Baker Day
July 25, 1946
Thursday
Dear Mom and Dad,
Hi Folks, here I am again with a few lines. I'm feeling okay and I hope everyone is okay back there.
I imagine you've been wondering what today was like for me. I'll tell you everything I can remember. Hope it gets thru all right. We left the lagoon yesterday at about one PM. Up until eight thirty this morning we just cruised around kept in formation. At eight thirty we came to a dead stop and at 8:35. The A-bomb exploded. It was really a perfect day for it.
We were only out about 10 or twelve miles from the explosion and we could see the island and the target array very clearly. The explosion was really something to see. First came a small cloud up from the water leaving a large hole in the water. Then immediately it was followed by a large sprout of water and what looked like billowing clouds, close to the surface. The water went a hell of a way up in the air and them started falling down. With pieces of a ship along with it. There weren't any big waves came out our way. In fact there was hardly a ripple. We could feel the ship quake as the detonation finally reached us, about two or three minutes later I guess. I heard an explosion but I guess it was one of the ships blowing up. As I told you before, we expected to be out cruising around for four or more days but about two hous after the detonation occurred we were starting to enter the lagoon. Our ship had it quite easy. As soon as we got in the lagoon we went directly to pur berth and anchored. And here we've been ever since. We radiomen had to stand watches yesterday and today but we managed to get secured at about five this evening. This easy life is spoiling me. I even hate to stand watches for that short of time.
I suppose you wonder if I have any idea how soon we will leave here now that the test is over. I sure wish I knew. The Captain expects to get a couple of towing jobs to Kwajalein, and maybe Pearl Harbor and then finally get a tow to the states anyway because I'll have a better chance of staying aboard.
Well, folks, thats about it for tonite. Don't know when this will be mailed. In a day or two I suppose. So long and take it easy.
Loads of Love,
Bud