Operation Sandstone
US Atomic Veterans
Dean Booster
From: boosterd@attbi.com
To: "Keith Whittle" pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Operation Sandstone
Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2001
Greetings, Keith,
My participation in Operation Sandstone began on 12 January 1948, when I received orders for a six-month tour of duty aboard the USS Mount McKinley AGC 7. The ship was berthed at Long Beach CA. Nothing in the orders provided even the faintest hint of what was ahead. The Mount McKinley turned out to be the flagship of Joint Task Force Seven which was commanded by Lt. Gen. John E. Hull, U.S. Army. I reported aboard the USS Mount McKinley on 14 January and was assigned to the Flag complement. My rate at the time was Signalman 3.
During the next two weeks, there was a great deal of activity on board. Certain parts of the ship were off limits to most people. We were never informed why, but we were pretty sure that something big was taking place because the restricted areas were guarded 24-hours a day by U. S. Marines. We were instructed not to tell anyone, including family members, where we were going or the nature of our mission. Most of us did not know where we were going or what our mission was, so complying with those orders not a problem.
On 29 February, the USS Mount McKinley departed Long Beach en route to Eniwetok Atoll via Pearl Harbor. Other ships in company with the Mount McKinley included the USS Bairoko CVE 115, USS Duncan DD 847, USS Rogers DD 876, USS Curtiss AV 4, and USS Albemarle AV 5. We arrived at Eniwetok Atoll on 16 March.
According to my notes, three atomic weapons tests were conducted during the next six weeks: Test X-ray on 1 April, Test Yoke on 15 April, and Test Zebra on 1 May. However, I remember details of only the one above-ground test. The Mount McKinley was stationed approximately seven miles from Ground Zero. The signal bridge became a very popular place as the test preparations proceeded because it offered an unobstructed view of the test sight. At times, the signal bridge rail was crowded to the point that the signalmen on watch had difficulty getting to a signal light and respond to an incoming message. The fact that the coffee pot was always on and readily accessible was also an attractive feature. Although I have no verification, the rumor was that the signal gang went through 25 pounds of coffee grounds on the day of the test. But, I know one thing for sure, the signal gang did not drink all of that coffee.
As the detonation time approached, personnel on the weather decks were given procedural instructions to be followed at the time of the blast. The primary concern seemed to be the potential for serious eye damage from the extremely bright light that would be associated with the blast. I don’t recall ever being warned about potential radiation hazards. Only persons who had been issued the appropriate dark glasses would be permitted watch the actual detonation. All others, which included most of us, were directed to turn our backs to the test sight, close our eyes, and cover our faces with our arms. The actual brightness of the flash produced during detonation had not been overstated. Even with the precautions taken, I could almost see through my arms.
After the initial flash of light, we were permitted to uncover our eyes and turn toward the test site. The rising fireball was a seething mass of white, yellow, red, and black colored material. The color photographs I have since seen did not do justice to the real thing. It was a most spectacular event. We could see the shock wave radiating out from Ground Zero and could follow its progress as it moved toward our ship. When it arrived at our location, it was like being hit with a short blast of high-velocity air. We could also feel the heat from the detonation. Almost immediately, the drone planes and various light aircraft were crisscrossing the sky in and around the blast site. We watched the fireball continue to rise and finally disappear from sight. It was relatively quiet on the signal bridge for sometime after that.
On 21 May, the USS Mount McKinley departed Eniwetok Atoll en route to Oakland CA via Pearl Harbor. We arrived in Oakland on 4 June, whereupon I was detached from the Flag complement of Joint Task Force Seven and directed to report to the US Naval Receiving Station, Pier 99, Seattle WA.Thus, my active duty tour with Operation Sandstone ended as it had begun--at a US Naval Receiving Station awaiting further assignment.
Sincerely,
Dean Booster
Corvallis OR
boosterd@attbi.com
--Keith Whittle
July 23, 2000
Operation Sandstone