Hardtack 1958
US Atomic Veterans
J.W.Brooks
J.W.Brooks sent email about his duty at Operation Hardtack.
From: mrhobnob@aol.com
Date: Tue, 30 May 2000
Subject: Operation Hardtack
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Hi,
My name is J.W. Brooks, I served on the USS De Haven, DD 727 during
Operation Hardtack, in 1958.
My shipmates all knew me as "Tex" Brooks, I was on
the De Haven from 10/57 to 3/61.
I remember a lot about most of the tests that we were involved in. I was a
GM3, so I was either on lookout, or on my gun mount on the 02 deck. I remember
the Wahoo shot very well, they had us write a letter home the night before.The
De Haven was said to be 3 miles from the shot. We were at G.Q. when it went
off, but it seemed much closer. I was mount captain of mount 34 on the 02
deck, there were people from the DOD up there with us with cameras. We were
running with a full wash down system going when it went off. At that point
all that we could see was this black line coming at us through the ocean, it
was the shock wave. When the shock wave hit the ship, it hit with a
"whomp", shaking the ship and popping rivets out of the deck. After the shot, we
went back into Enewetak where they gave us our letters, that we had written
the night before, back to us.
I remember a lot more about shot "Orange" at
Johnston Island. I would like to relate it sometime.
Thanks for being there,
Wayne Brooks
Cherry Grove, OR
Email: mrhobnob@aol.com
Keith Whittle
June 2, 2000
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