Guantánamo Public Memory Project

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Would you want to have lived at GTMO during the Cold War?
1950–1964  Behind the Cactus Curtain

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November 4th, 2017
Kevin Maloney
Fargo, ND.
yes I did live at GTMO during the Cold War. Although; I don't remember much I was born in GTMO on May 1st, 1960. We left during…Read More
yes I did live at GTMO during the Cold War. Although; I don't remember much I was born in GTMO on May 1st, 1960. We left during the Cuban Missle Crisis. My parents often spoke of their love for Cuba and the Cuban people and they missed their friends. Read less
January 27th, 2015
Steve Yates
Charlotte, NC
yes My father was stationed their from 81 to 83. I have a lot of great memories from GTMO. As a 12 to 14 year old kid I had a…Read More
yes My father was stationed their from 81 to 83. I have a lot of great memories from GTMO. As a 12 to 14 year old kid I had a lot of freedom to go all over the base. You couldn't do that now. Read less
April 23rd, 2014
Frederick Ward
Los Gatos, CA
no I lived there from 1951-1959. There was far more freedom then, experiencing that loss would have been a let down. I am…Read More
no I lived there from 1951-1959. There was far more freedom then, experiencing that loss would have been a let down. I am pleased that I was able to live elsewhere but grateful to those who sacrificed a great deal to protect American interests. Read less
December 16th, 2012
Karen Morris
Charlottesville, Virginia
yes We did live there from 1961 to 1963. My husband was a Marine assigned to the Marine Corps barracks at Gitmo. Even though…Read More
yes We did live there from 1961 to 1963. My husband was a Marine assigned to the Marine Corps barracks at Gitmo. Even though we were evacuated during the missile crisis, the three children and I went back as soon as we were all allowed to return. We arrived on Dec. 23, 1962. Read less
December 13th, 2012
Submitted by SMS
yes There are thousands of american military bases across the world; this is the equivalent of settler colonialism
December 12th, 2012
Submitted by SMS
no Sounds like a scary time.
December 8th, 2012
Submitted by SMS
no HELL no.
September 6th, 2017
Brad Grube
Bowie, MD
yes I was stationed there from 1979 to 1981. It was the best two years of my time in the navy.
May 18th, 2014
juan suarez
miami, fla
yes escaped form Cuba , lived there from 1961 - 1962 . my gate to freedom .
September 1st, 2013
Thomas Vaughan
Tampa, Florida
yes My father was stationed there in 1964-1965. It was a great place for a 12 year old kid to live!
December 13th, 2012
Submitted by SMS
yes Panel is amazing!!!
December 13th, 2012
Submitted by SMS
no I would feel uncomfortable being so cut off and having my news/info limited and filtered
December 10th, 2012
Submitted by SMS
yes The sense of community at GTMO during that time is unique yet typical of 1950s America- and has the community atmosphere…Read More
yes The sense of community at GTMO during that time is unique yet typical of 1950s America- and has the community atmosphere I want in my own life Read less
December 7th, 2012
Submitted by SMS
no Too scary and uncertain
April 18th, 2016
Rich lee
mimai, fl
no close it
April 25th, 2014
George Bailey
Rocky Mount, NC
yes It was a hard place to be station at but for a young 18 year old but I grew up there and understood what suppression of people…Read More
yes It was a hard place to be station at but for a young 18 year old but I grew up there and understood what suppression of people is first hand. Then I really knew what the civil rights movement was about. Not for only blacks but for American Indian and whites in the United States. Read less
March 20th, 2013
John Kellett
MOUNT WOLF, PA
yes I was stationed there from 1960-62. At that time, I wanted to get off The Rock as soon as possible. Single sailors had…Read More
yes I was stationed there from 1960-62. At that time, I wanted to get off The Rock as soon as possible. Single sailors had no liberty and no women. Looking back, they were important years of my life. I helped other GITMO vets start the Guantanamo Bay Association. This year's reunion is October 6-10 Read less
December 13th, 2012
Submitted by SMS
no Because of US threat against Cuba @ the time.
December 13th, 2012
Submitted by SMS
yes The stories have made it seem like a very special place
December 9th, 2012
Submitted by SMS
no It would have been very isolated, whatever my political views would have been had I lived then and there.

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