From: Bridge6945@aol.com
Date: Tue, 25 May 1999
Subject: Operation crossroads
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Robert Bridgman, Carpenters Mate 2/c. I am an atomic veteran from Operation
Crossroads. My ship was the San Marcos LSD 25. I participated in the Able
and Baker Tests.
We were one of the first ships to arrive at Bikini. I remember it as a
beautiful atoll where I could see the bottom at a 100 float depth. The first
day we arrived i caught a 15 pound tuna off the ship.
We left Bikini for Eniwetok to pick up some LCM's to be used in the test.
They were in bad condition and must have been left after the battle for
Eniwetok.
Back in Bikini our job was to take care of LCM's and LCVP's. The first job
was a LCI that lost a screw. The LCVP's (Drons) were used to run in and out
of the atomic cloud to check for radiation. LCVP was made of plywood.
That's where the need for a carpenter's mate came in.
In the Able test a rain squall came up between us and the cloud and as a
result we didn't see the cloud at all until it was about 32,000 feet. No one
had glasses and we were told to put our head between our legs and only look
when we felt the heat on the back of our necks. The first thing I thought of
was the old saying: Put your head between your legs and kiss your ass
good-bye.
We went back to Bikini to check our boats. Our ship was pretty hot but no
one mentioned anything about radioactivity. I only saw one Geiger Counter
the entire time I was in Bikini. A civilian came aboard our ship with one.
It was clicking like a dice game. Everyone made a joke of it.
We were kept in the dark as far as radioactivity was concerned. We stopped
using our evaporators (probably because the ship was so hot) and would take
on water from a tanker from Pearl Harbor. For washing it was salt water
showers.
I extended for six months to participate in the Baker test. The Navy
promised a 30 day leave then later changed its mind.
They took away our cameras for the Baker test but not before I got pictures
of the Nagato and the Sakawa as they came into Bikini.
I had a ring side seat for the Baker test. We were close enough to see the
aircraft carrier Saratoga go down after the blast. I took about 6 hours.
After the blast the sharks were so thick around our ship you could walk on
them. Some of the Officers took target practice on the sharks. After the
Baker test we took care of our boats. Took aboard an LCI sailed to Kwajalein.
Before leaving, a tanker ran aground at the Enyu Channel entrance. That put
one on each side of the entrance to Bikini. We left Kwajalein along with a
Sea going Tug towing a dry dock for Pearl Harbor. I was discharged November
29, 1946 in San Francisco, and remained in the Naval Reserve for 7 years. I
finished High School and College on the GI Bill and then taught school for 30
years. I am still in good health with no side effects from Operation
Crossroads that I am aware of at age 75.
I would be interested in hearing from other veterans and would like for you
to post this to you website if you would be so kind.
Thank you,
Robert G. Bridgman
E-Mail Bridge6945@aol.com
[ Operation Crossroads ]