+4:3 50 years after missile crisis, some Cubans claim they were never scared

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• published: 31 Jul 2015
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Havana, Cuba - 3 October 2012 ++16:9++ 1. Wide of traffic and pedestrians crossing street in front Old Capitol building 2. Mid of fishermen in boats at sea off Malecon Avenue with Morro Castle in background 3. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Andres Cantillo, veteran of Cuban Missile Crisis: "On the streets we lived as normal because we loved the revolution as we still love it today. We looked up to Fidel. And he went around anywhere he wanted, so we weren't afraid. You know what I mean?" 4. Mid of Manuel Rodriguez, veteran of Cuban Missile crisis, walking into home 5. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Manuel Rodriguez, veteran of Cuban Missile Crisis: "The American battleships were close and visible on the horizon. I'm not sure how many nautical miles away, but they were visible. You could see them from far away. They looked threatening, but people kept fishing, drinking and flirting on the Malecon. That's why I tell you, people weren't afraid!" FILE: Havana, Cuba - October 1962 ++CLIENTS NOTE: FILE VIDEO IS BLACK AND WHITE++ ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++ ++4:3++ 6. Various of US and Soviet naval vessels off the coast of Havana 7. Various of Cuban anti-aircraft positions on Malecon Avenue Havana, Cuba - 3 October 2012 ++16:9++ 8. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Manuel Rodriguez, veteran of Cuban Missile Crisis: "Malecon Avenue was taken over by the military. There were anti-aircraft positions everywhere. It was all very well planned and executed by the armed forces." FILE Havana, Cuba - October 2007 ++16:9++ 9. Various of display at Morro Castle of missiles prepared for use during the time of the crisis 10. Close of missile display at Morro Castle FILE Vienna, Austria - June 1961 ++CLIENTS NOTE: FILE VIDEO IS BLACK AND WHITE++ ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++ ++4:3++ 11. Mid of US President John F. Kennedy meeting with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev FILE Unknown location in Cuba - May 1963 ++CLIENTS NOTE: FILE VIDEO IS BLACK AND WHITE++ ++4:3++ ++MUTE++ 12. Various of Cuban leader Fidel Castro duck hunting with Khrushchev FILE: Havana, Cuba - October 1962 ++CLIENTS NOTE: FILE VIDEO IS BLACK AND WHITE++ ++4:3++ 13. Mid of Castro making televised speech ++MUTE++ 14. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Fidel Castro, Cuban Revolutionary Leader: "The strategic arms are leaving (Cuba), but the rest of the weapons will all remain in our country." FILE: Havana, Cuba - October 1962 ++CLIENTS NOTE: FILE VIDEO IS BLACK AND WHITE++ ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++ ++4:3++ 15. Wide of Cuban soldiers marching on Malecon Avenue 16. Pan left of anti-aircraft weaponry on Malecon Avenue STORYLINE October marks the 50th anniversary of the Cuban missile crisis, a tense period sparked by the American discovery of Soviet ballistic nuclear missile sites based on the island and capable of firing nuclear warheads at the United States. The occasion brings back memories of the military escalation for many Cubans, though some say fear of attack was not one of them. It was the height of the Cold War and political tensions between the US and the Caribbean island, a socialist republic aligned to the USSR, were high. For 13 days in October 1962, the world stood at the brink of nuclear war as US President John F. Kennedy drew a line in the Atlantic and dared Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev to cross it. While many around the world feared nuclear war would annihilate civilisation, Cuban veterans of the crisis insist that islanders were never scared and life in the tropics continued "business as usual." "On the streets we lived as normal because we loved the revolution as we still love it today. We looked up to Fidel. And he went around anywhere he wanted, so we weren't afraid," said Andres Cantillo, a Cuban military veteran stationed near the missile silos at the time. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/fe5dc11db49bb9367d37ef6a6bfb754a Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork