DID YOU KNOW: On the 23rd of October, 1956, the citizens of The People’s Republic of Hungary rebelled against the People’s Republic of Hungary and its Soviet-imposed policies. Prime Minister Imre Nagy announced on November 1 that Hungary was withdrawing from the Warsaw Pact to become a neutral country. In the early hours of November 4, he announced that the Soviet Union had invaded Hungary with an estimated 30,000 troops. The Soviets quelled the majority of the revolt on November 10, and by the end of December, the newly Soviet-installed government had stopped the revolt. This brutal action by the Soviets strengthened their control over Eastern Europe, but alienated many Western Marxists. In 1957, in response to the hostilities in Hungary, NATO announced that any attack upon a signatory of their organization would be considered an attack upon all of the members of NATO. The United States, in order to enforce the new NATO strategy, made the decision that a new weapon was needed on the soil of West Germany that would make the Soviets think long and hard before attempting to enlarge the Iron Curtain. The new Martin Company Sand Lake facility missile plant became operational in late 1957. Whether or not MG Medaris or his superiors were visionaries, the missile plant was in place and waiting to be put to use. In response to the needs of NATO, the original concept known as the Redstone-S (‘S’ represented solid propellant) was started in 1957 by the ABMA to serve in a general support role of the field army. The name was changed to Pershing on the 16th of January, 1958 in honor of General of the Armies John J. (Black Jack) Pershing.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 17:48:25 +0000
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