Advisor
U.S. Atomic Widow
Coralie Teed
From: avquest@worldnet.att.net
To: Keith pdxavets@aracnet.com
Dear Keith,
I met my husband, A3c LLoyd Teed, in 1955, weeks after his separation
from service. Because of their "secrecy oath" he told me only that he
had been involved in the first hydrogen test in which an island had been
blown away, his plane had flown into or through the mushroom cloud and
that he and 4 or 5 other men on that plane had developed leukemia.He was
told he might be sterile or if he had children they could be abnormal.
In 1961 or'62 he was told by his VA doctor that he was the last
surviving of the men on his plane. In June 1964 he died from lymphocytic
leukemia at the age of 32 years.
After a hassel with the DNA in trying to get any records of his test
participation I began to reconstruct his service years from orders he
brought home and his medical records and a search for additional info.
He was with the 509 Bomb Wing-509 Air Refueling Squad stationed at
Walker AFB, Roswell, NM. from Nov,'51 til Sept,'53, at which time he
participated in the "IVY' test series. He was then reassigned to the the
42nd BW "H", 42nd Air Base Group,75th Bomb Squad at Limestone AFB,
Limestone, Me. I suspect he may have participated in "Castle " at this
time. The DNA report on "IVY" does list the 509 as participants. I also
strongly believe that he was a Military and VA medical experimental
patient.
My disturbing education regarding the abhorrant treatment of the Atomic
Veteran began when I became a regional coordinator for NAAV in the early
1980s. I still have copies of many of the early newsletters.
I'm still looking for fellow (Paul Tibbets Group) 509 participants or
survivors and feel I've learned much over the last twenty years that
might be of assistance to others.
Thanking you,
Coralie Teed
Email: Corallie Teed