"Defcon 2: Cuban Missile Crisis"

In October 1962, after Soviet missile sites were confirmed in Cuba, the U.S. military prepared for potential conflict. U.S. Armed Forces moved to DEFCON 3 on October 22, 1962, following President Kennedy's announcement. As Soviet ships approached Cuba on October 24, SAC, which controlled U.S. nuclear assets, was ordered to DEFCON 2. This put a large part of the nuclear arsenal on high alert.