Effects of the Magnetic North Pole

This is the fictitious account of the men and women who served in the U.S. Air Force gathering signals intelligence for the little known and top secret NSA (National Security Agency).

The story follows two young men, Mark Nobel and Snoopy Richards, who join the Air Force during the height of the Cold War as they struggle through basic training, language school and finally to Europe where they settle into a routine in Bremerhaven, Germany.

Events mark their tour of duty in Germany: The Soviets launch Sputnik, Buddy Holly dies in a plane crash, PFC Elvis Presley arrives in Europe, and the U-2 spy plane is shot down over the Soviet Union. Mark falls in love with a German girl and must choose between his heart and his loyalty to duty.

Along the way, they get mixed up with an East German Stasi agent who is running a spy ring of prostitutes in the town of Bremerhaven. To make matters worse, the agent is a beloved uncle of Mark's lover.

The story begins with sunrise over the Pacific Ocean and ends at sunset in the Barents Sea. It is told with humor as it follows the exploits of the two friends as they take a trip into the world of espionage and spys.