This Nike Hercules was procured by my friend Charles Carter, a former Miamian who served at the Carol City missile base in 1963 and 1964 in addition to other Nike missile bases in Dade County. Charles procured the old missile from the Army Depot in Anniston, Alabama for the National Park Service and it was in sad shape after years of weather exposure. Through Lonny Craven, another long-time friend of mine and division director of Airside Operations at Miami International Airport, Charles was able to persuade Sean Gallagan, principal of George T. Baker Aviation School, to have his staff and students restore the Nike Hercules to pristine condition. The students enjoyed working on such a unique project and they should be proud of their contribution for the benefit of the public The missile was transported to the HM-69 site in Everglades National Park a couple of days prior to this tour at the conclusion of a large reunion of former Army missilemen and support personnel at the Dade County missile sites from 1962 to 1979. Charles made all the arrangements for the reunion and it was held at the airport Marriott Hotel on LeJeune Road.

Public tours of the Nike Hercules missile site in Everglades National Park will be held as listed below:

Sundays only, 1:30pm to 3:00pm, October 28th to December 15th, 2012

November 12, 2012 - Veterans Day - 10:00am to 2:00pm

Daily Tours, 11:00am, December 16th, 2012 to April 15th, 2013