JOHNNY CASH IN SERVICE FOR HIS COUNTRY

 

Staff Sergeant Cash: In 1950, at the age of 18, Johnny Cash did what many young men of the time did, he enlisted in the United States military, specifically the Air Force, and was shipped off from his home in Arkansas to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX. 

 

After basic training at Lackland Air Force Base and technical training at Brooks Air Force Base, both in San Antonio, Texas, Cash was assigned to the 12th Radio Squadron Mobile of the U.S. Air Force Security Service at Landsberg, West Germany.

 

While manning his post on March 5th, 1953, Staff Sgt. Cash intercepted and transcribed what would be a very important communique from the Russians.

 

At the time, Soviet Premier Leader Joseph Stalin was in very poor condition. As the man at the head of the Soviet Empire, Stalin’s health status was of critical importance to the United States intelligence community and all Western Powers.

 

While monitoring the Soviet Morse Code chatter on March 5th, Johnny Cash became the very first American to hear of the death of the Soviet supreme leader. 

 

Staff Sergeant Cash was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant on July 3, 1954, and returned to Texas. 

 

The rest as we know is music history.