Editor's Note: Here are some emails we received from citizens and soldiers of the Cold War.
From: Bob Mauk
Subject: Atomic Tests
I was stationed at USD Claerfield Utah during this period as a US Marine and
could see the flashes, felt the ground shake and hear the explosions.
I thanked God I was not any closer because I knew . . . . .
From: Dave Mercer
Subject: Bill Bires
I was moved by the account of Bills "Atomic Duty". I spent 13 years in
the Canadian Army and am not all surprised by this. The only thing
which does not surprise me is the lack of attention this whole issue has
received.
Even here in peace loving Canada, we did terrible things to our
"volunteer" soldiers. Amongst them is exposing them to Mustard Gas and
other chemical/biological agents at CFB Suffield. The old men who are
now suffering from the after effects of this exposure have not even
received an apology from the government.
Take Care
From: John J. Wallace
Subject: atomic
Great site!
Your web pages are some of the best I've been in long time. Your
content quality reminded me of what's good about the Internet.
One critique..
The pages that are reversed out/white text on black, are hard on the
eyes.
j
From: Christopher Saunders
Subject: Personal history
My father was a junior Air Force officer involved in nuclear testing at
Los Alamos 1961-62. He and my mother died of cancer at the age of 43.
How can I collect details of the program he was working on and possible
radiation exposure to my parents and I.
Thanks.
Chris Saunders
From: James Roberts
Subject: Your web site
I appreciate the very nicely organized and thoughtful page you have here.
The cited tests all occurred before I was born, but their impact lingered long
on. I remember as a child growing up in rural Illinois in the early sixties
being admonished by my maternal grandmother to "not eat the snow" because of
"radioactive fallout" from nuclear tests. For generations, family rituals
included making "snow ice cream" from the new-fallen snow, but we haven't
made any in a generation or more.
jim roberts
From: John DeBusk
Hi Fellow atomic vet.
My name is John DeBusk and I was in the Buster-Jangle test in the fall of
1951. I was in A co. of the 188th Airborne Infantry Regiment out of Ft.
Campbell, Ky. We were the Guinea Pigs that dug the foxholes and emplacements
out at Yucca Flat but I guess you know that. I'm glad to see that you have
the computer up and running. I'm the caller No. 37. Good luck and God
Bless---John DeBusk
From: editor
To: derf@dnc.net
National Association of Atomic Veterans
Oregon Commander
Subject: Theodore Haines
X-URL: http://www.dnc.net/users/derf/NAAV.htm
Fred,
This is Keith in Portland. I tried to contact Mr. Haines here in Portland
and learned from his wife Jan that Mr. Haines died on Jan 31 from lung
cancer. He served at the Bikini test area.
Perhaps you knew about this. I am sorry to here about the loss of another
atomic veteran. I'll be telling Bill Bires about it this afternoon
perhaps we can do something for his widow.
Keith
histgaz@gmail.com
From: Santokh Khalsa
Organization: Life Plus/"The Archives Project"/World Plus
Subject: Great web site Bill!!!
Wow! What an extensive site you've put up! Great photo of Easy Shot.
What a story you've documented. On the basis of, "Those who forget
history are condemned to repeat it." I think it's great you've put this
information on the web. Plus, I learned a lot about Bill Bires I never
knew before (great shot slouching on that truck fender...so cool).
Seriously though...what a story you LIVED. Amazing.
All the best,
-- Santokh Khalsa
Life Plus...live your dream!
Web Page: http://worldplus.com/users/wp/172335.htm
From: Theresa Cahill
Subject: Amazing stuff
I'm impressed with the volume of information linked to the Gazette!
And I am hoping you can help me? I live in Mesquite, Nevada and have
recently undertaken the immense job of trying to locate CURRENT
information on the background radiation levels in this area. So far I
have been to the Dept of Energy, Atomic Energy, numerous labs, etc.,
etc.
I only want to know what is up here TODAY - not 30 years ago - and not
how much radiation we get from the air. It is the GROUND that interests
me. Mesquite received the almost immediate fallout from over 100 nuclear
tests. People here used to play in the ashes, and watch their little
badges change color - just for fun! Now, years later, my family and I
have moved here. I have a 5-year old and just want some current
information.
Can you help me? Thanks for taking the time to read this....
Theresa Cahill
From: Jim Carr
That is really nice work. I wish I could get the equivalent detail
from my uncle, who did a far riskier thing: flew through the Mike
cloud. However, one difference is immediately clear. He was told
a radiation dose and he was followed up medically by the USAF.
I really liked the bit about checking the VIPs, but there is also
a statement about rad badges for each platoon? Do you have that
data or did the DoD shitcan it? Even with it, that would be an
underestimate of the lung exposure although small airbursts do
not contaminate the area like a ground burst would.
PS - I found the following statement from the ohre page quite interesting:
"The AEC seems to have been successful in persuading the Department of
Defense not to include the extra observers, but the DOD did not agree
to the AEC's suggestion on approaching ground zero. Four hours after
the first shot, the DOD conducted research involving troops who were
accompanied by radiation safety monitors.
"Eight teams of men walked over contaminated ground for one hour to
determine the effectiveness of protective clothing against nuclear
contamination. Similar tests were conducted after the second shot at
Jangle, but this time after a longer period.
James A. Carr
Supercomputer Computations Res. Inst.
From: David M. Davis
Organization: N.O.A.O./GEMINI PROJECT
Subject: Information
To whom it may concern,
I'm trying to research another operation that happened in the same
time frame and was wondering if anyone there could help.
The project happened within Operation REDWING and involved the Air
Force 1009th Special Weapons Squadron in Alaska. The squadron flew
modified B-29 with sampling scoops mounted top aft on the aircraft.
These aircraft and crew flew -through- the radioactive clouds, ours and
theirs, to do material quantity/percentages competitive analysis and
general fallout reports.
I guess I find it interesting that there is such a public outcry about
personell downwind when quietly our government was flying our guys right
through the hot clouds. Even though after 40+ years have passed, there
doesn't seem to be too much about this group availible to the public.
The D.O.E has a library called "Open Net" which has declassified
articles referring to the modified B-29's, and even loose attachments to
the 1009th. But try to access them or get anyone to tell you how to get
e-mail or printed copies of them.
Any information on the above or any direction to the information on
the above would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
(second e-mail)
He, as so many Americans of that era, always believed whole heartedly
in our Government. They followed directions without question, and
never doubted the Governments "protection" of the American People".
My father is still alive, but has refused to say much of that time.
My mother, who has lost a lot of respect for the Government, has
filled me in on what she learned from others at the time. Dad is
starting to loosen up a little since: The removal of one kidney to cancer,
Bouts with cranial hemorrhaging,
Being the recipient of a mechanical heart valve.
None of these problems had ever surfaced in his family before. We are
just now learning the long term ramifications of being a "Certified
Nuclear guinea pig."
All the above items happened to him by the age of 55. Having just
retired, (at the nagging of his five children and wife), at the age of
62, he's still worried about what can be brought to the open. I've
gotten to the point of telling him "What are they going to do to you,
that they haven't already."
David M. Davis
