Operation Redwing
US Atomic Veterans
Ronell C. Brown, Sr.
Ronell C. Brown, Sr. sent email about his duty at Operation Redwing.
From: Rbaracoa@aol.com
Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2000
Subject: Atomic Vet.
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
I joined the US Navy on October 12th, 1953. After boot camp (three month
later) I was assigned to the USS Badoeng Strait (CVE-116) until my first
discharge December 17, 1956. As Navy records will prove, the Badoeng Strait
was one of the ships which participated in Atomic bomb testing in the
Marshall Islands in or around 1955. I was exposed to massive amounts of
radiation as a result of those tests. Nothing concerning this event nor the
fact that I could have been was exposed to agent orange while in Vietnam from
Dec. 1967 through Dec. 1968, was taken into consideration when processing me
for retirement. I was finally discharged from service for retirement in
1978. Since my retirement, I have been diagnosed with high blood pressure,
diabetes and prostate cancer.
In order to express my concern and to determine if I an entitled to any
veterans benefits, I contacted the office of the President and later the
National Association of Atomic Veterans, both via regular mail. I tried in
vain to contact your office via telephone 1-800-955-1186. All attempts to no
avail. I would like very much to continue working because I am only 64 years
old. However, due to complications related to the ailments identified above,
working for me is impossible. I would like to be evaluated by the Veterans
Administration to determine if overlooking my medical conditions during my
retirement discharge was appropriate. I believe it was not.
Can your organization help me or put me in touch with someone who can?
Please reply this time.
Thank you
Ronell C. Brown, Sr.
Chesapeake, Va.
Email: Rbaracoa@aol.com
Dear Keith:
Thank you for responding so quickly. I was pleasantly surprised. This is
the first time anyone has responded to me in a personal way and I appreciate
it.
You are right, the name of the event was indeed "Operation Redwing." At the
time I was an 18 year old seaman assigned to the third division (on the
fantail). I have never forgotten the Bing Ding which was my first ship. Our
CO during that deployment was Capt. Joe Jaap.
I remember being ordered to the flight deck to witness each blast, I'm not
sure how many, 6 or 8 I believe. I remember being required to wear two sets
of dungarees, black glasses and being ordered to turn away from the blast. I
remember seeing the light and shortly thereafter feeling the hot wind over my
entire body. I also remember how frightened I was and how the horror has
lasted in me through out all these many years. To this day the memories
continue to haunt me.
I also have good memories of the Badoeng Strait. During my years in the
Navy, I served on 9 ships. Although Bing Ding was my first, I remember her
best.
Thank you again for writing to me. Keep in touch.
Ronell C. Brown, Sr.
Chesapeake, Va.
Email: Rbaracoa@aol.com
Keith Whittle
July 24, 2000
[ Operation Redwing ]