50 Years Ago Today – As Cuban Situation Heats Up, Mullinnix Underway for Valparaiso, Chile
Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood
7 October: The Soviet Union armed forces are put on strategic alert.
8 October: Cuban President Dorticos, addresses the UN General Assembly, and calls upon the United Nations to condemn the US trade embargo against Cuba. Near the end of his address, Dorticos declares: “If…we are attacked, we will defend ourselves. I repeat, we have sufficient means with which to defend ourselves; we have indeed our inevitable weapons, that weapons which we would have preferred not to acquire and which we do not wish to employ.”
---
Early morning 8 October: Mullinnix was underway for Valparaiso, Chile. The stormy waters south of Tierra del Fuego (close to Antarctica) make the Strait of Magellan, to the north, more attractive. Although the landmasses protect the strait from harsh Antarctic weather, the Strait of Magellan is still difficult to navigate. It is narrow and the islands of Tierra del Fuego can lead to confusion in stormy weather. The temperatures can reach freezing. Strong wind and waves make visibility and steering complex.
To be continued... Woody
7 October: The Soviet Union armed forces are put on strategic alert.
8 October: Cuban President Dorticos, addresses the UN General Assembly, and calls upon the United Nations to condemn the US trade embargo against Cuba. Near the end of his address, Dorticos declares: “If…we are attacked, we will defend ourselves. I repeat, we have sufficient means with which to defend ourselves; we have indeed our inevitable weapons, that weapons which we would have preferred not to acquire and which we do not wish to employ.”
---
Early morning 8 October: Mullinnix was underway for Valparaiso, Chile. The stormy waters south of Tierra del Fuego (close to Antarctica) make the Strait of Magellan, to the north, more attractive. Although the landmasses protect the strait from harsh Antarctic weather, the Strait of Magellan is still difficult to navigate. It is narrow and the islands of Tierra del Fuego can lead to confusion in stormy weather. The temperatures can reach freezing. Strong wind and waves make visibility and steering complex.
To be continued... Woody
posted by Woody at 18:48
2 Comments:
Maybe your novel will be made into a movie someday?
Good luck with it!
I doubt it, but thanks for the kind words...
Post a Comment
<< Home