During the Cold War, the U.S. operated an extraordinarily secretive special forces unit tasked with handling nuclear weapons, operations that required a minimum of two soldiers for the activation of portable nuclear devices. One soldier memorized the launch code's beginning while another committed the latter part to memory, highlighting the high stakes involved in this covert mission. This specialized training also led many members of the unit to view their missions as essentially suicidal, given the extreme dangers inherent in their operations.

Reports about this clandestine unit started emerging only two decades after its establishment, underscoring the level of secrecy maintained throughout its existence. The unique yet perilous nature of their mission was such that success could lead to catastrophic outcomes, with some soldiers later recalling the gravity of their roles and the fear that accompanied them. These reflections point to a collective understanding among the unit members that their assignments often carried lethal risks that could result in their loss of life.

The existence of such forces and their classified missions underlines the broader context of Cold War military strategies where nuclear deterrence efforts involved extreme measures and high-risk operations. This historical account serves not only to shed light on the operations of a once-hidden military unit but also to provoke discussions about the moral implications of using special forces for tasks associated with nuclear weapons in volatile scenarios.