Jesse W. Huffman sent email about his duty at Operation Castle.
From:jhuffman@hypertech.net
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Operation Castle
Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2002
This Jesse Huffman. I participated in Operation Castle at Eniwetok in 1954. I had heard about the NAAV and am interested in it and anyone that was there. I was a cryptographer with the Signal Corps Detachment 7.2. I have many vivid memories about Eniwetok and the Nuclear Testing. It was such of a long time that we had to be silent about the Operation. Many things came back to me. Especially the enormous devestation a nuclear bomb can have. I will send some more about my experiences.
Jesse w. Huffman
From:jhuffman@hypertech.net
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Operation Castle
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2002
Keith,
One day I was using this computer and stumbled on to the National Association of Atomic Veterans. This was really great. I am proud of the association and I am proud to be an Atomic Veteran. I participated in Operation Castle in 1954. I am proud, like many others to have a part in this historical Operation. I met so many good men that served there.
I can recall the first day at Eniwetok. It was wintertime when we left the States and the weather was cold. When we arrived at Eniwetok we were taken to the mess hall to eat. We had our coats and ties on and carrying our overcoats (the army still does that). The temperature there that days was about 98 degrees. As the "short timers" came by we got a lot of signals from them, such as, You would be better off to cut your throat. White meat also was used. We finally removed our coats and ties and got our first taste of "Gooney Bird", served in the mess hall. There was one thing good about the place, they served good food, and all you wanted to eat.
I had been there just a few days when the first test was detonated. This was the largest shot that was ever detonated by the USA. The explosion was much more powerful than was expected. We were told the wind shifted and the cloud was coming toward us and we have to evacuate. They had planned to put us aboard a ship that was waiting nearby. A few minutes later they told us the wind had shifted and we would not have to evacute.
The test shots went off the darkest time of the night, just before dawn. I will never forget one of the things I remember just before the shot. I was thinking, here I am a country boy from Arkansas and here I am, witnessing a part of history. And really it has been a part of a controversal segment of history.
I was a cryptographer with the U.S. Army Signal Corps. My unit was the Signal Detachment Task Group 7.2. I have many memories about the Operation and the buddies that I worked with. I still have a picture that was taken of our company before I left to go HOME. I can still recognize many of the men. Some of the buddies names: Bill Larkins "Red" Lang, Bill Eanes, Sal Arena, Tom Slocum, Jack Armstrong, John Kenelly, Bill Daniels, and many more.
I want to pass on this sad note. Lieutenant Edwin Maulding died about three years ago. He was the Commanding Officer of the Signal Company. He and I met about 1970. He too, was from Arkansas and we met while going to summer school at the University of Arkansas. We were both school administrators. It has been tough keeping all of this classified material inside. I believe that we can now have a healing process. We can now tell "Our Story".
I hope to hear from anyone that was there at that time.
God Bless.
Jesse W. Huffman
P.O. Box 431
Clinton, Arkansas.
Email:jhuffman@hypertech.net
Keith Whittle
March 20, 2002
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