Operation Greenhouse
Operation Tumbler/Snapper
Upshot/Knothole
US Atomic Veterans
Robert Campbell, Jr.
We were notified by Dick Conant (email: RUCON1@comcast.net that Robert M. "Doc" Campbell passed away Sunday, April 23, 2006.
Doc was a Past Director in the National Association of Atomic Veterans, Retired from the US Navy, was a Navy Corp Man, served in a BioMedical Unit participated in Atomic Atmospheric Tests in the 1950’s in the Pacific and Nevada Testing Areas. “Doc” was active in the assistance activities for Veterans, especially Atomic/Nuclear Veterans. Doc’s life touch many.
The family requests those desiring – make donations to the Disabled American Veterans in lieu of flowers. Internment will take place in about 3 weeks due to the heavy load at Fort Rose Crans.
For those desiring to communicate: Mrs Jeanne Campbell, 8701 Mesa Road #70, Santee, CA 92071-3629.
Robert (Bob) "Doc" Campbell served as the 2003-2004 Vice Commander for the National Association of Atomic Veterans.
Robert M. Campbell Jr.
8701 Mesa Rd. Sp#70
Santee CA 92071-3629
Phone: 619-596-2234
hotdoc0@cox.net | 
Robert Campbell.
|
Bu Med Unit # 1
50th Anniversary Reunion at Las Vegas
From: "mapacambel" mapacambel@cox.net
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Reunion Of Bu Med Unit#1
Date: Thu, 2 May 2002
We have been working on this for some time and it is finely coming together.
Sunday , June 16 thru Friday, June 20,
Imperial Palace,
Las Vegas, Nevada.
The film crew from New York that were here in San Diego last year with Jean and I , will be there to continue the documentary project on Bu Med Unit # 1 .
Present will be:
Walter Easterday and his wife. Walter was one of the crew on the M-Boat at Operation Greenhouse.
Dixie Mock and her daughter. Leo Mock (Deceased Lung Cancer), was the boat Coxan on the M-Boat at Operation Greenhouse.
Fred Little started with Operation Crossroads.
Daniel Amato (not married).
Daniel, Fred and I were together on Operation Greenhouse, Tumbler-Snapper and Upshot-Knothole.
Will keep you informed.
Bob.
From: mapacambel@cox.net
Date: Sat, 7 Apr 2001
Subject: Operation GREENHOUSE History
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Keith.
Since I first posted my short story with you, the story of BuMedUnit#1 at
Operation Greenhouse has grown concretely. Jointly we have put together what
I believe is a very interesting story. Every day I think I have it all on
paper, then something comes to mind and or a shipmate drops me an e-mail
with a name or his experience and that gets me thinking and I am off again.
If you would, place our new story of BuMedUnit#1 on Operation Greenhouse.
Robert M. Campbell, Jr.
HM1 USN Ret.
Activities of CTU3.1.2 Biomedical Unit at Operation Greenhouse.
From: mapacambel@cox.net
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2000
Subject: BuMedUnit#1
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
May of 1950, I was on duty at the US Navy Hospital (Balboa) in San Diego, San
Diego County, California, when I was informed of my new assignment by the
Medical Admed. Officer, Mr. Huntsinger, Commander MSC, USN, which was an old
shipmate of my father's who was LT. MSC, USN, during WW II and was a
patient at Balboa at this time.
Not many days past when my mom and dad started getting phone calls from
friends, past employers and school teachers of the past 15 years, wanting to
know what kind of trouble I was in because of questions from the FBI. I had
to be able to be cleared for Secret Clearance, later Top, then Queen.
Bu. Med. Unit 1 was formed by the Bureau of Medicine And Surgery in
Bethesda, Maryland, Washington, DC. We were a group of Navy Hospital Corpsman,
half of which were stationed at Bethesda Maryland, and the other half, US NAVAL
Radiological Defense Laboratory, at US Navy Ship Yard, Hunters Point, San
Francisco, San Mateo County, California. The total of our Unit was less than
thirty and we all had at least Secret Clearance in the states, and Queen
Clearance at test sites. Some of our co-workers had been at Bikini and Cross
Roads.
Bob.
I was with BuMedUnit # 1, from early 50's through 1953. I lived on Japtan for a year
and twice at the Nevada Test Site. Are any others left from BuMedUnit#1? I
remember, OTTO, HMC E-7, USN,
VIENSTRUM, Major, Veterinarian Corps. USA.
Danny AMATO, HN E-3, USN.
I was HN (E-3) USN at the time.
From July 14, 1950, to May 28, 1951, the Island of Japtan, Eniwetok Atoll,
Marshall Islands in the South Pacific, was not used for recreation nor did we
have a U.S.Army Radio Unit. Just before one of the last shots, when they used
the A-Bomb to detonate a Hydrogen Bomb (so we were told), at least it was the
biggest BANG we had witnessed. There were some Japanese fishing trollers
snooping around, so the Army sent a Machine Gun Unit from Parry Island for a
short time, until the day of the Shot.
Japtan was the only Island in the Atoll, with any Coconut Palm trees and a
lot of under growth. The Island was so small, one could run around it without
stopping. Then there were the Coconut Crabs and big green Tree Lizards as
large as your arm and about 3 or 4 feet long. We never did know how the Gun
Unit was going to deter a Landing Party.
After each shot, we had to go in and retrieve
our test animals at different intervals, just yards from Ground Zero (base of
the tower). Our test information was the most sought after at that time,
because we used, mice, dogs and swine, their tissue being the same makeup as
man. In all the tests our unit was in, we went into the test area within two
hours and returned numerous times that same day. Our protection was cotton
gloves, overalls and caps with masking tape around our wrist's and ankles.
I do not remember any unusual odors, nor was there a temprature veriation, that I
remember, close to ground zero out to the perimeter. I forgot to say, I think
we did have nasal filters, the type one would use for spray painting. You
have to remember we were there to retrieve our animals and get them back to
the Laboratory for organ testing. I do not remember that we even had pocket
dosimeters, what good would they had been, being on an island, we only had
one way off, and that was to get the samples back to the Laboratory by boat.
May 29, 1950, June 29, 1950, US NAVAL Radiological Defense Laboratory. At US
Navy Ship Yard, Hunters Point, San Francisco, San Mateo County, California.
U.S.S. Woreck AKA, With test animals, dogs and swine. Along with
dynamite, beer and whiskey.
July 14, 1950, to May 28, 1951, Island of Japtan, Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall
Islands in the South Pacific.
June 8, 1951, had been home in San Diego, California on leave, returned to
San Francisco, California.
June 8, 1951, Feb. 5, 1952 Radiological Defense Laboratory. At US Naval Ship
Yard, Hunters Point San Francisco, San Mateo County, California.
Fri. June 16, 1951, Was home on weekend liberty. Dad and I went to Los Angles
Auto Row in Los Angles to buy my first car, 1948, two door business coup,
metallic red, $1,200.00 cash that I had saved during duty at the Marshall
Islands.
Mon. July 2, 1951, Leave over, returned to duty in San Francisco.
Feb. 7, 1952, May 4, 1952, US Nuclear Test Site, Camp Mercury, Nye County,
Nevada, on Highway 95 about 70 miles north of Las Vegas, Nye County, Nevada.
May 6, 1952, Mar. 8, 1953, Radiological Defense Laboratory. At US Naval Ship
Yard, Hunters Point San Francisco, San Mateo County, California.
October 19, 1952, Marriage to Nancy May HANCOCK, by Rev. Mix, at Evangelical
United Brethren Church on 33 St., San Diego, San Diego County, California
Mar. 10, 1953, June 11, 1953, US Nuclear Test Site, Camp Mercury, Nye
County, Nevada
June 13, 1953, Sept. 15, 1953, Radiological Defense Laboratory. At US Naval
Ship Yard, Hunters Point, San Francisco, San Mateo County, California.
This also may be of interest.
The following is information provided me in the 70's with a letter directing
me to report to the Veterans Administration for a complete physical
examination.
ATMOSPHERIC NUCLEAR TEST PARTICIPANT
Campbell, Robert Martin, Jr. HN, USN
TOTAL RECORDED EXPOSURE: 5.585 REM GAMMA
Year Unit Number Unit Name Series Name
1951 CTU3.1.2. BIOMEDICAL UNIT GREENHOUSE
1952 CONUS91 NMRI TUMBLER-SNAPPER
1953 CONUS95 NRDL UPSHOT-KNOTHOLE
SUMMARY OF INDIVIDUAL RADIATION EXPOSURE DOSES
- 4/7/51 to 5/25/51 3.990
- 4/22/51 to 4/22/51 0.840
- 4/30/51 to 4/30/51 0.400
- 4/1/52 to 6/31/52 0.120
- 3/17/53 to 3/17/53 0.200
- 5/3/53 to 5/3/53 0.235
- 5/8/53 to 5/8/53 0.090
- 5/12/53 to 5/12/53 0.040
- 5/17/53 to 5/17/53 0.160
- 5/19/53 to 5/19/53 0.190
- 5/22/53 to 5/22/53 0.090
- 5/27/53 to 5/27/53 0.180
The above doesn't not encompass my exposure while in the laboratory at US
NAVAL Radiological Defense Laboratory. At US Navy Ship Yard, Hunters Point,
San Francisco, San Mateo County, California.
All the above information I have extracted from my Health and Service
Record's which also can be verified in files at BuMed Washington DC.
Robert (Bob) Martin Campbell, Jr.
HM1 USN (RET)
mapacambel@cox.net
--Keith Whittle
January 19, 2000
Operation Greenhouse
Operation Tumbler/Snapper
Operation Upshot/Knothole