Veterans

President Kennedy had visited Fort Bragg before my brother was stationed there. The 82nd was deployed for a few domestic situations and for the Cuban Missile crisis in October 1962. The planes were in a holding pattern in the vicinity of Cuba. I believe that is was nighttime. The paratroopers were issued shark repellant for the possibility that they might land in water. In his three years at Fort Bragg, my brother trained with the M-1 and the rifle which followed it. I do not recall what it was. As he was mustering out in 1965, the M-16 was being introduced.