Arthur S. (Sam), Burford sent some excellent email about his duty during Operations Greenhouse, Ivy and Buster/Jangle. Click on the above photo for a larger view.
Update: Sam's latest email stories (January 2000) are located here
From: ABurffy@aol.com
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 15:54:34 EDT
Subject: Nuclear Testing
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Reply-To: ABurffy@aol.com
Keith,
Received your reply. I entered the Army from Pendleton, OR., having lived
for a number of years at Hermiston some 30 miles to the northeast. Several
of our unit were also from Oregon. To date, I have not been able to contact
any of them; one I know is deceased.
It is going to take a while for me to come up with any memories of those
days. As you know, there wasn't too much activity outside of work. I was a
Wheel and Track Vehicle Mechanic, and didn't move around much...like there
was anyplace to go? The following is some of the things that come to mind,
as I recall them. The specifics pertaining to aircraft incidents may not be
correct, as most of this information was gained, as the Sailors called it by,
"Scuttlebutt."
Our company provided all (or most), of the truck drivers, and ran the Motor
Pool, servicing all of the Army vehicles other than engineering equipment,
operating on the Island of Eniwitok.
I do remember the B-17's going and coming almost continuously during
Operation Greenhouse. As I recall, they were all "Drone," aircraft prepping
for flights through the radioactive clouds when a bomb was detonated.
I also remember the stench emanating from the Island when our unit arrived on
in October of 1950. The engineers were just completing the runway, and had
apparently came within inches of disinterring the thousands of Japenese
buried there.
I do not know if this incident was true or not. At some point during
Operation Greenhouse, could have been Ivy, the Army Colonel in charge of the
operation was said to have ordered all of the Debris at the end of the Island
(you'll recall the WWII aircraft, airstrip runway matting, etc., at one end
of the island?), either moved or "Painted!" Rumor had it he had sort of
"Lost it," and had to be relieved?
I believe it was the 1st B-47 to cross the Pacific landed there during
Operation Greenhouse also. It was quite a thrill when it left and came
roaring over our maintenance shop, which was right off the end of the runway.
During Operation Ivy, a B-29 landed at Eniwitok. It taxied down the runway,
turned around to head back up toward the Control Tower, and as I recall
struck a light pole with the right wing. I have also heard the pilot had
shut down one or more engines then kicked them back on, which supposedly was
a no no. Anyway the B-29 burned to practically nothing. A surprise to me,
as I didn't believe it possible for such a mass of metal to be reduced to a
small pile of rubbish.
I was sent to Hawaii at one point, where I attended a Navy Radiological
Monitoring and Decontamination course. After the H-bomb detonation I was NCO
in charge of one of several advance squads which landed on Eniwitok to
conduct surveys of radiological fallout on the Island. I believe each unit
sent in a team to monitor their respective areas. As I recall the fallout
was of no significance. There was a period however, during or after
Greenhouse or Ivy, when swimming and/or eating of fish in and from the lagoon
was restricted. Apparently there had been some contamination of ocean water.
One thing I remember about both Opreration Greenhouse and Operation Ivy, the
food served at the consolidated mess, was good and plentiful.
As for Desert Rock, our unit went there, I believe in September of 1951 from
Camp Stoneman, CA. We had only arrived back in CONUS sometime in June 1951.
I remember it got mighty cold Desert Rock during the night. Our CO was must
have had visions of Death Valley. When he found we were being sent to the
Desert in Nevada, he had us turn in all of our winter clothing, such as "Long
Johns," and woolen overcoats. Fortunately, he did let us keep our woolen
Class A uniforms.
We were issued summer sleeping bags, which consisted of nothing more than a
wool blanket with zipper. The first night we were at Desert Rock, we woke up
in the morning to find the water in the Lister Bags had frozen. We lived in
squad tents with out heating for the first month or so, then little pot
bellied oil stoves were installed, all the heat emanating from the darned
things went right up the chimney pipe. Having just returned from the South
Pacific, we really noticed the cold. Myself and two or three buddies used to
go up to the motor pool, light a blow torch, aim the flame into the open end
of a muffler, and huddle around the muffler. When we were tired enough, we'd
return to our squad tent and turn in.
We dolled up our company area by lining the street with rocks which which the
CO had us scavenge off the dessert. These we white washed by dipping the
rocks in a large pail of (cold), white wash. We also dug up Yucca plants,
which we transplanted along the Company Street. I have to admit, doing such
did improve the appearance of the area considerably.
The first couple of months at Desert Rock, we had no shower facilities. Once
every couple of weeks or so, we'd get on a bus or trucks and go in to the
outskirts of Las Vegas, where apparently arrangements had been made for us to
use the showers of a swimming pool located there. We would get in to Vegas
once every month or two for recreation. Quite a place in those days! I
don't think we could have afforded more frequent visitations.
When we did get shower facilities at Desert Rock, all units shared them on a
scheduled basis. As water was at a premium, having had to be hauled some
distance by tanker truck, each individual was allowed 5 minutes in the shower.
When the underground A-bomb test was conducted, our unit was assigned to
trenches some distance from the blast. Other units, to include and Airborne
Infantry Unit, were much closer to the detonation. We were not issued
protective goggles, and remained hunkered down in the trench until given the
word it was okay to look. I do remember a blast of warm air passing over,
but that is about it, and shortly thereafter, observing the dust cloud
arising from the detonation.
Seems I remember more than I had imagined. It has been a long time since I
have given those days much thought.
The 511th was a pretty sizable unit at the time of Greenhouse, most of the
personnel were from the East Coast, Virginia, Kentucky, etc., and had been on
the Island of Eniwitok for quite some time when we arrived. Some of our 4th
Trk. Co. truck driving personnel, worked with them as stevedores for a period
of time before we became fully engaged in our mission.
The 4th was kept pretty busy during Greenhouse. Seems to me we started out
at ten hour days, seven days a week, it finally tapered down to six days a
week. Again, relying on recollection, during Ivy things were a bit more
routine, with regular hours and five day weeks.
Here are a few more incidents I recall:
In late 1952, the one and only time we had a real threat from a Typhoon
happened while I was in Hawaii going to school. I understand the Island was
hit from the ocean side with a tidal wave about 17 ft. high. Fortunately it
was pretty well diminished when it reached the squad tents. I think the 4th
had only a couple of tents damaged from the incident.
During Greenhouse, while standing in the noon chow line, we observed a kid
who as I recall, was from the Quartermaster supply unit had climbed the water
tower (located near the mess hall), he was standing up there threatening to
jump. Some of the guys down below were taking bets on whether he would or
wouldn't. Fortunately for him...if he were serious to begin with, he was
talked out of it. Not something to put in print for public consumption, I
don't think.
The same guy was later transfered to the 511th Port Btn. (punitive action ?),
and became involved with one of the 511th Port Btn. in some sexual activity.
He was the aggressor; the 511th guy led him on, then proceeded to kick the
crap out of him. Both wound up doing 6 mos. in the Stockade in Hawaii.
Also during Greenhouse someone was making and bottling soda. I remember it
was in Cola and Orange flavors only, and bottled in old Miller High Life beer
bottles. The bottles had not been washed very well, if at all. I distinctly
remember in many of them there was about a quarter inch of dirt in the
bottoms on the inside, around the outer edges. The stuff cost us a dime too!
Who was doing this, and how they got away with it, is beyond me. We had an
old coke type cooler outside the office at the motor pool that was kept
stocked with this stuff by someone. May have been someone in our outfit.
There are two or three possibilities come to mind, and they are not all
enlisted personnel.
I saw mention of a dog on one of the web sites. The 4th had a dog during
Greenhouse we dubbed S...t Head. He was a Heinz 57 breed, a brown hound type
mutt with short hair. Some of the guys taught him to drink beer, and to hate
officers both of which he did with a passion, and the latter of which
eventually led to his demise. I haven't the foggiest idea of where these
dogs came from? It seems to me, there were two or three of them wound up on
the Island at some point in time while we were there.
There was also a young fellow (I believe this was during Greenhouse also),
who had been assigned to our unit, he hardly ever spoke to any the rest of
us, and didn't buddy up with any one. The guy acted like he didn't have
sense enough to come in out of the rain. However, he was a gambling fool,
and was very good at it, (I had on occasion watched him play at the EM club).
Again, this is hearsay; rumor had it he regularly sent $300.00 home (which
I heard was the limit imposed to enable the powers that be to spot illicit
(?), activity), by money order every month. It was also rumored he would
stash the remainder in coffee cans and bury the cans someplace around the
company area/Island. I do know for a fact, some of the guys tried to find
his stashes. No one ever did, and I don't know if, in fact there were any.
Seems more things come to mind all the time, a few I can think of, I don't
think I will relate. However, If I think of anything humorous or otherwise
of interest, I will pass it on.
Regards,
Arthur S. (Sam), Burford
91 Mason Road
Mexico, NY 13114-3122
Email: ABurffy@aol.com
From: ABurffy@aol.com
Date: Sun, 11 Apr 1999
Subject: Life near surface zero
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Keith,
It's a bit difficult to put all the why's and wherefor's of some of those
incidents together after so many years.
I seem to remember, as pertains to the dog S..t Head, he didn't bother
company officers. In fact he spent a lot of time laying on the pallet at the
entry to the Orderley Room tent. He got in trouble when we were being
inspected by a higher command, whether the Island Commander, or some other, I
don't recall. I know S..t Head, took a dislike to one of the officers in the
retinue. I don't know if S..t Head actually bit anybody, or simply scared
them? I do know the MP's came and took S..t Head away, to be summarilly
executed at some undesignated time. I also am not sure, but I think that
incident started the "Ethnic Cleansing," of dogs from Eniwitok
I don't think I ever knew where those dogs came from. AF personnel would be
the most likely source. It seems once the first two or three dogs were gone,
there were no more introduced to the Island, so maybe an order of prohibition
came down to commands?
Now that you mention it, I also recall being told (I believe this was during
Greenhouse), about someone trying to swim back to the states. I don't recall
any of the details, but think he may have started from the EM Club.
During operation Ivy, several of us were sitting in the club one night, there
was a three or four Air Force personnel at the next table. I noticed this
one character seemingly chewing on his glass. I watched, somewhat amazed,
sure enough he was chewing the heck out of that glass, and no one seemed to
be paying attention.
I leaned over and tapped one of the Airmen on the shoulder telling him
somthing like, "Hey, your buddy there is eating his glass!" The guy just
sort of gave me a "Ya, Ya, Ya, get lost," response. So, I just sat there and
watched the guy eat glass. Actually sort of interesting, it ain't every day
you see a guy eating glass. Finally blood started running out of the guy's
mouth, and all of a sudden these guys he's was sitting with seemed to take
notice?
When we left Eniwitok at the end of our Greenhouse tour. He had packed up a
crate of mechanics hand tools of assorted sizes and uses. The crate was
marked TAT (to accompany troops), and addressed to our unit at the new
assignment in Camp Stoneman, CA. We sure didn't have any tools going over,
and at Camp Stoneman, the motor pool was already equipped with tools.
While at Desert Rock, several of our unit were assigned to conduct a motor
convoy to some 3rd Corps, HQ. As I recall this was near Sta. Maria, CA. I
don't remember what our mission was. This same Lt. was in charge of the
convoy, and a Sargent First Class (SFC), had been assigned from one of the
other units at Desert Rock a second in command. I was the Lt.'s driver. We
drove to a some point not to distant from Bakersfield. I believe it was
getting late in the afternoon or evening. The Lt., SFC and other NCO's
discussed whether to try to continue on to 3rd Corp HQ, or go to an Airbase
enroute, and put up there for the night? It was decided to leave it up to
the men, ensuring them that whatever time remaining until Monday of the
following week would be free time. I believe this would put us at our
destination on either Friday or Saturday morning, so it gave everyone a
pretty good brake. No contest, the vote was to continue on! I believe we
had been on the road a total of 18 hours when we reached our destination.
Upon reaching our destination, the Lt. made necessary arrangements to
accommodate the troops. While getting settled in the SFC approached me and
asked if I wanted to go to Camp Stoneman. I really had nothing to go to Camp
Stoneman for, but the SFC said the Lt. and he were taking the jeep and going
on to Camp Stoneman, if there was anyplace I wanted to go in the immediate
area, they would drop me there. I did have some old acquaintences living at
Vallejo, CA., so said, "Sure, why not?" The group ended up comprising the
Lt., SFC, myself and one other EM, whose name I don't recall.
It wasn't till several weeks later I learned there was some legal action
being brought against the Lt. and our CO, a Captain. It seems the Lt. was
not on official business when he proceded on to Camp Stoneman, (actually he
was going to his residence in Pittsburg, CA. just outside Camp Stoneman)! I
also learned the SFC had been a plant by the his CO, to report back to him
any deviation from orders, illigal activities, and/or I suppose, anything
that could be used to put our CO in a bad light. I understand from
testifying, that the SFC had reported (in addition to the side trip), that
the Lt. had forced the men to conduct and extended march on to the
destination, endangering the safety of personnel.
When the inquiry was all over and done with, I think the other CO wound up
with egg on his face. I certainly had no interest in protecting my CO, who
all concidered a Jerk of the 1st order. However I truthfully testifyed that
we had continued to drive to the 3rd Corps HQ. at the desire of the majority
of the men. I also testified it was the SFC, not the Lt., who asked me to go
on the trip to Camp Stoneman, involving unauthorized use of a Gov't vehicle.
I also testifyed that the SFC had not informed me the trip to Camp Stoneman
was anything other than official. Did I know better? ProbabIy or at least
had some reservations. I still am not sure how our command got aroung the
issue of unofficial use of a government vehicle?
I have some more stories of Desert Rock. Would you believe the 6th Army Band
(or a portion of it), was assigned to Desert Rock for a while in the fall of
1951? A buddy and I were taking our weekly shower one night. I heard two
people talking nearby showers and thought to myself, "Holly cow, this must be
WAC's night!" I don't recall ever seeing a WAC around there, but I told my
buddy, "Hey man, there are a couple of women in here." He said, "Naw, that's
just a couple those AH's from 6th Army Band." This I'll swear to.
I also remember the old wrecked Japanese freighter in the narrow passage
between Eniwitok and Parry Island. I made out the name to be something like,
"Cracker Jack Maru?" It looked like the Japs had got excited during the
invasion and run aground, or maybe took a hit and then run aground.
There were also some pretty big Monitor Lizards on Parry. I heard
conflicting stories about whether or not they were dangerous. I made sure
the lizards I saw were given plenty of room to manuever...as was I.
I enjoyed swimming and we were at one time allowed to swim along the
shoreline on the lagoon side of the Island. We had been warned about those
fish that might be dangerous, and against trying to handle them, or doing
anything that might antagonize them. I remember one day coming eye ball to
eye ball with a Moray Eel. The Moray Eel was completely concealed (except
for head), in the coral which formed the shore line wall, which at that
point, was just that, a wall. If you stepped into the water, it was straight
down for several feet. That Moray's head was probably 6 inches in diameter.
I sure wanted to examine him closer, that is until he grinned, snarled, or
grimmaced, showing his teeth. It was at that point I decided to move
on...quickley!
I remember also having some serious reservations about swimming with the
sharks that inhabited the lagoon at Eniwitok. However, I was informed they
were Sand Sharks and for the most part harmless. Eventually I got used to
seeing them gliding by with a "Pilot Fish," attached to their belly's, and
know of no instance of their attacking anyone.
Speaking of abnormal behavior. Their were several of the men in my unit who
had been together since basic. This one kid seemed to have an aura about him
that drew gay's, as it seems they were always hitting on him. I recall
sitting next to him in the outdoor theatre on Eniwitok one night. Out of the
corner of my eye, I saw this hand going up and down my friend's leg. My
friend didn't seem to be taking any action to stop the guy. After the movie I
asked my friend what the heck was going on. He didn't seem to be much
concerned about it?
One day a man who had transfered out of the 4th came into the company area.
He was a bit perterbed and asked if I knew the where abouts of above
mentioned individual? I told him where he could be located, and asked why he
was wanted? I was more or less told me it was none of my business, but to
let so and so know he had asked for him. I found out the guy from the 4th Trk
and the other guy had been occasionally meeting at the motor pool at night.
Seems the guy from the 4th Trk was about $20.00 in arears and the other guy
was being transfered to CONUS. Maybe it wasn't a mysterious "Aura," that
drew these guys to my friend. Maybe the word was being passed between those
with similar interests?
About the typhoon. As I mentioned, I was not there. However, one of our men
who was there, was from Lake Charles, LA., and had some experience with that
type of thing. I was told when this guy saw that wall of water coming, he
lost it and boogied out across the ball field. Some of the guys had to run
him down and bring him back. The fact the guy had broke and run bothered
him, though it didn't become apparent for several months. We were at a
company party one night, and the guy had done more drinking than usual (he
wasn't much of a drinker), he went completely our of control and had to be
forcibly restrained. From there he went to the medical ward and was later
medivaced out.
I think I am about to run dry on stories, lucky for both of us.
Sam
Email: ABurffy@aol.com
Keith Whittle
April 9, 1999
[ Operation Greenhouse ]
[ Operation Ivy ]
[ Operation Buster/Jangle ]
