ROMULUS — A fascinating, first-of-its-kind reunion occurred for roughly 35 attendees of the former Seneca Army Depot “Q” area’s 295th Military Police Co. and service members. A double tour event unfolded in collaboration with both Deer Haven Park and FirstLight thanks to the concerted, heartfelt effort of former MP Paul Peloquin, whose successful search for former roommate MP Kenneth Roberts spawned this much greater vision.
Reunions happen all the time, so what makes this one so fascinating? Well, few would disagree that the most infamous and intriguing part of SEAD was the secret area dubbed the “Q,” the highest-level security designation given by the Atomic Energy Commission and used to store “special weapons.” These 1,120 acres were allocated in February 1955 and, by July 1956, were intact, with numerous buildings and 64 inordinately protected munitions igloos. “Special weapons” storage would remain until 1992.
The day’s clouds were threatening, making the approach to the secreted inner gates a bit ominous. Conversely, the veteran’s anticipation of reentering this once pristine, meticulously manicured area was exhilarating. Besides MPs (some of whom served in the 1970s), those present ranged from former duty positions, material handlers and ammunition specialists to nuclear weapons maintenance technicians.
Approaching the Sally Port’s once multiple-guarded, triple-gated entry point (formerly accommodating 4,800 volts of electricity!) gave an inkling of what unfolded at the beginning and end of each report to duty. A sizable control panel occupied the guard house entrance, where Rick Foster recalled, “ ... there had to be a badge in each slot to operate the Sally Port and turnstiles for entry and exit.”
The entire “Q” is now under ownership of FirstLight, a telecommunications service provider. Still secured and surveilled, this leg of the journey required special permission and chaperones. Thanks to FirstLight Manager Jacob Kornbau and Inventory Specialist Christopher Baker, the multiple locks to the entrance gates were released, and both were prepared to guide the way.
Immediately, vivid memories transported everyone back in time. Only the west wind, capped by the occasional comment, would breeze all back to the present. One veteran shared, “That same west wind blew demolition debris across the ‘Q.’ ”
Paul Peloquin remembered, “I arrived at SEAD in February of 1982. I got off the plane in Rochester. The snow was falling sideways. I thought, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’ SEAD wasn’t exactly great duty when you’re an 18-year-old ... ” He added, “ ... no one was crazy enough to try to steal a nuke guarded by 50 heavily armed military police officers.”
Were they? Well, certainly no one individual, as the “Q” was designated a “no lone zone.” A two-man MP automatic-weapon armed presence was mandatory. The use of deadly force was authorized and reinforced.
Multiple buildings dotted the landscape inside the gate, many with curved concrete turrets obstructing their entrances, used for obscured security viewing. Abandoned to time, many structures were decrepit and overgrown. One location once housed incinerators, which were used to burn important documents.
The MPs constantly manned a basement radio/igloo alarm control center replete with surveillance screens that monitored the entire site’s secured perimeter via motion and camera detectors.
Specialty bomb maintenance buildings were used for quality testing, cleaning, repainting, overall corrosion repair, and safety precaution checks. Radiation levels needed monitoring, and security drills and evacuations were performed regularly. Some buildings had tunnels beneath, others were windowless.
“I love speaking with veterans about their experiences and even more so when those experiences bridge gaps and answer questions about SEAD,” Kornbau commented.
As the tour approached the igloos, it was noted these contained intrusion-detection mechanisms. Many MPs flashed back to the often-triggered alarms. To clear any insurgents, secret truck teams immediately approached questionably compromised igloos and formed a sweep. Beginning at the rear sides, MPs would creep up and over the top toward the igloo entrances.
Alarms could be drills but were never specified as such. Many igloos housed deterrents such as tear gas and sticky foam. All were constantly surveilled. Some entrances are reinforced with Rocket Propelled Grenade Metal Barrier Cages.
“I think SEAD history is priceless as far as this region, not to mention New York State’s history goes,” Baker shared. “The attendees significantly enhanced my understanding of the Depot’s history.”
The reunion tour for these brave military service members also included the Alpha and Bravo sections of Deer Haven Park. The interesting aspect of this part of the journey was that even though these veterans worked the “Q,” they were unaware of the Depot’s remaining history. This would be due to the Personnel Reliability Program which demanded that no personnel talk to anybody about what job they performed within the “Q.” This regulation stood when on or off the job.
Kenneth Roberts recalls, “I was an MP working in the Q in 1981-82. As a young kid away from home for the first time, I was put into a job that I wasn’t allowed to talk about with friends, family, or people we met in town. This secrecy really forced us MPs to band together.”
This brotherhood was apparent as the DHP tour filled in historical gaps of how the Depot came to be, why it came to Seneca County, what construction entailed, and how munitions were transported into and out of the facility. The saga of the land and its wildlife enlightened and enlarged the commission these veterans undertook in SEAD’s greater scheme.
The scope of this step back in time was infinite. Perhaps Kenneth Roberts summed it up best: “My greatest memory will forever be this reunion. After 40 years of being apart, everyone came together like it was only a day. That shows the strength those bonds of friendship formed all those years ago. I will forever be grateful to Paul for putting this together and to DHP and the folks at the ‘Q’ for the amazing tours, history lessons, and walk down memory lane.”
Dee Calvasina is the author of “Beyond the Fence, The Amazing World of Deer Haven Park,” a freelance writer, and a monthly columnist for the Finger Lakes Times.
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