/~pwilliam/BHS/academics/junior/luko/2005/ashleyt13513f.htm

The 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis
Photo courtesy of CNN World News For my Junior Project I interviewed my Advanced U.S History teacher Mr. Ervin. He was willing to tell me about The Cuban Missile Crisis. Mr. Ervin was a senior in high school during this time.
During the Cuban Missile Crisis John F. Kennedy was president.  In September John F. Kennedy and the Congress issued warnings to USSR that the U.S will deal harshly with any threats to National Security. On October 14, 1962 U2 recon flew over Cuba spots sites installing nuclear missiles. October16-22, 1962 President Kennedy notified, secret deliberations on what should have been done, and Kennedy told the nation his plan for blockade and quarantine. October 23, 1962 naval quarantine begins and successfully changes the course of many Soviet ships. October 25, 1962 Kennedy lets it pass. Adlai Stevenson dares the Soviet Ambassador to admit to the existence of missile when the Soviet Ambassador refuses. Stevenson wheeled out pictures of the missile sites. October 26, 1962 Soviet Union raises possibility for a deal that,” if they with draw missiles will America promise not to invade Cuba?”		Photo courtesy of Grolier
Photo Courtesy of NASA’s Observatory	Oct.27, 1962 Soviets demand that America also withdraw missiles from Turkey. Kennedy also tells Khrushchev that he will accept the proposal of October 26, Kennedy tells his brother to tell Soviet Ambassador that though the Turkey missiles would not be part of the bargain; they would be removed in time. Oct. 28, 1962 USSR agrees to withdraw missiles. Soviet Union motivation was to close the missile gap and they were far behind in numbers of missiles with the U.S. Verbal threats no longer affected with evidence of U.S superiority and Protect Cuba. The U.S has missiles pointing at Soviet Union , but they were unable to use the missiles. American motivation happened in September when John F. Kennedy had stated that the Congress passed a resolution saying that if the Soviet Union placed offensive weapons in Cuba U.S would not tolerate it. Warns U.S gave to Soviet Union 1) Threat to attack Cuba and blow up missile.2) Blockades over Cuba 500 miles and check every ship that came in. Blockade was not required for instant killing. 3) Threaten to blow up missile area. 4) Go to war against Soviet Union.
Mr. Ervin said he was a senior in high school during this time. He said, “There were many trains in Brunswick that were heading to northern part of Florida with guns. There were soldiers on some trains too.” He remembered that they were heading to Miami Beach. Which at the time Mr. Ervin said,” they had bobbed wire around Miami Beach.” Mr. Ervin said he remembered his father saying,” My God we are close to having a nuclear war.” He also said that back in this time parents and their kids didn’t talk about war and politics. When Mr. Ervin was thinking back on this, he was making it seem like it was along time ago, but he remember it like it was yesterday. As I was talking about the Cuban Missile Crisis with him, his wife was talking about it too. She remembered it like it was yesterday also. The nation was scared that the Soviet Union was going to bomb the U.S.
Photo Courtesy of Illingwworth	Photo courtesy of Cuban Missile Crisis .tripod
The interview with Mr. Ervin was wonderful, because the way he tells me about history makes me want to learn more about it. I learned more about the Cuban Missile Crisis than I ever knew. I have learned more than I ever knew about this because I did not know anything about the Cuban Missile Crisis before this project. I learn a little more than I already knew about Mr. Ervin. I would say a person never knows a person until they really talk and get to know them, but Mr. Ervin looks like he has been through many  interesting invents in his life time. I rate this interview a positive.