Operation Castle
US Atomic Veterans
Louis Culver
Louis Culver sent email about his duty at Operation Castle.
From: Louisculver@aol.com
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001
Subject: Re: Atomic Veteran (Operation Castle)
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Hi Keith,
Got the web site address from Tony DiDomenico who was aboard Bairoko at the
same time I was. In fact we went through "P" school in Norman Okla., and "A"
School in Memphis together and both got orders to USS Bairoko. He ended up
in V-1 Division and I went to V-3. He was on the Flight Deck and I was on
the Hanger Deck.
The information I have gotten from this web site has really
brought back and refreshened memories of that cruise. We were told not to
tell anyone where we were going. In fact, we really didn't know. There was
some speculation but everything was hush hush. It was the first time I
filled out a backgroung information sheet for a Secret Clerance. (But not
the last time).
At the time of the Bravo shot I was one the many on the
Flight Deck facing aft for the 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-zero countdown. The
darkness of morning was replaced with a sky as bright as noon in that
nanosecond after zero. The heat, not overbearing seemed to come quite soon
after detonation. After the alloted time we were allowed to face forward and
What a Sight! The Nuclear cloud was rising at an incredable rate and it
contained brilliant reds, oranges, purple and other colors. A sight that
cannot be adequately descrrbed but will never be forgotten.
I don't remember
how long after, but the shock wave could be observed coming because all the
little clouds evaperated in its path as it approached. The shock wave wasn't
a real big push, more like a vacuum passing that you could feel in your ears
as it seemed to pull the air out of them. Then the cloud started anviling
out like a Cumulo Nimbus Thunderhead but it was heading our way. Eventually
we received our "snowfall" of coral ash and sand. The rest is well
documented at the web site.
It was really hot below decks but at least we
who were sent below after the first stage were lucky and got very little
radiation. Gamma only and little or no beta. Later some of us were sent to
some island to monitor and clean up some mess. I don't remember what island
it was but it was not the site where the tower had been. We stayed long
enough for our badges to read high enough that we had to return to the ship.
It was really an experience later in 1962. I was aboard the USS Independence
(CVA-62) during our Operation and Readiness Exercises off the coast of Cuba.
One of the drills we had to pass was a Nuclear Attack. The exercise was much
like the one we did in real time on Bairoko in 54. All ventilation was
secured, all hands were ordered below decks and all hatches secured. The
water washdown system (much more sophisticated than hoses with holes in them)
was activated for a period of time that would have washed down any
radioactive debris. I remember thinking "Wow! If it haden't been for our
experience and actions in 1954 they wouldn't know what to do in the event of
radioactive fallout." My shipmates in the Independence griped as much about
the AC and venilation being cut off and the resulting heat as we did during
the real thing.
I remember our "liberty" parties while there. Swimming in the lagoon
gathering coconuts, finding old leftover WWII equipment that was dumped after
the war, and the shipmate that we lost who drowned because he swam out too
far and got caught in the rip tide. Getting to go to the Exchange in Kwajalin
(spelling) and the other shots that just couldn't compare to Bravo.
A lot happened after that. I was released to the inactive Reserves in 54.
Went to school, changed my rate which resulted in my being called back to
active duty in 1960. Stayed in E-4 to E-9, then Warrant to CWO-4. Many tales
during those years but nothing ever came up to the thrill of March 1954.
Thanks for being there.
Louis Culver
Smithville, Tx
Email: Louisculver@aol.com
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