Operation Dominic 1962
US Atomic Veterans
Bill "Doc" "Hickey
Bill "Doc" "Hickey sent email about his duty at Operation Dominic
Subject: Various Units Shown
From: bhickey@flg.com
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Date: 01/05/07
Keith,
USS Ponchatoula AO 148 was assigned to the area as a
refueling unit for the fleet. On most occcasions we would refuel
the fleet at night and then in the day time cruise around certain
areas waiting for the the evening to come again. The units
we were refueling were constantly cruising for foreign trawlers
and other vessels within the area that might be trying to observe
the tests or at least that is what were told.
Prior to a test blast
our vessel would pull around behind an island and anchor.
We would remain there until after the blast. Our crew was
informed that these blast were considered secret and no photographs
would be allowed during the test.
Once, we returned to Pearl Harbor the ONI came on board and you were given an amnesty
period to turn in any film you might have taken at the blast.
Then they search the vessel and when nothing was found, the crew
was allowed liberty.
At the back of this island was a lagoon
where once a month they would take the crew (except duty crew) and load them up on buses on an island. We would come to
a village and a check point. The MP would come on board the bus
and do a head count and give the driver a form. They would then advise
us not to get off the bus as the islanders were not real sociable.
These people were very primative and didn't really like us being
there. Once you reached the other side of the village another
head count was done to insure no one had gotten off the bus.
We would go to the back of the island where a lagoon was located
and the crew was given beer rations and the ability to swim in the
lagoon. Some tried climbing trees to get coconuts and others
just relaxed.
On board the USS Ponchatoula we continued to see sharks in the
area. Several of the crew decided they were going to catch one
using a very large DC plug, a hauser line we used on the winches,
a winch, special made treble, seasoning wire woven into a strong
leader, a whole chicken and an expired can of serum albumin.
They let the whole thing float away from the ship and finally a
shark came around. It took the bait and believe it or not it took
all the items above and cut the hauser line and swam off.
One of the most important things of this whole verture was
that during your time in the military you could see films on
nuclear blasts and they really didn't impress you much. When
we saw these go off, then the real impact of just how powerful
these weapons could be. No one who hasn't seen one detonated
cannot comprehend the power of a nuclear weapon and its capability
of destruction.
I served as the Corpsman on the USS Ponchatoula AO148.
You may be aware Navy corpsmen are versatile - we serve
the Navy and the Marines. In 1965 / 1966 I was assigned to the
3rd Marines and during July 4, 1966 was wounded three times
and later received the Navy Cross. In 1991 / 1992 I was recalled
for Desert Sheild/Desert Storm with the 2nd Marines. Reached
Kuwait on Liberation day and then stayed as part of the reactionary
force.
May God Bless All Servicemen and Their Families.
Each One Pays The Ultimate Price for this Country
Bill "Doc" "Hickey
bhickey@flg.com
Keith Whittle
February 11, 2007
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