Operation Ivy
US Atomic Veterans
Richard L. Harley
R. L. Harley sent email about his duty at Operation Ivy.
From: "LordCody" lordcody@teleport.com
To: "Keith" pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Re: Operation Ivy (1952)
Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2000
I was on the USS Rendova CVE-114. Flagship of the operation. We had an admiral aboard
during the two tests that occurred during Operation Ivy. The captain of the ship at the time (I believe) was Captain Renfro. I will be sending some pictures in the near future. The incident of the lost aircraft, I remember very little of it, as the situation aboard the USS Rendova was rather hectic during a couple days after the Mike detonation, (as well as a month before).
As I recall the aircraft aboard was in the air continually for several days, primarily as a taxi service for the scientists and related personnel. There was a scientist there during the operation by the name of, Dr. Carl Morgan. I spoke with him a few years ago and he was in the process of writing a book on the radiation levels and what the government professed
was radiation exposure. I have not been able to determine if he ever published his information. However, from what he told me, I believe things got a lot hotter than we are led to believe by the pentagon.
I was part of the catapult team, (AB3), however, I was assigned to a special formed divis-
ion put in place for liason for the admiral during his tenure aboard the ship.
I am 100% disabled under V.A care. PTSD as primary. thyroide and
fybromialgia, secondary (among other things). My wife (God bless her) is
the only reason why I was able to succeed in this endevor. Left up to me I
would have wound up under a bridge or worse. She had the fortitude to stay
the course and prevail.
For those who have given up on the government
battle, DON'T! There is a way for most to get thru to the V.A. but it is a
proccess that will take dedication (most of us don't want or have the
energy) to follow through. Perhaps at a later time I can be more precise
about a few things.
The names of a few who served during that time are:
Kenneth Hardie, Marysville, Ca., Neil (DUKE) Durgan, & Bobby Durgan of
Maine, Bobby Gene Blaikley of Texas, all enlisted personel. Lt. Harmes,
add, unknown.
The USS Rendova has a reunion every other year, information available.
Thanks for the response from the Internet.
Sincerly
Richard Harley,
Gresham, Oregon
Email: lordcody@teleport.com
Keith Whittle
September 22, 2000
[ Operation Ivy ]