Life During The Cold War - Vasili Arkhipov: Another Man Who Saved the World

This man deserves TWICE the medals he has on his chest. Like Stanislav Petrov, he kept his cool and refused an order to launch a nuclear torpedo at American ships, effectively preventing WW3 during the tense time of the Cuban Missile Crisis. You can read the entire story by going HERE.

The decision not to start world war three was not taken in the Kremlin or the White House, but in the sweltering control room of a submarine. The launch of the B-59's nuclear torpedo required the consent of all three senior officers aboard. Arkhipov was alone in refusing permission. It is certain that Arkhipov's reputation was a key factor in the control room debate. The previous year the young officer had exposed himself to severe radiation in order to save a submarine with an overheating reactor (which was the subject of the movie 'K-13 The Widowmaker'). That radiation dose eventually contributed to his death in 1998. So when we raise our glasses on 27 October we can only toast his memory. Thank you, Vasya.