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.
10th Birdcage Reunion Scheduled
The 10th reunion is a GO!. We will gather at The Best Western Inn, 2868 Jefferson Highway, Stafford, VA (phone 540-659-0022) on September 14-16, 2012. Special room rate is available if you mention you are with the "Birdcage Reunion" (Judy is our contact person). Although there will be few planned activities, there will be time to meet and greet, visit the National Museum of the Marine Corps newest exhibits and other area attractions in and around the DC area. Meals will be on your own for the most part. We have a surprise in store for attendees. Can't disclose it until the reunion. Reservation letters will be going out at the end of April, so watch your mailbox.
(Updated 21 April 2012)