Cold War Veterans Blog

The following is from The Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW

N. Huntingdon man seeks recognition for Cold War vets


Nike project

Project Nike was a U.S. Army project developed in 1945 to produce a line-of-sight, anti-aircraft missile system. Nike was selected because it is the name of the Greek goddess of victory. The nation's first operating missile system began in 1953 and named Ajax, after a hero of the Trojan War celebrated in Greek mythology. The second generation of the Nike system was the Hercules missile, named for the mortal whose valor and strength earned him the right to live with the gods in Mt. Olympus after his death.

By Patti Dobranski

TRIBUNE-REVIEW Saturday, November 11, 2006

When Rege Holecko turned 17 in the summer of 1947, the fallout from World War II was fading into history as a new menace -- the Cold War -- was emerging.

The following year, Holecko graduated from high school and joined the U.S. Army National Guard.

During his 38-year military career, he was among those veterans who served at one of the 20 Nike missile sites at strategic locations surrounding Pittsburgh and Philadelphia during the Cold War's 46-year era of hostility between the United States and the former Soviet Union.
Holecko spent a portion of his military career as a launcher platoon sergeant at the former Rural Ridge missile site in Harmarville, Allegheny County.



Today, the 76-year-old North Huntingdon Township man is on a new mission. He is seeking recognition for local veterans by spearheading an effort to erect a marker at a veterans' memorial in Irwin.

"Too many people don't realize what a dangerous job it was," Holecko said. "We conducted drills with live Nike Ajax missiles that were stored below the surface of the earth. We put them in position, ready to launch. What we were able to do made the Cold War a victory for the United States."

From 1945 to 1991, thousands served at domestic missile sites, always prepared to launch anti-aircraft weapons if the nuclear arms race erupted into live combat between the superpowers.
The Norwin Historical Society has taken the first step toward assisting with the completion of the estimated $1,000 project by pledging $500.

"We've always done projects such as memorials and have decided to donate to this one. We will make this happen," said President Carl Huszar. "Our goal is to support the local Cold War vets. The Nike site in Irwin was an active Army base. A stone could recognize the Cold War era."
Although Irwin Council said it could not support the effort financially, the board gave its blessing to pursue the project.

There is movement in the U.S. Senate and House to recognize the Cold War veterans. A bill that would award military service medals to members of the armed forces who served honorably during the Cold War era is before the Committee on Armed Services.

In Pennsylvania, 13 of the 20 Nike missile sites were situated around the Pittsburgh area.
In Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Air Defense Site PI-36 was located in northern North Huntingdon Township near the Penn Township border. The Oak Hollow YMCA and the Norwin Soccer Club now occupy the property.

Keith Brown, 59, of Penn Township, served as a launch crewman at the North Huntingdon Nike site controlling the Hercules system, the second generation of the anti-aircraft missiles, from 1968-70. He supports the hometown effort to recognize Cold War vets. "It doesn't hurt to have the recognition," he said. Brown hopes the memorial will educate area residents about the significant role the North Huntingdon-Irwin region played in world history .
" I don't think they understood what was underground here," he said. "The Nike Ajax had defensive anti-aircraft. The Nike Hercules had offensive, highly explosive warheads that could detect targets on radar and destroy them."

There were casualties in the Cold War.

On May, 22, 1958, at Site NY-53 near Middletown, N.J., eight Ajax missiles exploded, killing 10 men and injuring three others, while civilian ordnance personnel and soldiers were installing new arming mechanisms. No residents were injured during the accident.

In addition to the North Huntingdon missile site, there was a second Westmoreland County site in the Herminie-Cowansburg area. The former PI-37 is now home to a machine shop.

As the air defense plan diminished over the years as other military needs arose, the Nike system was deactivated. By 1974, all active sites were closed.

Holecko said he views his effort as a small token of appreciation for local vets.
"I just want to recognize the vets from the North Huntingdon-Irwin area," he said.

Patti Dobranski can be reached at pdobranski@tribweb.com.