A US soldier at Checkpoint Charlie when the Berlin Wall opened (13)

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY Times

Ian Sanders

History, Documentary, Society & Culture

4.8 • 865 Ratings

🗓️ 9 June 2018

⏱️ 76 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Michael Rafferty was posted to Berlin in 1988. He served in the 287th Military Police Company at Checkpoint Charlie and was there through to the historic opening of the Berlin Wall and the removal of the checkpoint in 1990. I have always been intrigued by a video posted on YouTube filmed in the 1980s by a young US Army soldier documenting his first days in Berlin for his family back at home. Now I never dreamed that I would find, let alone talk to that soldier, but through the magic of the internet, we got in contact, and Michael Rafferty agreed to give his first interview in 24 years to Cold War Conversations. His story spans the last days of Checkpoint Charlie, from when the border was the heavily fortified barrier familiar to us from those spy films to the opening of the wall and the unification of Germany. I am delighted and honoured to welcome Michael Rafferty. Episode notes & extras here. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode13/ Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Cold War Conversations, the home of real stories of the Cold War.
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0:55.1	This is Cold War Conversations. If you're new here, you've come to the right place to listen to first-hand Cold War history accounts. Do make sure you follow us in your podcast app or join our emailing list at cold warconversations.com.
1:04.3	Welcome to episode 13 of Cold War Conversations. Now, most of you will know my good friend Shane Whaley over at the highly recommended SpyBerry podcast who we interviewed in episode four.
1:12.5	Shane and I have always been intrigued by a video posted on YouTube filmed in the 1980s
1:19.3	by a then young US Army soldier documenting his first days in Berlin for his family back at home.
1:27.7	Now, I never dreamed that I would find, let alone talk to that soldier, but through the magic
1:33.2	of the internet, we got in touch and Michael Rafferty has agreed to give his first interview
1:40.5	in 24 years to Cold War Conversations.
1:45.6	His story spans the last days of Checkpoint Charlie from when the border was the heavily
1:50.9	fortified barrier familiar to us from those spy films to the opening of the wall and
1:57.1	the unification of Germany.
1:58.5	I am delighted and honoured to welcome Michael Rafferty.
2:03.8	Hello, Michael. How are you? I'm doing great, Ian. Thank you very much for this opportunity.
2:10.7	What I'd like to say is a big thank you to those who have served. This is a Memorial Day here in the United States. And just a thought and a prayer to those who have served. This is a Memorial Day here in the United States, and just a
2:19.5	thought and a prayer to those who have served and died in the service of our country here in the
2:25.2	United States, and no doubt with our allies as well. So thank you for having me today,
	...

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