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Retired BP soldier shares views on war in Ukraine

There was a time when Dennis Long's lips were sealed and he could not comment on U.S. Army security affairs.
Blooming Prairie resident Dennis Long now will talk freely about the days of the 1960s when he carried a Top Security clearance. He even will reflect on the war in the Ukraine.
Long believes we are again in a Cold War with Russia.
He is very soft spoken and weighs his words carefully as he discusses the world situation.
Long served in the U.S. Army from 1960-63 as a cryptologist. A cryptologist deciphers secret codes and may create codes and encryptions as well.
Cryptologists often work for government agencies, the military, computer companies and financial institutions to help safeguard privileged information.
 
Created codes
During Long's military career in the early 1960s, he was responsible for creating and breaking code. He even gained a promotion in the Army while disobeying an order that could have ignited World War III.
Long's training began at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. and continued at Devins, Mass. His MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) was #722, a cryptologist. Most of his time was spent in Baumholder, Germany. He also served in Heilbronn, Germany and in Frankfurt, Germany.
Long ended his service at a staff sergeant E-5.
He firmly believes that the U.S. is embroiled in another Cold War with Russia because of Russia's invasion of the Ukraine that has cost thousands of lives. Vladimir Putin is holding the fate of the world in his hands.
The tension has grown as the U.S. and other NATO countries take steps to force Russia to retreat.
"Putin wants his country back and that's why he has brought troops into the Ukraine," says Long. The Ukraine has become an independent country and that's what Putin wishes to destroy, he added.
 
Nuclear war possible
Putin has threatened the use of chemical weapons or nuclear warfare. If he chooses these methods, "we are in a lot of trouble," Long believes.
The Cold War from 1947 to 1991 ended when President Ronald Reagan challenged Russian Premier Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down" the Berlin Wall.
 
The Cold War was a state of political and military tension after World War II between powers in the Western Bloc (the United States, its NATO allies and others) and powers in the Eastern Bloc (the Soviet Union and its allies in the Warsaw Pact).
 
Powers shot down
Reflecting on his service, Long said "all hell broke loose" when American pilot Francis Gary Power was shot down by the Russians.  He was later tried in a Russian court and charged with spying.
Powers was released years later in a prisoner exchange with the Russians.
An American presence in Germany and France caused many to believe World War III was imminent, Long said.
Long was very instrumental in coding and decoding classified information during this volatile time. In cryptology terms, he became an originator.
The United States was looking for movement of troops and knew that Russia had a five-year plan for movement of troops.
 
Cuban Missile Crisis
Long clearly remembers the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962. President John F. Kennedy ordered the Russians to remove their missiles from Cuba. "We were very close to a nuclear war at that time," Long believes.
Russia was moving troops in East Germany. Long recalls learning that Americans boarded Russian ships.
Long's service was to be extended in 1963, he said. Prior to his discharge Long was promoted when he disobeyed an order. A superior ordered him three times to carry out an order that he said would have had serious repercussions.
Asked why the United States often is considered to be the world police, he replied it was because the Americans are caring people. If the U.S. gets involved further, the draft will come back, believes Long.
 
Fighting Communism
He said our enemy is anybody associated with Communist countries. He listed Hungary, Romania, Turkey, Venezuela and Argentina as communistic countries. Long sternly supports using diplomacy during those trying times.
Looking at today's state of world affairs, Long says our political parties have never been so far apart.
Social media is actively following the current war in the Ukraine. Eight journalists have recently been killed in the war.
Long supports a strong U.S. military. He reflects on his own military experiences, saying he would accept the challenge again to protect our country.
Long grew up in the Albert Lea area where he graduated from high school in 1959.
Outside of military life, Long taught 16 years each at Lakeview and Sibley schools in Albert Lea. He totaled 40 years in education and also said his Army experiences have helped guide his life.

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