Operation Greenhouse
Operation Tumbler/Snapper
Upshot/Knothole
US Atomic Veterans
Robert Campbell, Jr.
Subject: Death in Family
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2003
Fred Little, HM Master Chief, USN Ret. Retired Sept. 1, 1974. Residing at 253 Coleen St., Livermore, CA 94550-4021. Fred Little passed in the evening of Jan. 11, 2003. He was born Jan. 10, 1926 and was celebrating his 77 birthday the night before. Fred Little is survived by his wife Ellen Little and Sons in the aria and away in the military service.
From 1950 to 1953 Fred Little was a member of BuMedUnit #1 and was involved in Biomedical testing at Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory (NRDL) in the U. S. Naval Ship Yard, Hunters Point. San Mateo County, San Francisco California.
Operation Greenhouse 1950.
Operation Tumbler-Snapper 1952
Operation Upshot-Knothole. 1953
How short life is, one day we have our shipmates and the next day thy are sailing off into the sea an sky of blue.
Doc.
To: "Keith Whittle" pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Vegas Trip
Date: Wed, 4 Dec 2002
HI Keith.
Haven't written in some time and wanted to send you the story we put together from our Vegas trip. Hope you are doing well.
From: "Bob Campbell" hotdoc1@cox.net
To: "Keith Whittle" pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Las Vegas, 50 Years Latter
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 2003
Bu Med Unit #1
Returns 2002 Fifty Years Later
(Operation Tumbler-Snapper 1952)
Sunday June 16, 2002, 0800: Jack and Peter arrived, setup to take pictures of our departure to Las Vegas. There were two places Jack and Peter were not allowed to film, that was our bathroom and bedroom.
0830: Finished loading the car with plenty of water and fruit for the trip, as we were being filmed.
0855: Jack and Peter filmed us as we pulled out of our driveway and leaving. You would think that would be a simple thing "NOT", you think you want to be in the movies, try it some time.
0905: Departed Santee with clear and warm weather.
1000: Passing through Temecula heading north on I-15, the weather getting warmer and the smog increasing.
1015: Passing through Sun City on I-215, we always joke when we pass through here, on the east side of the highway in this order there is a Mobile Home Park, Ambulance Service, Convalescent Home and Mortuary. If you don't care to go that route, then last is Kentucky Fried Chicken. I forgot to say about 30 miles up the road is Riverside National Cemetery.
1050: San Bernardino and heading north towards Cajon Pass, junction of I-15 and I-215, the temperature rising and eye burning smog. Later that day and after arriving in Las Vegas, we learned a fire had started not long after we had passed through Cajon Pass. The flames and smoke were so heavy at times the traffic was at a complete stop. The fire burned for the best part of a week.
1200: Arrived in Barstow, which has grown so, I don't recognize a thing from fifty years ago. At times, during our drive from Santee, California to Las Vegas, Nevada, Jack and Peter were filming us in our car from their car, driving at times side by side and at a speed of seventy and eighty miles per hour. And to top it all off, what of the drivers that observes all this, you can't believe the looks we were getting at seventy and eighty miles per hour down the freeway.
1500: After a few wrong turns and driving through the masses of gambling crazed eyed pedestrians we finely arrived at the Imperial Palace. Pulled into the parking complex and was fortunate enough to find a parking space close to the entrance to the hotel. I forgot how hot it could get in Las Vegas in June. We made our way to the registration desk, which took us through the total gambling section of the casino, with Jack and Peter filming us all the way, you should have seen the looks we were getting. Normally casinos don't allow filming in the gambling areas. Keep in mind, from this time on, Jack and Peter will be filming us in most every thing we do. We went to our room, which was usual size with a queen size bed, two chairs, writing table and an open closet in one room and a bathroom. Turned on the air conditioner and proceeded to find who had arrived earlier.
Dixie Mock and Daughter
For Leo Mock Deceased December 2001
Walter Easterday and Wife Dolly
Danny Amato
Fred Little
Robert M. Campbell Jr. and Wife Jeanne
We checked and found that Danny and Fred had checked in on Friday and Dixie with her daughter had checked in earlier Sunday but weren't in their room so we left a message. So on our way to meet Danny and Fred, with Jack and Peter filming as we went. Into the elevators and down the hall ways to old shipmates I haven't seen for at least fifty years. Needless to say, it was a very emotional experience. Walter and his wife Dollie, flew in that night, so we weren't able to meet them until the next day. We later returned to our room and found after about three hours our room hadn't cooled down much. Dixie and her daughter showed up and after a short reunion the women decided to go look around the casino. While the women were away, I called the front desk to inform them of our plight and they sent the mantaintance men to correct the problem. I was informed that our room wouldn't cool down because it was on an outside wall and the weather condition were having at that time. We would have to move to another room just across the hall. We had unpacked and put every thing on hangers and in drawers. The men said, no problem, they would help me move before Jean returned. I walked into the new room and I couldn't believe my eyes. The living room with a wet bar, was as larger than the bedroom in the other place. For the bedroom that was something else. Canopy over the bed with mirrored ceiling. The bathing area, not a bathtub, could accommodate at least three persons at one time. And it had two solid walls, one clear glass wall, shower curtain and a mirrored ceiling.
Mon. June 17, 2002: Not much going on this AM. Jean had to go down and try her luck at the one-arm bandits while I am documenting our trip. Group Buffet, 1200 Noon Curtsey Imperial Palace. I belive this was the most emotional time of all. Shipmates meet again for the first time in fifty (50) years. To add to our emotions, we had the pleasure of hosting one of our deceased shipmate's wives.
All through the Imperial Palace at all the various Venues, were placards, "Welcome Camp Mercury Reunion Group"
Tuesday June 18: Danny and I in my car, Jack and Peter in their car and took a tour to the entrance of the Nevada Test Sight, Camp Mercury. On our way we stopped at Desert Springs, to find all the old buildings gone. The service station, repair shop and small bar. We did find the foundation of the old Service Station. Next was Cactus Springs, with all the old buildings gone and the new buildings all boarded up.
We then proceeded to the turn off to Camp Mercury as far as the "No Trespassing" Sign, which is electronically censored, we found out later, to control excess into the test sight. We were at such a distance we could not see the gate to Camp Mercury, so I drove just past the "No Trespassing" Sign and stopped. Grabbed my camera and Danny and I went back past the sign to where Jack and Peter had parked there car and started taking pictures. In doing so, I looking north in the direction of Camp Mercury. Off in the distance I noticed a vehicle heading our way at great speed and the closer it got I noticed it seem to have more than the normal amount of things sticking up from the roof of the car. Come to find out those things were antennas and the vehicle was Security from Camp Mercury. The vehicle speed past the sign made a U turn and parked in back of Jack and Peters car. In the mean time I was walking back towards my car while at the same time this enormous person exited from the security vehicle. He approached Peter and inquired if Peter spoke english and what did we think we were doing, (of course we knew what we were doing), at which time Danny was taking their picture. While this was occurring I was very inconspicuously driving out past the sign and retrieving Danny before he further compounded the situation.
1600; Hawaiian Luau for our group. With Jack and Peter filming all the time we were met at the entrance and escorted past all those in line and to our reserved table in the front row. On the way to our table very attractive and buxom young ladies dressed in Polynesian attire greeted us and gave us each a lei. Next we were directed to an area with tropical background and a group picture was taken. We each were asked the quantity of prints we wished and were delivered at no charge before we departed Las Vegas. After an exquisite luau buffet, Polynesian music and dancers entertained us. During an intermission and break for the entertainers, our group was recognized and I was asked to speak to the over six hundred (600+) persons in attendance. Yes Jack and Peter were stil filming us most of the time
Wed. June 19: We just relaxed and had a free buffet lunch, Curtsey Imperial Palace. During the day Jack and Peter were filming different individuals by them selves. During that afternoon we visited the car show in the Imperial Palace. That evening, we all went to the Legends in Concert. No line to wait in, escorted in to our own reserved table with drinks on the house. During the show, the headliner recognized us, and all the spotlights were turned on our table. After the show we were advised to go out to the front of the Imperial Palace. To our surprise at 9:30 that evening and every ten minutes "Welcome Camp Mercury Reunion Group" was in lights on the main marquee at the front of the Imperial Palace.
0715: Thu. June, 20: Group Tour to the Nevada Test Sight. All other tours are taken on a forty-passenger bus and not allowed to take visual or sound recording devices. We were provided our own Van and were allowed to see those things that were mainly of interest to our group, with one still camera and the commercial movie camera. We made a side trip around Camp Desert Rock, which is where the Army was camped. Now there are only the concrete slabs remaining where the tents would have been. Next we checked in and were all given badges for our trip into the test sight. Through the gate and on to the old mouse house, yes it is still there and I was able to take pictures. We were able to get out and were shown around inside. We were told the building was so "Hot", after we departed in 1953, that it was a long time before it was ever "cleaned" decontaminated and put back into use. It is now partly used as a library. After picking up our box lunches and bottled water at the cafeteria in Camp Mercury, which looks nothing like it did back in 1953, on for the long trip out to the test sights. The road we had traveled many times back in 1952 and 1953.
Keep in mind that Jack and Peter were allowed to film our complete trip, for the Documentary Film that will be shown on television when completed. I will keep all informed of completion and time of viewing.
The temperature was well over 100, which is not unusual for the middle of June. There was the usual wind blowing and with such low humidity the trip was bearable. We did have to remember to drink more than normal quantity of water during the trip to keep from dehydrating.
We entered into Frenchman Flat and to the left were still standing the old wood benches where the dignitaries would assemble to observe the above ground detonation of the Nuclear Devices. Naturally, the benches are in a state of disrepair and quiet watcher beaten and some are still standing and quite sturdy. Yes I was able to take pictures there and at all of our stops.
Then on to Yucca Flat and check in at the HAZMAT Office and get clearance to enter the test area. I belive this was the most emotional time for us all. We observed things, which we had not seen in over fifty years that brought back the memories that we had tried to depress. Yes we saw the old bank vault and train tressel, but then I spotted something out on the flats that none thought we would ever see again. It was the old test cylinders, the type we had placed and used in all three Operations in which we were involved fifty years ago. There they stood, defiant to all they had withstood during the test and the fifty some years of heat, cold and the elements of the desert. It was like seeing a ghost out of the past. Some may never understand our feelings. These cylinders were designed as exposer chambers to be used above and below the ground. These particular chambers above the ground were the ones in which we placed the canine and swine before the test and then had to go in and retrieve them after the dust had settled from the detonation. This was our job for three years. Not relaxing at that time that we too were as much a part of the test as the animals but for long range studies.
Bu.Med.Unit#1 were mostly Hospital Corpsman and for the most part, not to say there were not other rates, there were which were Rates of the Line. Our duties were to breed and raise swine, canine and mice then place them at the test sight.
On to the Apple II House, which was a house built for a test after we were there in 1953. We made a stop at the Sedan Crater, which was created July 6, 1962 during Operation Plowshares. It was a very impressive hole in the ground. At the time it was thought they could use nuclear energy for excavation. It was found it took to long for the radiation levels to dissipate for it to be economical. We could have told them that, back in 1953.
In departing we had to inform the HAZMAT Office we were departing their area. On to our last stop at News Nob. It was and still there on the east side of the road entering into Yucca Flat. Yes, most of the benches are still standing yet, weather and time has taken its tool. As we stood there and looked out over the test sight of Yucca Flat, many thoughts flashed through our minds of fifty (50) years ago to 1952 and 1953.
Each time, we were the first to enter and reenter into the test sight to retrieve our specimens. Each time exposed to unknown total amounts of radiation. Then returning to, now Building 701 (Mouse House) with our specimens where they were euthanized as to remove tissue samples blood and certain organs. In the year 2002, we were toled the Mouse House was so HOT when we left in 1953 it was years before it could be safely entered and completely decontaminated. Unknowing to us at the time, we had contaminated our own working space each time we returned with the specimens from the test sight. The dust we returned was on our clothes, now in our working space, where we prepared and drank coffee to have with donuts, breathing the air, all this for ten (10) and twelve (12) hours a day for three months in 1952 and 1953.
One thing comes to mind of the history of Bu Med Unit#1, the greater part of our Unit had witnessed at least and not less than, twenty-three (23) nuclear detonations from time our Unit was established in 1950 through 1953.
Fri. June 21, Dixie and her daughter left early this AM.
1600; Jack and Peter photographed Walter his wife and Jean and I playing the slot machines. Jack and Peter had flight back to New York at 10:00 PM.
Sat. June 22: Bob and I left Imperial Palace heading back to Santee, California 0700. Stopped in Barstow 0900 for gas. We arrived in Santee 1200. Walter and Dollie had an afternoon flight back to Tennessee 1:00PM. Had a wonderful experience in Dallas. As they we were carrying their Camp Mercury Poster around the airport, the American Airlines called them to the desk and informed them the Airlines was upgrading their flight to first class. The flight attendant was very sweet to them. She being from Nevada was familiar with Camp Mercury. Picked up our car in Nashville and arrived home at 0330 Saturday.
Danny was due to leave Monday back to California.
We are hoping for a larger group of the Bu Med Unit #1 for another reunion next year 2003. This reunion was a heart warming and very emotional experience for all that were able to attend.
Robert (Bob) Martin Campbell, Jr.
HM1 USN (RET)
mapacambel@cox.net
--Keith Whittle
January 25, 2003
Operation Greenhouse
Operation Tumbler/Snapper
Operation Upshot/Knothole