Luke LaManna

He attributed this skill less to his military experience and more to his childhood days mediating disagreements on the soccer field. After graduating from an engineering technical college, Petrov joined the Soviet air defense system. He never had to fly planes, which was fine by him. He much preferred the emerging world of technology.

Petrov had a mind for understanding complex radar systems and could keep cool under pressure. Over time, others in his unit, including higher-ups, started coming to him for technical advice. Petrov gained a reputation as an expert in his field. Early in his time at Serpukhov 15, Petrov posed a thought-provoking question to one of his officers.

Petrov had a mind for understanding complex radar systems and could keep cool under pressure. Over time, others in his unit, including higher-ups, started coming to him for technical advice. Petrov gained a reputation as an expert in his field. Early in his time at Serpukhov 15, Petrov posed a thought-provoking question to one of his officers.

He wondered how they could tell the difference between missile warning drills and the real thing when the two looked almost the same on their screens. The officer had a terse reply, ''We do our duty.'' The answer left a lasting impact on Petrov. It drove home the critical nature of his role, emphasizing that he must perform his task precisely, regardless of the chaos that might surround him.

He wondered how they could tell the difference between missile warning drills and the real thing when the two looked almost the same on their screens. The officer had a terse reply, ''We do our duty.'' The answer left a lasting impact on Petrov. It drove home the critical nature of his role, emphasizing that he must perform his task precisely, regardless of the chaos that might surround him.

As Petrov sat at his station deep underground, he felt like he was right where he needed to be. A small screen sat above a panel of buttons and knobs before him. The specific satellite system he worked with was codenamed OKO, which meant Eye. a fitting name for the satellites that kept watch over the planet.

As Petrov sat at his station deep underground, he felt like he was right where he needed to be. A small screen sat above a panel of buttons and knobs before him. The specific satellite system he worked with was codenamed OKO, which meant Eye. a fitting name for the satellites that kept watch over the planet.

He turned on the display and got to work overseeing the system which controlled the fate of the Soviet Union and ultimately the world. Deep in the basement of the White House's West Wing, President Ronald Reagan walked into the Situation Room. He was there to watch a military simulation codenamed Ivy League 82. It was March 1st, 1982. Reagan was 71 and barely into his second year as president.

He turned on the display and got to work overseeing the system which controlled the fate of the Soviet Union and ultimately the world. Deep in the basement of the White House's West Wing, President Ronald Reagan walked into the Situation Room. He was there to watch a military simulation codenamed Ivy League 82. It was March 1st, 1982. Reagan was 71 and barely into his second year as president.

Just 11 months earlier, Reagan had stared death in the face after an assassination attempt. Despite being shot, he had made a remarkable recovery. Reagan now faced a world teetering on the edge of destruction. Neither the US or the Soviet Union were willing to back down from their escalating arms race, and both continued to build more and more nuclear weapons.

Just 11 months earlier, Reagan had stared death in the face after an assassination attempt. Despite being shot, he had made a remarkable recovery. Reagan now faced a world teetering on the edge of destruction. Neither the US or the Soviet Union were willing to back down from their escalating arms race, and both continued to build more and more nuclear weapons.

Reagan took his seat at the large mahogany conference table. Top advisors from the White House and Pentagon settled into leather chairs, their faces serious. The Situation Room didn't look like much. It had wooden walls and a few televisions. But there were few places in the world where such consequential decisions were made.

Reagan took his seat at the large mahogany conference table. Top advisors from the White House and Pentagon settled into leather chairs, their faces serious. The Situation Room didn't look like much. It had wooden walls and a few televisions. But there were few places in the world where such consequential decisions were made.

It was where the President and the National Security Council would gather to face any sort of national emergency or critical situation. On this day, there was no emergency, but Reagan and his team were preparing for one. The military exercise, called Ivy League 82, was designed to test command and control procedures during a nuclear conflict. The U.S.

It was where the President and the National Security Council would gather to face any sort of national emergency or critical situation. On this day, there was no emergency, but Reagan and his team were preparing for one. The military exercise, called Ivy League 82, was designed to test command and control procedures during a nuclear conflict. The U.S.

needed to ensure that its forces could continue to communicate in the event of an unprecedented attack. Reagan's new National Security Advisor, William Clark, quieted everyone in the room. They were ready to begin. What Reagan saw on the large projection screen stunned him. It showed a map of the United States.

needed to ensure that its forces could continue to communicate in the event of an unprecedented attack. Reagan's new National Security Advisor, William Clark, quieted everyone in the room. They were ready to begin. What Reagan saw on the large projection screen stunned him. It showed a map of the United States.

On it, red dots representing Soviet missile strikes started appearing, first on Washington DC, then on New York City, a three-hour train ride away. More red dots appeared over Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit, and then key military bases across the U.S. Next were Miami, Philadelphia, Boston, and San Francisco. Soon, the entire country was a sea of red. And it wasn't over.

On it, red dots representing Soviet missile strikes started appearing, first on Washington DC, then on New York City, a three-hour train ride away. More red dots appeared over Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit, and then key military bases across the U.S. Next were Miami, Philadelphia, Boston, and San Francisco. Soon, the entire country was a sea of red. And it wasn't over.

The simulated exercise showed the Soviets launching a second barrage of nuclear missiles, and the red dots began to fill in any untouched spots on the map. If this were a real attack, nearly everyone in the United States would be dead. Even though he knew this was just a simulation, Reagan was extremely disturbed by what he saw.