Operation Redwing
US Atomic Veterans
Gerald M. (Jerry) Callahan
Gerald M. (Jerry) Callahan contacted us by email about his participation during the Redwing atomic tests.
From: ifromchi@netzero.com
Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Re: Operation Redwing
Hi Keith,
I was on Eniwetak from April,1956 to May,1957. US Army, Opns Det (7126).
Originally I was assigned to the Packing & Crateing warehouse in the depot area where we made boxes & crates to ship all the govt. gear (weapons, office equipment, etc) back to the states.
Later I went to the QM warehouse and worked for Cpl. Lloyd. Here we handled all the incoming supplies from the US and issued it out to all units on the islands. I even worked as a waiter at Swimmers Tavern for a little while. Anything to pass the time.
During the Enewetak shots we lined up on the beach to observe. The first 2 or 3 shots I didn't have glasses so I turned my back to the blast. Like others have said, even with the eyes shut tight & an arm across the eyes the arm bones looked just like looking at an x-ray (pretty scary the first time). The rest of the series I had glasses so I faced right at ground zero. Now there was a scary sight, the fireball itself, looked like it was climbing forever. Then the shock wave, then on to breakfast or whatever. Outside of the shots themselves it was pretty monotonous duty, work all day, drink at night, count the days till rotation.
Hope to hear from anyone who was there at that time.
Gerald M. Callahan
Email: ifromchi@netzero.com
Keith Whittle
February 27, 1999
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