Although i was in the RAF during the 70s & 80s, my contribution bares no comparison to what I've read here. I'm embarrassed to say we used to complain about our conditions.
I suppose a lot of people don't talk about what they experienced because they are not actually asked. I don't recall really asking anyone myself. I must make more effort.
My children have no idea what I did apart from working on aeroplanes. They don't know anything about the Cold War. Fortunately I've no horror stories to tell, but never the less what we did was important. I should tell them, though I'm not sure they would be interested.