Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20677
Major Clifford W. Simonson (wearing white jumpsuit, far left) of the 389th Strategic Missile Wing (Warren Air Force Base) presents President John F. Kennedy with a silver badge marking the launch of the Atlas 134D missile earlier in the day. Crew members (L-R): Major Simonson, Kenneth Haithcoat, SMSgt Chupka, Roger Egert, Sherman Jackson, Gerald Beth, MSgt Reginald Bufkin, TSgt Arnold Kovakka, SSgt Dale Howe, A1C J. W. Hill, and Frank Waters. Commander of Strategic Air Command, General Thomas S. Power, stands to right of President Kennedy. White House Secret Service agent, Toby Chandler, stands at far left. Standing in group at right: Major General Joseph J. Preston; Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara; Director of Research and Development for the Department of Defense, Dr. Harold Brown; Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; White House Secret Service agent, Roy Kellerman. Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. [See also MO 63.1523, “Atlas Missile Badge”]