[GreenKeys] Reperforator tape colors

[Charles Ring]

My remaining big concern is all that had to consume lots of time. If 
something had to be acted on speedily, was it less likely to be 
classified Top Secret?




On 1/8/2013 2027, John Hensley wrote:
> The data protection was accomplished through encryption processes and 
> limited equipment
> control areas.  Top Secret, for instance, was only carried through 
> certain hard wired & shielded
> cables between the Communications Officer's private office and the 
> encrypting equipment.  A
> 1MC intercom was in his suite which was used when he was ready to 
> transmit.  This rarely even
> occurred.  99% of TS was incoming and garbled until decoded by the 
> COMMO or duty supervisor.
>
> The colors of the tape, message forms, etc. were work aides to remind 
> personnel on rotating
> shifts what was what.  The Navy required Confidential and above to be 
> physically protected
> (behind secure need-to-know access doors) until disposed of and 
> disposition was by incinerator.
> In most cases, personnel read only the header of the tape and did not 
> even do that for tape which
> was used and then put in a burn bag.  Very few people had the time or 
> office to read most of the
> stuff.  The burn bags went into what
> was called a "burn basket", a rectangular box kit shaped screen mesh 
> cage which we mounted
> on the fantail and then set the paper afire.  The screen mesh insured 
> only ash could escape.
>
> Top Secret was reserved for the eyes of the Communications Officer and 
> the Captain.  And only
> those two could route a TS message for other eyes.  The message board 
> was prepared by the
> COMMO and sent directly to the CO.  The CO would then check 
> appropriate "initial" blocks which
> determined which other officers would need to read & initial.  Those 
> papers were then put in
> a special burn bag and kept 24 hours before being destroyed.  Or so 
> was the routine where I
> was between 1965 and 1971.
>
> John

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