European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 18, 1963, Darmstadt, Hesse Stripes daily Magazine the might of the us. Armed Force upon which Many Peoples who cherish Freedom pin their Hopes for lasting peace lands formidable at american military in tall nylons around the world. Since id50, the annual armed forces Day displays of . Military strength reaching from the vast bastions of the army at Force Navy and Marine corps at Home to Remote foreign outposts have rekindled the Faith of millions in the nation s Power for peace4 m these turbulent times.. Fleets patrolling the seas our air bases abroad and troops stationed in strategic areas of the free world Are visible evidence of our determination to meet any threat to the peace with measured strength and High resolve president Kennedy said in his 1963 armed forces Day proclamation. They Are also evidence of a harsh but inescapable truth that the survival of Freedom requires great Cost and commit ment and great personal sacrifices the president american citizen s Industry and willingness to shoulder his share of this National Burden makes possible the stagger ing $51 billion defense budget now being weighed by Congress for the fiscal year beginning july 1,defense Secretary Robert 3, Mcnamara has asked to keep 2,695,000 men in uniform and funds to expand the nuclear la Sale forces and bolster conventional Lund sea and air planners believe this outlay will support a dual strategy based on readiness for nuclear or non nuclear War on any eventual target or the Musillo Force is 1,850 Atlas Titan menu Leman and Polaris weapons 1,600 of them operational by Early i960. With 19 army and Marin divisions 873 combatant and supporting ships and 30,600 aircraft the by 19g-i Force would comprise air Force 800,000 men. .88 combat wings. .135 support squadrons. .15,400 nor army 975,000 men. .16 divisions. .14 other combat units. Six special forces group.82 missile battalions. .6,300 air Craft Navy 670,000 men. .395 worships 478 support ships. .28 aircraft Carrier group. ,35 other aircraft squadrons. .8,800 corps 190,000 men. Three divisions. Three aircraft the task can never be said to have been completed Mcnamara Points out. Much has been done in the pos year to improve the readiness posture und stature of the have strengthened both our nuclear and non nuclear forces. Increased our Mili tary flexibility and added to choices open to us in response to any threat by by hostile Force in any part of the world the Secretary declared in his armed forces Day mos ago. Nehk cuban crisis which suit a shudder a of apprehension through the fall wus convincing testimony to Tho cur rent Slort status old Arnn a forces und their capabilities to Swine into Quick pc of in lightning moves after offensive soviet missiles were discovered to Cuba the de sense depart men i mustered land Seu und air forces. Saturday May is 1963 five of the army s airborne infantry and Armor division were lagged for a pos sible invasion of Cuba. With 100,000 men involved in the preparations antiaircraft Esstle and support elements moved into Florida. These divisions account for More than half at the eight division Force the army maintains in the United states As a strategic Reserve. The tact Cut air Camel deployed almost 1,000 planes including recon fighter bomber Tanker and troop Currier aircraft to Southeastern . Bases. The St rat or in air come m pan while held 90 per cent of some 1,500 Long Range bomb ers on is minute ground Alert and stepped up the airborne Alert which normally keeps 30 b52s in Tho air round the clock. As the Navy cancelled discharges for tailors and marines estimated to involve 41,000 officers and men the air Force called up 14,000 air reservists. When president Kennedy invoked quarantine on the troublesome Island More than 85,000 Navy my were aboard 183 ships stretching Over n 2,100-mile front. The Force included eight aircraft carriers and 00 cruisers and destroyers with 68 no squadrons at sea and 1,200 Marine Anil Navy planes ready it stateside Boa a. Rushing a reported 7,000 marines to reinforce the Navy base at Guantanamo buy one Mir inc bin Hillon of 1,800 men re turning from a Lour in the Mediterranean wus ashore in the states Only a Day be fore reloading on a ship bended for suy sold president Kennedy that today s strangle Tor Freedom in South Viet num. Berlin South Korea and other areas Are a forgotten War Bui to All of those who now serve and to Alt of i to american people this Battle is neither forgotten indeed As americans observe armed forces Day at Homo and abroad we a every much aware of our commitment of its Gravity and of Tho need for continue sacrifice and Herd Scott president Ciulei two air Force reconnaissance unfit. Army antiaircraft rocket appeared on beaches of Florida during cuban crisis. Marines were rushed to bolster Guantanamo Bay Force. The stars and stripes Navy inspected red ships leaving Cuba carrying rockets. Page ii
