No, not that one - I think I still have my DOS copy of that somewhere, along with the envelope that says "DO NOT OPEN UNTIL TOLD TO BY THE GAME".... it might still be sealed....
Don't recognise any of those - thanks for trying though.
Ah, Deus Ex.... although I grant you that it's a famous text-only ASCII franchise, I fear this isn't the game I'm thinking of.....

I thought maybe Balance of Power, but that's probably too 'pretty' ;)

Midway campaign from 1983 or The battle of the Bulge: Tigers in the snow from 1982 ?

No, sorry, not that one.... I feel like it's the right era setting, though. Cold War style.
No, I don't think these are the one.... although the characters you had were of a military bent, it was an RPG rather than a strategy game, and the setting was more espionage than warfare

Well I've run out of ideas after this one: Fourth Protocol.
Again not completely text-based, so probably not it.
But hey, it's always possible it jogs something loose.

I appreciate everyone's responses, but it doesn't look like I'll find the game I remember this way :( I was hoping someone might specifically remember it because I've looked around on the internet quite a bit prior to asking here, and with no success.... Still, I really appreciate the responses.

I think I'm going to have to track down the friend I borrowed the game off 25 years ago and ask him if he remembers what it was :P