Operation Plumbbob 1957
US Atomic Veterans
Robert LaRue
Robert LaRue sent email about his duty at Operation Plumbbob.
From: "Robert LaRue" rlarue@pvtnetworks.net
To: "Keith" pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Re: Atomic Veteran (Operation Plumbbob)
Date: Mon, 23 Oct 2000
Hi Keith:
I was a sergeant in the USMC (1527772), stationed at El Toro MCAS with H&HS,
3rd MAW, in 1957. I volunteered for the atomic testing program and we flew
from El Toro to Indian Springs some time in late June, I believe. I was a
photo interpreter (0241 MOS) in G-2 , and I was to be part of what I recall
was a helicopter envelopment problem associated with the test. Looking back,
I think the real function of all of us who were there was simply to be
dummies in the trenches. After all, what in the world would anyone be
assaulting Ground Zero for minutes after a blast? What's to assault?
At any rate, we were at Camp Mercury for several days, waiting for our shot,
which was a smallish little devil called Diablo. When the moment finally
came, us in our trenches and the countdown blasting over the PA, nothing
happened. The shot failed to detonate (some electrical malfunction, I heard
later). The PA voice immediately ordered us to stay in our trenches, and we
remained that way for some time. Finally, we were ordered to stand, but
"Keep your backs to the bomb." One wonders how much difference it might have
made which way we were facing if the bomb had gone off. At last we were told
to evacuate the trenches and "walk, do not run" to the trucks waiting to
take us back to camp. We did that, and when we were given liberty in Las
Vegas the next night (while we waited for another shot) we were the toast of
the town. The Las Vegas Sun's banner headline read: "Marines Turn Back on
Bomb." In addition, Jack Webb's popular film, "The DI," was playing in town,
so Marines were on everyone's mind. Needless to say, a good time was had by
all.
We were rescheduled for Shot Hood on July 5. We didn't know it then, but
Hood was to be the largest above-ground test ever conducted in the U.S.
(some 80kt). It also turns out that it was at least in part a thermonuclear
device, which the government for a long time denied having ever detonated in
the U.S. My recollections of the shot itself are as follows. Snugged down at
the bottom of a six-feet deep trench, the first thing I noticed after
countdown reached zero was an incredibly bright, white light filling my
head, as though someone had struck a match inside it. The light had
penetrated everything. Then came the first noise, a boom of stupendous
proportions, followed shortly by a crack of equal magnitude--two entirely
different kinds of sound but both huge and frightening. Then the earth
moved, the whole trench swaying and wriggling, some walls crumbling, and
then there was stillness. We were told to stand up and that we could look at
the bomb. As I stood, my eyes kept traveling upward, and upward, and upward,
following a thick trunk of boiling fire and smoke to the great mushroom top
that already sat on the area like the lid on a dutch oven. I couldn't move,
even when the order came to move out. A master sergeant gave me a boot in
the butt and told me to quit gawking and move, which I did. (The lessons of
Marine Boot Camp are never far from one's mind.) We then formed a line and
began walking in the direction of Ground Zero, all the while mesmerized by
that thick column of smoke and fire that continued to churn above us. At
last we reached what was called the 6-roentgen line, determined by men with
Geiger counters who preceded us. There we stopped and then boarded vehicles
that took us on a tour of damaged buildings and equpment that this shot and
others had created. Then it was time for showers and another Geiger counter
reading of our bodies (we threw our uniforms away, I think). We went home
the next day.
I can't recall anyone wearing a radiation badge, nor was there ever any
follow-up on our medical condition. I was completely trustful of the
authorities and never dreamed that they would put me in danger in this
non-combat situation. Of course, I was wrong. The government was careless of
us all, and the people in charge of Plumbob put us at great risk on a shot
like Hood just because we were handy. Of course, I went voluntarily. I
wanted to see an A-bomb. I am fortunate that I seem to have suffered no
ill-effects from my experience, and I don't regret having done it, although
it's not over yet. But I look at it as a unique part of a particular time,
my own time, and for me it has a special importance.
I'd like to hear from anyone who was there for Diablo and Hood and any other
Atomic Vets for that matter.
Bob LaRue
P.O. Box 192
Lincoln, NM 88338
Email: rlarue@pvtnetworks.net
Keith Whittle
October 25, 2000
[ Operation Plumbbob ]