Life On Site
4-01: Moe Grossman was a great guy and fun to work with. He was probably the oldest on
our team, or just looked that way. Moe was Jewish, and of course wouldn't eat pork. It
became a challenge for our Chef to try to sneak a piece of pork on Moe's plate at dinner
time. One day he succeeded, and Moe became sicker than a dog. Go figure. Here is a picture
of Moe just off the bus, where I had tied a piece of string to a dead snake and to one of his
belt loops. As Moe got off the bus, the snake of course followed him. Someone mentioned
to him as he got off the bus that there was a snake following him...which brought a moment
of laughter from all...even Moe after he figured out what was going on. (GSmith, Dev Date:
Oct 1961)
4-02: We had an Air Force Captain (the customer) assigned to the USAFTA site, who
really got a kick out of our site dogs. Our dogs never went hungry, and would often
hang out around the kitchen for scraps. One day a Bulgarian spy ventured onto our
site, and unfortunately for him he walked into the area behind the kitchen...a spot
sacred to the dogs...which promptly corralled the spy and held him at bay until our
Turkish guards put the poor guy in custody! (GSmith, Dev Date: Feb 1962)
4-04: This guy really was never paid any attention at all! The Captain's at it again,
making sure his troops are comfortable! (GSmith, Dev Date: Feb 1962 Slide18)
4-05: Towards the end of our contract one of the dogs had a litter of puppies. Cutest
things. A proper bed was made for the family, and everyone made sure they were all
well taken care of. I often wonder what had become of all of those dogs!(GSmith, Dev
Date: Mar 1962 Slide04)
4-06: The perimeter road around the site. No asphalt, and a bit dusty. (GSmith, Dev
Date: Feb 1962, Slide06)
4-07: Turkish laborers built the access road to the site. We provided boots and hard
hats. I was chastised for not collecting the boots from them at contract’s end! They
had departed already…and besides…who would want to wear well-used boots?
(GSmith, Dev Date: Mar 1962, Slide19)
4-08: More of the peripheral road around the site. You can also see the
communications tower up on top of the hill. (GSmith, Dev Date: Feb 1962, Slide33)
4-09: Another picture of the communications tower, and one of the outhouses used
by the laborers (and anyone else in need!). (GSmith, Dev Date: Feb 1962, Slide36)
4-10: Work begins early in the day, and continues through the late afternoon…or early
evening. We would spend a week or two (or longer) at the sites before heading home for a
weekend with family and an opportunity to replenish our social lives. (GSmith, Dev Date: Nov
1961, Slide17)
4-03: Here's a couple more of our site dogs. We all enjoyed the dogs, who just
wandered in to the site from wherever around the mountains. They were friendly,
appreciated, and in general made life a little more comfortable some how. When
hungry, they'd be known to jump on top of you while you would be laying in bed letting
you know you'd better feed them! :-). (GSmith, Dev Date: Feb 1962, Slide16)
PHOTOS - Page 4
Jupiter SM-78 Weapon System
I&C Team 2, Çigli AB, Turkey 1961-1962
Chrysler Corporation Missile Division