Paul A. Pepin
At 11:41 AM 8/29/04 EDT, Deborah Pepin wrote:
Click here: Pepperelll Free Press - Obituaries I guess the article explains it all.
Paul passed away August l8th...a blood clot in the lungs. I just wanted to
let you know. You were so kind to him.
God bless
Deborah Pepin
From: JPepin3333@aol.com
Date: Mon, 2 Aug 1999
Subject: SIMON
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Dear Buddy
Please add my story to the roll call of horror stories I have just read.
I will soon be 67 years old. I have lost approx. 65 lbs of weight..have
extreme low blood pressure and skin cancer.
I was with the 3rd Armed Cav. stationed at Camp Pickett, Va. I was sent to
Camp Desert Rock for Shot Simon on 4-25-53. Like others that have written, I
saw the bones in my arms even though my head was down in the dirt of the
trench...I saw sheep burning in the bushes as we were ordered towards the
crater by COs. The intense light....the wind that blew...all too familiar.
I relive it almost every day of my life..we were warned we were on a top
secret mission and not to discuss anything that happened during our 3 day
stint at Camp Desert Rock. We had no badges..we were dressed in two sets of
fatigues.
We were rtd to Pickett....to have numerous blood and urine samples taken...I
was told my top teeth were rotten and would have to come out....and out they
came...they hadn't given me any trouble. But I was a green kid of 20 that
believed the Army knew what they were doing. THEY SURE DID.
After the test, 5 months later...we were told we were shipping out to Korea
and given leave. When we returned from leave all the participants from Shot
Simon had their orders changed to Germany. I suppose they wanted to keep a
watchful eye on their experiments.
I am writing not so much because of what has happened to me. It is my
children and grandchildren that are bareing the brunt of our Government's
terrible treatment. Our daughter's l4 yr. old daughter is autistic and
mentally retarded...our son's boy is 9-non-verbal and suffers from Soto's
Syndrome. You can imagine what this has done to our family.
I talked to many VA reps.....many VA Drs....and tried to get my
records...the formal reply was they were burned in that convenient fire many
years ago. I wrote several Senators....one of them got the records for me.
I have them and I am keeping them in a very safe place. God knows if it will
ever do my kids or my wonderful grandchildren any good. I know it is too
late for me...but if there is a God something should be done for our families.
I know I have written too much but I had to get it off my chest. Thank you
for being here for me....we have all been alone too long.
Sincerely
Paul A. Pepin
Email:JPepin3333@aol.com
From: JPepin3333@aol.com
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003
Subject: Fwd: (no subject)
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Dear Keith
Meant to tell you that a fellow from Pa. saw my letter in your website.
He was at tests too.....and has sent me pictures from a year book
that published after we left Nev. Most of the fellows I knew, are dead.
It means the world to me.
Sincerely
Paul A. Pepin
Email:JPepin3333@aol.com