Scuttlebutt

Cuban Blockade

Posted by Tom Lewis on March 22, 2012 at 7:28pm

Any members there during the blockade?  Our squadron (VA-34) was aboard the Enterprise for 2 weeks and then the entire squadron was transported to the to the Independence for the remainder of the blockade. A dangerous time in history, but I didn't know what was going on.

I was surprised the Cuban Blockade wasn't mention in the profile list of duty as all on Cuban Blockade were awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

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  • Kenneth C. Shee August 26, 2012 at 10:39pm

    I was pulled from RM-A school in Bainbridge,Maryland in the 5th month of a 6 month school.We were flown to the caribbean to beef up the network 2 weeks before the blockade.

  • Frank L. Arcieri, Jr. March 25, 2012 at 4:35pm

    What dates were the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, awarded.  I was recalled to active duty in April 1961, and we (USS WREN, DD568) participated in some of the blockade before heading over to the, 6th Fleet in the Med. .   I've even a picture of us chasing down a tanker who was running from us. 

    • Tom Lewis > Frank L. Arcieri, Jr. March 27, 2012 at 2:09pm

      Here is a link.  This particular event medal does not appear on my DD214, but I have a letter from BUPERS stating I was there.  I guess I should correct my DD214.  I have one just like it from VietNam. 

      http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq90-3.htm

    • Mike Ames > Frank L. Arcieri, Jr. March 25, 2012 at 7:24pm

      The first campaign of the AFEM was the Cuban Missile Crisis and the award was issued for military service between October 1962 and June 1963. Following this original issuance, the AFEM was made retroactive to 1958 and issued for actions in Lebanon, Taiwan, Republic of the Congo, Quemoy and Matsu, and for duty in Berlin between 1961 and 1963.[2]

  • Mike Ames March 25, 2012 at 3:58pm

    I was too young to be in during the Cuban blockade but I am a plank owner of VA34 that was re-commisioned on 1Apr70 at NAS Oceana. We made our first deployment aboard the Kennedy to the Med later that year. Fond memories. An old AO2.

  • John Kellett March 25, 2012 at 2:54pm

    I was stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba from 1960-62.  I am heavily involved in the Guantanamo Bay Association.  We hold annual reunions and this year we will meet in Pensacola, FL from October 16-20th.  Check our website at www.gitmobay.org for details. 

    Home
    Guantanamo Bay Association - news, reunions, membership info
  • arthur c reynolds March 23, 2012 at 1:46pm

    I was on the uss hyman  dd732 at that time,in fact recived stores off the interprise

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