Air Force Association 

Gabriel Chapter #433
Notification 

Cold War Museum Presentation

C. Eric "Rick" Estberg
Formerly with the National Security Agency

"Nose to Nose in Berlin: Adventures of a Cold War Professional in Cold War Berlin"

& Cold War Museum Tour 

September 8, 2019

The AFA Gabriel Chapter wants to let you know about a presentation at our AFA Community Partner, the Cold War Museum.  The guest speaker is C. Eric "Rick" Estberg, formerly of the National Security Agency (NSA).

Rick Estberg, author of the book Berlin Daze, will draw from the book to tell us some of his adventures and unique experiences over a seven-year period in walled West Berlin, both as an Arny NCO and as a National Security Agency civilan.  As a "Cold Warrior", he served literally on the front lines, separated by ony a few miles from hundreds of thousands of Soviet and East German soldiers. Unlike others who spent much of a career in those days simply training for some possible future crisis, Rick actualy lived his real-world mission, day-in and day-out, along with hundreds of others of talented, dedicated military and civilaan intelligence specialists.

Through exciting, intriguing, humorous, entertaining, and even sometimes bawdy recollections, Rick's memory bank never seems to run dry.  Whether it was accidently being locked inside the closed Tempelhof Airport, being asked by an East German to help him escape across the Wall, sitting all of 30 feet froma a notoriious spy, meetring former Nazi SS officers at their old (and his current) barracks, saluting Russian Army privates while clearing checkpoints at the edge of Berlin, or editing an underground newspaper, there seems to have not been a single week in those years in Berlin when something noteworthy wasn't taking place.  Rick will share some of those fascinating stories and insights durng his presentation.  He will be available for book signing after the presentation.

Rick Estberg joined the Army just after graduating from Ripon College in Wisconsin.  He served as a linguist at the Army Field Station Berlin in the late 1970s priior to getting hired at NSA in 1980.  Within three years, he had returned to Field Station Berlin for an extended asssignment.  He holds a BA from Ripon in German and Education, an MA from the Unversity of Maryland in History, and an MA in internatioal Relations from Boston University.  For more informatin about him, see the link below.

To Register for this event, and obtain more information: To Register -- Nose to Nose in Berlin

The museum has requested that AFA members SIGN UP for tickets IN ADVANCE, so that the museum can plan for the number of attendees with Old Bust Head. 

The timeline is:

* 1330-1400 - Participants arrive; they may get their beer or other drink at this time.

* 1400-1410 - Jason Hall, Executive Director of the Cold War Museum, introduces the Museum and Rick Estberg.

* 1410 -1530 - Rick presents on his observations and adventures in Cold War Berlin as an intelligence officer with situational awareness. 

* 1530-1600 - Q&A opportunity for the audience.   

* 1600-1700 - The Museum (next door) will be open for event participants, with staff providing a tour for those interested. 

The cost is $35, including the presentation; a $7 coupon toward a craft beer draft, Kombucha, or other drink; a $10 contribution to the Cold War Museum; and special access to the Museum (next door) for the events participants following the presentation.  Tickets at the door, if available, will be $45.  

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