continued

Also during this period, orders were received to lay out the Battalion Combat Team's (BCT) postions. The surface of the area was staked out for the entire position by the survey crew sent out by the S-3 Section and the area was then prepared for the arrival of the BCT.

The BCT were the guys from all different organizations: some from Ft. Campbell, some from Colorado, some were from Georgia. They weren't from the 231st. They were brought in for this one test. This was done just for the BCT and they were supposed to get up and walk forward until the radiological monitor told them that it was too hot. They put trenches in the ground and they were all supposed to be below the trenches with the bomb went off - maybe five feet deep trenches. They also wanted to bring the Battalion up so that the whole Battalion could see one of these things.

In addition to these jobs which were in the process of being completed, orders were received to compact another parking lot which was also to be used for the parking of vehicles on D day. The first area was designated Area 5 and the second parking lot designated Area 6. It was anticipated that the Visitors would proceed to Egg Road and dismount at Area B to witness the destruction, then proceed across the field on foot and entruck again at Area 5 which was the large compacted area previously mentioned.

In my own mind, the parking lot areas are inconsequential, but rather had to be there for some son-of-a-bitch to come watch the blast go off. Here we had to prepare a parking lot for these visitors, in addition to getting the emplacements ready for the blast. It was just more work.

On C day the entire company was alerted to move into the emplacement areas and begin restoration of the area to its natural state, as soon as the control group was through with their evaluation. The company dispatched men and equipment to begin the destruction of all man-made emplacements and to salvage all salvageable material.