North America has often painted Russia as an enemy of epic proportions. Today it is Vladimir Putin who is vilified. There is some justification for this, of course when one thinks of his annexation of Crimea. But in the 1960s, the Cuban Missile Crisis took America and Russia’s (then the USSR) antagonism to a whole new and dangerous level.

It’s commonly assumed that the crisis was avoided because U.S. President, John F. Kennedy, and Russian leader, Nikita Khrushchev, used all their diplomatic powers to avert nuclear war. That’s what is written in the history books.

But the reality is more opaque and complex. In truth, the war was deflected because one Russian naval officer had not only a conscience but also a family back in Moscow he longed to see. President Kennedy signs the Proclamation for Interdiction of the Delivery of Offensive Weapons to Cuba.

Deputy Commander Vasili Arkhipov was a veteran leader in the Soviet Navy. He was aboard a nuclear submarine, the K-19, in July, 1961, when its cooling system malfunctioned. Men had to contain its leak to avoid a major nuclear accident, but eight of them died from radiation poisoning.

Arkhipov was given a medal by his country in recognition of his bravery and calm in the situation, but it was a sight he could never forget. Such a horrible event was etched onto Arkhipov’s memory. It would serve him well – and save the lives of many people – in the coming months.

When his government decided to build a nuclear base in Cuba in 1962, Arkhipov understood the move’s potential consequences. It could be a disaster for his countrymen and for the Americans, who did not want the base built. In October, President Kennedy became furious at what he felt was a blatant provocation by the Russians. On October 15, the Cuban Missile Crisis began.

The Soviet government sent four Foxtrot submarines to Cuba. Each had a captain and a political officer, but the man ultimately in charge was Arkhipov. All the submarines were diesel powered, best suited to the temperatures in Arctic waters. They made it to the Caribbean, on October 14, when tropical storm Ella was churning the sea. It wasn’t long before the air conditioning system failed and the climate in the subs began to climb to suffocating levels.

On October 15, Soviet officials ordered them to head for the Sargasso Sea, but it was too late. Kennedy had ordered Cuba quarantined, and gone to DEFCON 3 – a historic step in America’s preparation for war.


Meanwhile, Arkhipov and his crews were receiving no word from Moscow. They began to wonder whether what they were hearing on American broadcasts could be true. They heard the news of planes and warships arriving in the area, of a U.S. invasion of Cuba in the offing, and that America was at DEFCON 2, the last stage in preparation for nuclear war.

The fleet of subs tried to avoid detection by the Americans, but on October 27, the USS Cony spotted them. More arsenal arrived, everyone had a finger poised over a “launch” button, but miraculously no one fired.

Kennedy didn’t know that the subs hadn’t heard from Moscow, so the U.S. ships began lambasting the subs with sonar. This is analogous to being inside an oil drum and someone hammering on it, making it impossible to think.

Then the Americans began heaving practice grenades in the sea. They were awaiting a flare from the Russians, a signal asking for permission to surface, which was their protocol, but not that of the Soviets. According to Russian Navy guidelines, they should have dropped three charges and waited for a response. It was as though the two sides were playing a game of “chicken,” but in different languages and with different rules.

We now know that Kennedy didn’t realize the Russians were authorized to launch their arsenals. But would he have handled the matter differently if he had known?

To launch missiles, the submarine captains needed permission from the fleet commander: Arkhipov. Although others believed it was time to attack America, Arkhipov refused, remembering the calamity of watching those eight men die on the K-19. He stood firm and would not agree, in spite of the enormous pressure.

His men were in desperate need of air and supplies, so finally, they contacted American officials, who gave them permission to surface. Once the situation was diffused and the men taken care of, the submarines headed back to Moscow.

Instead of being hailed as a hero for averting a war, Arkhipov was told by his government he should have died for his country.

It took 55 years for Arkhipov’s contribution to the peaceful solution to the crisis to be fully recognized. In 2017, he posthumously received the “Future of Life” Award, bestowed by the American Future of Life Institute. It was granted for a “heroic act that has greatly benefited mankind.” His granddaughter, Elena Andriukova, accepted it on the family’s behalf.

Elena told The Guardian: “he always thought that he did what he had to do, and never considered his actions as heroism. He… knew what kind of destruction can come from radiation. He did his part for the future so that everyone can live on our planet.”

Our lives are worth more than anybody's ambition. Bravo to all ye gallant but emotional soldiers

An uncelebrated hero

How many "likes" for the unit celebrated hero

2019elections:
Our lives are worth more than anybody's ambition. Bravo to all ye gallant but emotional soldiers

GEJ gave us peace and dignity in the committee of nations just by holding this believe, I pray the current occupant of the seat of power share the same beliefs.

Ur moniker is 2019elections, please if you are contesting,do not promote violence .

None of our Soldiers can do this. They love wasting unarmed civilian lives. Infact, 100% of arms purchased by the millitary end up being used freely on the same citizens whose taxes were used to purchase them. Unlike elsewhere where its mainly for external aggression.

That's bravado with sense and conscience.

They should just bring this missile to Africa and launch it here... Perhaps the new generation that will come after will have a good heart to build a new Africa.

phorget:
They should just bring this missile to Africa and launch it here... Perhaps the new generation that will come after will have a good heart to build a new Africa.

Since you are looking for death,why can't you drink sniper

Someone should remind me when we are attacking Israel with our nuclear weapon .... we can’t take it anymore!

Stupid white fools toying with planet earth and pipuz lives.

May God punish the person that invent that demonic nuclear weapon.

SIRmanjar:
Stupid white fools toying with planet earth and pipuz lives.

May God punish the person that invent that demonic nuclear weapon.

May it never be well with dem and the person that gave birth to dem nwanne.

At times I wonder what will happen to the world ad Africa,if a tyrant racist decides to use it on another continent in the far distant future when our childrens children will have no value for God ad human life.

KAHBOOM:


May it never be well with dem and the person that gave birth to dem nwanne.

At times I wonder what will happen to the world ad Africa,if a tyrant racist decides to use it on another continent in the far distant future when our childrens children will have no value for God ad human life.

Dat should be the apocalyptic era.

Na Russia I fear pass for tyranny.

I hear people say that whites value human lives so they can never use it on any country forgetting that tinz change in a twinkle of an eye..I like trump but if America can vote a racist,I don't care president..Then they can produce a tyrant in future that can use it.

Africa and other nuclearless country should start a dismantle all ur nuclear weapon campaign becos na we go feel am pass if Im set.

Auladimeji1:
Since you are looking for death,why can't you drink sniper

Even if I should die alone that won't stop the likes of you from soiling the African continent.