For this assignment I interviewed my grandpa, Jake Wehrell. Unfortunately we do not live very close, so it was conducted over email. He usually tells me his fun war stories, so it is very interesting to hear what he has to say about an actual topic I am learning about.
1. What was the first time you remember hearing about the Soviet Union and its conflict with the United States?
When I was in high school, I do remember one of the big news items being about STALIN (the then leader of the Soviet Union), and how he was supposedly responsible for cruel purges within his own country, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of his own citizens. I am embarrassed to say that I did not try to read and learn more about this important event and the ensuing era there. I had the great deficiency of being concerned only with things within arm's reach.
2. What do you remember seeing or reading in the news about the Cold War?
After the end of World War II, when our adversary Japan, finally was defeated, there was a question who was now the world's greatest power: the USA or Russia. (We had defeated Japan in the Pacific, and Russia had defeated Germany in Europe.) We were both formidable global forces. It was up to us to prove to Russia that we were the greatest and the one to fear. In fact, I hate to say this, but half of the reason behind our dropping atom bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, was not to get the Japanese to sign an Unconditional Surrender, but to show the Russians that they better not screw with us! (Hard to believe, huh?)
The Cold War balance tipped towards Russia when in 1957 they beat us in the contest to conquer space: they launched the first satellite (named "Sputnik"). The good news is - this act provoked the USA to accelerate our space program - and was the impetus to the success of our later accomplishments.
3. What books did you read or movies did you watch that villainized the Soviet Union or dealt with the Cold War? How did they shape your impressions at that time?
I am embarrassed to say - that I did not read any of those type books at that time, although I was in the military from 1957 to the end of the cold war, and thusly I was continually inundated with our own governmental propaganda about it - most of which was exaggerated or now shown to have been completely erroneous.
4. What were you taught in school and at home about the Soviet Union? What did your school and family teach about nuclear threats and nuclear war?
Unfortunately, we were taught that the USSR was our arch enemy and we needed be vigilant for an impending attack, and spend every dime we could get, on newer and bigger weapons.
5. Were you or any of your family members ever afraid that there would be a hot war or nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union? When did you feel that way? If yes, did you do anything to prepare or get ready for it?
During this time (1963-1966), I was actually a US Marine Corps nuclear weapons delivery pilot, stationed aboard an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean Sea - with an ACTUAL TARGET in Romania - to destroy with an atom bomb, should the USSR have launched a single missile westward towards Europe. So obviously our government was worried about it. I was not worried about it! It never made social or economic sense to me, that the USSR would ever attack us.
6. Was the "Space Race" a phrase that you remember using at the time? What did it mean to you?
In 1957, the USSR launched the first satellite, which the named "Sputnik." This act provoked the USA to accelerate our space program - and was the impetus to the success of our later accomplishments.
7. How was the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union promoted in sports? Can you think of any specific examples?
Our beating the USSR in the Olympic competition was paramount!! That was our sole goal. In 1980, the USA hockey team unexpectedly beat the Russian hockey team and it almost became a national holiday! The captain of the USA team - Mike Eruzione, became a national hero.
8. Do you remember the Berlin Wall coming down? How did it make you feel? How have your feelings about that era changed since 1989 and the Berlin Wall coming down?
I was not as excited about it as I guess I should have been. I viewed it as a large political move by Reagan, to embarrass the USSR. However it was a landmark event in finally merging the 'east' and the 'west' - socially and economically.
9. How do you think future generations will remember the Cold War? What lessons should students today take away from the Cold War?
I am not sure future generations will spend much time thinking about it. There are too many current issues that require our thought. If one thing can be taken from the Cold War, it is this: Governments - for their own reward - will frequently mislead the population as to actual global threats. You may ask "How does the government benefit?" Well actually, it is not the government itself. It is the HUGE Untied States "Military - Industrial Complex (companies such as Lockheed, Martin, Raytheon, Hughs, Boeing, etc). They have multi-million if not multi-billion dollar financial contracts to build planes and weapons, and they benefit HUGELY, when there is a war, or the threat of a war. Sadly, our manufacturing base here in the USA is now 80% military!! To learn about the "Military Industrial Complex" and what President Eisenhower had to say about it, go to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y06NSBBRtY
10. How does psychological warfare today compare to psychological warfare during the Cold War?
With the appearance of the Internet, any attempt to influence the mood of national or global populations is a thousand times more effective. Unfortunately, the bulk of the world population is not intelligent enough to properly evaluate what is available on the net, and entities with agendas take huge advantage of this.
11. How were you affected by potential bombings and the knowledge that there were deadly weapons waiting to be used?
I am assuming you are talking about bombs falling on the USA from foreign adversaries. NEVER did I believe that would happen - for all the reasons it did not, happen, and all the reasons, it will never happen. (Remember that as you consider things and vote for legislators.)
12. How did you feel about the idea of communism? Was it something you understood or agreed with at the time?
When one studies the natural evolution of "types" of governments, it can easily be seen that a communist form of govt will appear to be the best type of government at some period during this evolution. It actually has some good tenets, but also some reasons it cannot last long. The MAIN reason communist governments fail to prosper (Cuba) is NOT because they are faulty, but because OUR country - the USA is so paranoid of it, that we use our great influence to restrict other nations from trading with or lending money to communist nations (and frequently cut off diplomatic relations - the stupidest thing we could do.)
What from the interview did I find most surprising?
- I found it surprising that my grandpa was not the least bit intimidated by the Soviet Union. I always figured that during war, cold or hot, both sides were terrified and just waiting for the other to make a move. The fact that he was part of the action really makes me think about how possible it is for something like this to happen, and how strongly opinionated some people are. He has so much knowledge about history and politics, so it is very interesting to hear it personally recounted. When you read about it in a text book it sometimes seems as if it is just fiction.
How might a Russian adult have responded to the interview?
- A Russian adult probably would have been more confidant about what his/her country was doing, where as my grandpa was very confidant with the United States. Because it would have been from the point of view of a Russian, it would have included opinions about the U.S as well as reactions to their plans. The answers would almost be from a "first person" point of view, as a lot of the questions directly pinpoint the Soviet Union. I can bet the reaction to the Berlin Wall coming down would be a lot more emotional too.
