Operation Sandstone
Oregon Atomic Veterans
John R. Cadwalader
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999
From:crharriet@uswest.net
To: Keith pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Operation Sandstone
Daddy took part in
Sandstone on the Mt. McKinley. He has just recently (and for the first
time) painstakingly written down experiences from the Mt. McKinley
during Korea and forwarded them to the Mt. McKinley Association's
Newsletter. I have forwarded much of the atomic information I have
found on the internet to him and he has shared it with his family doctor
who has taken GREAT interest in it. Thanks for your time.
Sincerely,
His daughter,
Harriet Cook
Federal Way, WA
I went on board USS Mount McKinley early 1948 to go to Eniwetok for three atomic bomb tests. We had to face away without glasses, they were too bright for naked eyes. I wore glasses on the third test, and even with a very, very dark glass it was almost too bright to look at. IT WAS A VERY SPECTACULAR SITE!!
I think the deck force got too much radioactivity because we had to wash and mop decks and then THROW ALL THE MOPS OVERBOARD!!
Several months afterward I felt ill and weak, and have continued ever since. I was still able to do my duties though, of cleaning around the smoke stack and bow-hook on the Captain's GIG.
Under way I was lookout on the Bridge and crow's nest and LOVED IT !!
As remembered by
John (Jack) Cadwalader
5987 Main Street
Springfield, OR 97478
--Keith Whittle
January 11, 2000
Operation Sandstone