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9781467149273

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'From Stolen Secrets to the Ace in the Hole' could be the unofficial subtitle of the latest book by renowned local author Ken Robison, published by the History Press. Less than a year after the end of World War II, the lowering of the Iron Curtain by former ally Joseph Stalin announced the beginning the Cold War (although the pattern originated in the years just before that). While our memories of the years from 1945-1991, might include participating in school civil defense drills to serving in the Military, we may not realize other surprising, essential roles that Montana and Montanans played in the Cold War strategy of the United States. Great Falls was the aerial gateway for military aircraft, trained air crews for the Berlin Airlift Operation Vittles, mobilized the Ground Observer Corps, and had the largest missile network in the country (centered on Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls)...The end of the war brought on the issue of displaced persons (DPs), about 1 million Eastern and Central Europeans living in refugee camps in Germany. The Soviet Union wanted them out, but they faced probable death if they returned to their home countries, now under Soviet rule. Individuals and groups of Montanans offered money for camps in the state, as well as the sponsoring of DPs to live in their communities. At least 351 arrived in Montana cities. In 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis highlighted the importance of the ICBMs located near Great Falls. When John F. Kennedy visited a year later, he paid tribute to this 'ace in the hole'...While Robison's previous books often read as if he'd lived through the events he describes, (especially Historic Tales of Whoop-Up Country), here Captain Ken Robison, United States Navy, (Ret), gives his own eye-witness reports in side-bars. This may be his best book yet, which is saying quite a lot. Archival photos and the author's photos enhance the riveting text. Great Falls Public Library Robison, himself a career naval intelligence officer, said the book fills in an important historical gap...From a former Soviet pilot who fell in love with the Montana mountains to the tour of the state by President John F. Kennedy where he touted the missile program, 'Montana has played an incredibly important role in the military, ' Robinson said. He said because Cold War tensions have changed, most Montanans do not remember being less than an hour away from fire. However, during the Cold War, it would have been likely that the Soviet Union would have sent missiles up over the North Pole and strike Montana with 60 minutes' time. 'Great Falls was just 30 minutes from the firing line, ' Robison said. 'Great Falls was the right location for the center of air defense in this country.' Daily Montanan - Darrell Ehrlick, Daily Montanan

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Native Montanan Ken Robison is the historian at the Overholser Historical Research Center and for the Great Falls/Cascade County Historic Preservation Commission and is active in historic preservation throughout central Montana. He is a retired navy captain after a career in naval intelligence. The Montana Historical Society honored Ken as Montana Heritage Keeper in 2010.

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