I was stationed in the early 70s in Hanau, Germany and our mobilization site was the Fulda Gap. Alerts were apt to be called at any time and I remember that my first one was called at midnight right after I’d crawled into the sack. If the communists ever invaded, it would be through the Fulda Gap. And rumor had it that our life expectancy was about a minute. I remember my unit rushing to Fulda in the dead of winter. I’ve never been colder in my life. It was dark, cold, and I had guard duty but I absolutely...