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SAND, SNOW, AND STARDUST
There was a time when there was a vast network of American military bases around the world, many of them in places that were, to say the least, inhospitable. A historian at Northeastern University, Heefner begins the story in the latter stages of World War II, when attempts to build bases in North Africa went badly due to a lack of knowledge about conditions. It sparked an interest in collecting information, and the pace picked up during the Cold War. By 1960, there were more than a thousand bases in operation. Heefner delves into the problems of building airstrips over shifting desert sand, and later in the glacial wastes of Greenland. It took a huge amount of money and a great deal of effort, but the obstacles were gradually overcome. Perhaps the most remarkable project was Camp Century, which was created in a massive space below the Greenland ice cap. Heefner is impressed by the ingenuity of military engineers and their belief that problems existed to be solved. Many of the bases became redundant as intercontinental ballistic missiles became the main weapon of deterrence, but Heefner argues that it might be time to reinvigorate the idea of a network of bases. America’s adversaries are seeking to control strategic territory, she says, and climate change is altering the world’s geography. She devotes a section of the book to the role of military engineers in planning construction on the Moon and perhaps Mars. It adds up to a fascinating account, with Heefner mixing in colorful anecdotes, personal experience, and technical information. The book will appeal to readers interested in military issues and engineering, but there’s plenty here for general readers as well.
There was a time when there was a vast network of American military bases around the world, many of them in places that were, to say the least, inhospitable. A historian at Northeastern University, Heefner begins the story in the latter stages of World War II, when attempts to build bases in North Africa went badly due to a lack of knowledge about conditions. It sparked an interest in collecting information, and the pace picked up during the Cold War. By 1960, there were more than a thousand bases in operation. Heefner delves into the problems of building airstrips over shifting desert sand, and later in the glacial wastes of Greenland. It took a huge amount of money and a great deal of effort, but the obstacles were gradually overcome. Perhaps the most remarkable project was Camp Century, which was created in a massive space below the Greenland ice cap. Heefner is impressed by the ingenuity of military engineers and their belief that problems existed to be solved. Many of the bases became redundant as intercontinental ballistic missiles became the main weapon of deterrence, but Heefner argues that it might be time to reinvigorate the idea of a network of bases. America’s adversaries are seeking to control strategic territory, she says, and climate change is altering the world’s geography. She devotes a section of the book to the role of military engineers in planning construction on the Moon and perhaps Mars. It adds up to a fascinating account, with Heefner mixing in colorful anecdotes, personal experience, and technical information. The book will appeal to readers interested in military issues and engineering, but there’s plenty here for general readers as well.
