Thread by @thevetauthor

Thread

This is the 30th anniversary of Operation Silent Echo, which involved the removal of all U.S. Army tactical nuclear weapons from Europe. 30 years ago this month, in April 1992, we finished our mission.

The removal involved all U.S. Army nuclear SRBMs (Lance), and the

controversial Pershing II IRBM in accordance with the INF Treaty.

Though not officially covered under the treaty, the Army also removed all nuclear artillery shells from Europe and S. Korea.

Silent Echo involved the U.S. Army nuclear weapons technicians..

..for disassembly, military police for site security, ammunition handlers and transport specialists for transport, Chinook helicopters and the staging of systems for further disassembly and removal at both Hahn and Rammstein AFB's in Germany.

The mission began in late '90..

with the Lance warheads. Completed, most Army nuke depots began nuclear artillery disassembly, in conjunction with some crews working on the Pershing II warheads.

When completed, the U.S. had removed over a total of 1000 nuclear warheads from Europe. Countries included..

..Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece and Turkey.

By April 1992, the mission was completed, and eventually all Army nuclear weapons depots were closed.

Operation Silent Echo was a pivotal mission in U.S., and world history, yet little is written about it. The

countless soldiers and civilians involved with a mission as massive and sensitive as nuclear weapons are to be praised for their professionalism to completing the mission. They helped secure a more peaceful world.