Martin D. Jacek
From: "David B. Fish" sea_denizen@peoplestel.net
To: Keith Whittle pdxavets@aracnet.com
Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2003
Subject:
Keith,
Marty Jacek and Richard Batchelor - both of whom were veterans of
the "Buster-Jangle" test series passed away earlier this year.
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From: Marty D. Jacek
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1998
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Atomic Veteran (Operation Buster/Jangle)
Hi Keith,
I was in the 188th Airborne Infantry Regiment, Company C, 11th Airborne
Division, 1st Battalion.
In 1951 we went to Desert Rock in Neveda. We flew there in a
C 47. When we got there we were put in a squad tent. The next day we rode in trucks
out in the desert site to dig fox holes & sand bag the tops of them. We left
a film badge in the chamber of our rifle, we also carried one.
One morning they drove us out by the bomb site. We had dark glasses on to protect our eyes from the flash, our backs were turned toward the blast.
The first thing we saw was a bright flash and you could feel the heat. Then came the rumble thorough the mountain. We then turned around & saw a large mushroom. When the mushroom cleared we then walked toward the center of the blast, until we were stopped about one mile from the center of the blast.
There were burned sheep still alive. The tanks & planes were all scorched. Then we returned to camp with our rifle & film badges. I remenber one day the wind blew so hard it tore down our squad tent. You just can't tell how much radiation was in that wind, but I guess there could have been a great deal.
Since then I had cancer of the larynx. I had chemo.& radiation treatment.
The V.A. give me 100 percent disability & then dropped it down to 30. I'm fighting this decision. My records are in Washington D. C. B.V.A. I should hear from them about October or so.
I have more trouble now than when I had the cancer.
I have the names of the whole Battalion that was there. Thats all I have for now.
Marty D. Jacek
--Keith R. Whittle
August 31, 1998
Buster-Jangle