Droppings from the Cage . . . is our newsletter. We publish two issues per year that recount memories of our days at the Cage. If you have a memory  from your stay at Clarksville Base, send it along to John Tonkin. E-mail jtonkin@roadrunner.com.  Issues come out spring and fall and there is no charge for subscriptions. Postage is paid by raffles for various items at reunions. In 2008, we raffled off a leather USMC jacket, a custom-made table lamp, several keep sakes and a hand-made USMC insignia. All of this raised nearly $800 for reunion costs and newsletter postage expenses. We also donated $400 to the Semper Fi Fund who assists families of wounded Marines. Such things as travel costs, lodging costs when families visit their loved one are provided by the Fund.

"Not as Mean, Not as Lean, but still Marines." The men of Marine Barracks, Clarksville Base, TN.

 

 

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 on the "top ten" US 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. Marines on duty 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. Since 2003, veterans of the Birdcage have gathered at annual reunions to renew friendships, swap sea stories and get to know each other - again. If you served at the Birdcage and want more information on the reunion, e-mail jtonkin@roadrunner.com or jacaship@verizon.net.

2008 Reunion Report

    Some 118 Marines and their mates attended the Sixth reunion at Camp Lejeune 24-26 April. GSgt Chas. Broda USMC (Ret) was our guide for Friday demos at the Dog Training site and at the basic infantry course, Camp Devil Dog. It was evident that these young Marines know their business and have the right attitude about the Corps. We were privileged on Friday night to host the CO of the Wounded Warrior Battalion- East who talked about what the WW-E is all about. He gave us information on how we, as Marines can help our fellow-Marines who were wounded in Iraq and are recovering in the US. We also were fortunate enough to welcome a Marine home from Iraq. he had just arrived at the HQ hotel. We were impressed by what he had to say about events over there.
    On Saturday night, the Shipleys "retired" after leading six Birdcage reunions. We are hoping someone will step up by 1 July to take on the challenge for 2009. If you are that Marine, contact either Jim Shipley or the webmaster of this site for more information. Thanks, Shipley's for all you've given and done. We love you.