30 August 2022
Today we said goodbye to a man of history. Mikhail Gorbachev died at age 91. So what does this have to do with me? Ronald Reagan was a Member of my history group Sharkhunters until his passing. We wrote back and forth and I have an American Flag that he gave me. Look further down to see the Presidential Medal of Merit that President Reagan presented to me.
In 1991 I received a FAX (email wasn't invented yet) from the Soviet Navy with an invitation to come to Moscow! The FAX was from, I learned later, the head of Intelligence for the Soviet Navy and he was ordered to invite me by the 5 Star Commander of the Soviet Navy, Fleet Admiral Vladimir Chernavin. I still had no idea how this came about but went there - from Florida to Moscow in the dead of winter! Chernavin and I became friends and they gave me a great visit there and I have returned several times.
Look to the photos - #1008 is my I.D. as an honorary Russian Submarine Officer (I still am) and the #28 is my I.D. as a Commissar of the Soviet Union, "Peace to the Oceans Committee". Relax - my CIA handler thought it was great cover.
So why do we remember Gorbachev today on his passing? As mentioned, President Reagan was a Member of my history group and he was friends with Gorbachev. Reagan suggested to Gorbachev to bring me to Russia; Mikhail ordered Chernavin to bring me there and he ordered Admiral Smal (the Intel Chief of the Soviet Navy) to invite me.
So today, we say farewell to a man of history. Love him or hate him, he was a man who shaped history and in a small part, affected my life as well.
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