by Daniel Sicken

As my friend Sachio Ko-Yin and I approached the Minuteman III missile silo N-7 in N.E. Colorado on the early morning of Aug. 6, I was struck by the silent calm of the western prairie as the sun quickly rose over the horizon. It was also a sunny early morning exactly 53 years ago when children in the city of Hiroshima, Japan were on their way to school.

We studied the lonely fenced area that was approximately 300 feet on each of four square sides. To the casual observer, it would appear to be nothing more than an unfamiliar farming facility, except for the signs placed along the fence that read, "DO NOT ENTER, DEADLY FORCE AREA." Knowing that what existed within was much more deadly than anything that could ever happen to us, we climbed to the top of the fence, cut the barbed wire, and hopped over to the other side with our tools. It was hard to believe that it would be so easy. The launch control center housing the Air Force personnel that would arrive about 1/2 hour after we tripped a sensor was at least 12 miles away.

The silo was located with the aid of an excellent guidebook, "Nuclear Heartland," published several years ago by supportive people who I am sure had Sachio and me in mind. It was easier than reading a road atlas. All of the 500 Minuteman III and 50 MX intercontinental ballistic missile silos were precisely located on a map, each having appropriate names, such as "Accidents Happen" missile or "Outright Insanity" missile.

We approached the heavy concrete cap to the missile silo, which is about the size of a small living room. A gravestone with HOPE in the center was quickly stenciled on the cap top, surrounded by our red paint-blood handprints. A broken rifle, the international symbol of disarmament, was stenciled nearby. Then, with our sledgehammers, we began the symbolic disarmament, realizing that this nation will never put an end to its nuclear terrorism unless citizens demand it in clear, nonviolent means of expression.

Our primary focus was upon the three horizontal tracks (similar to railroad tracks) on which the silo cap must travel as it slides off the silo opening. The notched center track is most critical, since it is used in conjunction with an internal motor, to pull the cap away from the opening. We broke off several of the anchor bolts that hold the center track onto the concrete base. Others were bent out of shape. Only 2 or 3 anchor bolts were untouched, hardly a secure footing, it seemed, for a sliding mass consisting of several tons of concrete. Weathered and deteriorating concrete curbs surrounding the remaining 2 outer tracks were easily broken up with our sledgehammers. We thought, "If the silo cap can't move off the opening, the missile inside can't be launched."

After posting our statements and hanging our banner, we were both overwhelmed by a joyous sense of accomplishment. Sachio sat down on the silo cap and played his recorder while we both waited for whatever was next to come. About 5 minutes later, an Air Force Response Team arrived with M-16's aimed at us, followed by the Weld County Sheriff, who transported us to a local jail where we were visited by the FBI. Then we were moved to a Federal Detention Center for six days before being released on personal recognizance. We are charged with "destruction of government property."

However, representing ourselves in court, we intend to speak, regardless of prosecution objections, to the fact that Minuteman III missiles are not defensive weapons. They are offensive weapons designed to be used, not in retaliation, but in a planned first-strike attack against another nation. The U.S. is currently spending several billion dollars to improve the accuracy of the Minuteman III's and equip them with instantaneous re-targeting ability. They are clearly being readied for use extending well into the next century. These are genocidal weapons, on alert status.

[At their arraignment September 3, Sachio Ko-Yin (legal name: Oliver Sachio Coe) and Daniel Sicken entered pleas of not guilty to destruction of government property. A grand jury will soon consider a superseding charge of "destruction of national defense materials and premises" (sabotage). They remain free pending trial November 2, and are available for speaking engagements until then.
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