Who We Are
We are Marine Corps veterans who served at Clarksville Base during the height of the Cold War. Clarksville Base, or "The Birdcage", was one of fourteen facilities around the US designed to store, modify and deliver atomic weapons to meet any threat from the Soviet Union. According to the historian of the Ft. Campbell Museum, the Birdcage was high on the "top ten" target list for Soviet inter-continental ballistic missiles.
Marines were assigned the mission of providing security for the base between 1952 and 1969 when it was permanently closed. When on duty sentries carried live ammunition with rounds chambered to meet any threat to the base. People were not permitted to stop, loiter or photograph anywhere near the perimeter of the base.Those who tried to do so were quickly warned off by alert sentries.The Marines took their jobs very seriously and there are numerous anecdotal accounts of shots being fired by sentries.
The security of the base was never breached while the Marines were posted at Clarksville Base.
8th Reunion a Success
The 8th Birdcage Marine Reunion is now history. Approximately 120 Marines and mates took advantage of what may have been the last chance to visit Clarksville Base before many of its bunkers are destroyed. Part of the Q area will be preserved and become a National Historic Site of the Cold War era. In about 3 years, a few bunkers will be opened and fitted with lights, photographic displays and memorabilia ready for tourists to see what CB was all about in its heyday.
We enjoyed a sumptious buffet dinner at The Commons aboard Ft. Campbell and many door prizes were awarded after dinner. A Marine is needed to step up to chair the 9th reunion, so if you are leaning in that direction, please contact either Bob Evilsizer or John Tonkin. Hats off to Bob Evilsizer and Bill Yates, Co-Chairs of the 8th Reunion. Y'all did a great job!
OTHER NEWS
If you were stationed at Camp Lejeune in 1957 or after, you should check the below listed website. The water was contaminated with cancer-causing cleaning fluids in certain areas of the base in those days. You can read about it and register on that site.
(Updated 30 Sept 2009)