50th Anniversary

To all my former colleagues who worked on Hexagon, 

 Do you remember where you were on June 15, 1971? This was the day of the first launch of Hexagon from Vandenberg AFB and its 50th anniversary is just a few days away. You can celebrate again, since its declassification in 2011, by reminding your friends and relatives of your pride in having worked on it. 

 I was in the war room along with a few of you listening to a squawk box describing the countdown. It was not at all like the TV launches with Walter Cronkite. There was little chatter, then "lift off" then, a few words here and there, then  "vehicle is in orbit." Those of us there cheered and that was it. 

 All the seats in the room were taken when I came in so I sat on a table and a few minutes later Mike Maguire came in and sat next to me. We shook hands before leaving the room. 

 I think that none of us realized at that time how important that was, as the beginning of about 15 years of unprecedented intelligence gathering that allowed President Reagan to say "Trust but Verify." 

 Good health to all and be safe.

 Phil

San Diego

June 910 2021