Eniwetok Clean-up
1977-1980
U.S. Atomic Veterans
Grant M. Carson
Grant M. Carson sent email and photos about his duty at Eniwetok. Click on images for larger view.
From: "Grant" gmc77@surferie.net
To: "Keith" pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Enewetok
Date: Tue, 19 Mar 2002
Keith
My stay on Eniwetok. January 1979 to June 1979.
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I was fresh out of AIT and assigned to the 15th Combat Support Hospital as a 91C in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. I think I was in Va. about two weeks when the First Sgt. asked me if I wanted to go to Hawaii on TDY. Of course I jumped at the chance not knowing or being told the real assignment!
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I had to process through Schofield Barracks before going to Eniwetok. During processing, there was a woman who collected unit crests from everyone who came through her office. I gave one of mine up too. She must have had more than 100 different crests on a board.
We left Hawaii on an Air Force Jet (C-141?) and stopped at Wake Island for about 2 hours. We then continued on to Eniwetok. This was the first time I had flown sitting rear facing and was given cotton balls impregnated with wax for earplugs.
| Upon arrival on Eniwetok I was met by my new comrades. I was assigned to the Aviation Detachment, 84th Eng. Battalion or "Body Snatchers" as we called ourselves. Our duty was to transport the Commander, Col. Kleb, and any visitors who would come in to inspect the cleanup project to the various islands. Also we provided MedEvac for the troops who worked on other islands if they were injured. | 
Some of the Aviation Detachment
Clockwise from left McNary, Goose Thompson , ???, Windex, New York, Lundberg |
Names I remember from my unit Mr. Clem, Mr. McDuffie, Capt. Mitchell. Brian "Shelly" Shellhammer, Green Beret Medic Mike Heath, "Goose" Thompson, Windex, New York, Larry Lundberg. There were more but my memory escapes me, too much Primo!!!
We had the "hospital" on Eniwetok Island along with a doctor. I believe there was also a doctor on Lojwa. I had only two medical flights and no serious injuries. While I was there I recall only one death. A solider was drunk and rolled a Jeep and crushed himself.
There were three Medics assigned to the Avn. Det. We would rotate on duty for 24 hours every three days. There would be two pilots a crew chief a medic and a radio man on duty at all times. We would sleep in the flight room at our hanger in the air conditioned space. After pulling a 24 hour shift you had the next day off. The third day we would wash the aircraft or help the crew chief with some maintenance. I would also help the sheet metal mechanic and avionics specialist.
During our routine Command flights we would fly over and land on Runit and Lojwa. Both islands had an LZ for us. My job was to give the safety briefing before flights to all passengers.
| When flying I sat in the jump seat next to the life raft. If we went down in the water I was to, if nothing else, take the raft with me when I bailed out. The pilots said that was the most important thing I would do if we crashed. As there were more sharks than people around, I could see why. | 
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The chopper pilots would like to get air time so we would frequently fly around the whole atoll. The trip typically would take 90 minutes.
| During these fun flights we would buzz sharks and look for the glass Japanese fishing net floats. The deal was if you spotted the ball it was yours. The pilots always spotted the floats and would send either the crew chief or medic to retrieve the ball. Some balls were as large as two feet in diameter. Some balls still had net material attached. I managed to bring one glass ball home; it is about 3 inches in diameter. |  |
I snorkeled once when I first got to Eniwetok. I collected some nice coral. Then after my first flight I never swam again. Did you ever see so many sharks?
We had a softball league and played a couple times a week. Army, Navy and Air Force teams. If you batted left handed you could smash a ball across the street into the lagoon. I only ever saw that once. And no sliding as the ground was all crushed coral and would tear you up.
There was one USO show that came while I was there. One woman in the show and we got to fly the performers to Lojwa. That flight was the worst. It was raining so hard and we had closed the chopper doors. The wind was horrific. I thought we were going down that day. Too much weight and you couldn't see. The pilots, Capt. Mitchell and Mr. McDuffie did a great job.
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The food was terrific. A contractor ran the mess hall. Steak and eggs every Sunday for breakfast. Prime Rib every Wed. for dinner. T-Bones Sat. night. At our hanger we had a lanai and you could order steaks and pick them up and grill them yourself. | 
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| That's what we would with regularity. At one point we were craving McDonalds food. Another soldier and I painted the McDonalds logo on the building at the entrance way to the hanger. |  |
I met the Eniwetok Chief once. He came to meet some big-wig that was there to inspect. The Chief wore an old uniform (khaki) and a Navy Admirals hat and he had more medals on his chest than anyone I have ever seen. The Chief was a character and he even placed a seashell necklace around my neck. I don't know where the necklace is now.
Here are some things I recall. Cheap Primo beer $4.00/case. Outdoor movies where everyone yelled at the screen. The worst thunderstorms I have ever seen. C5 aircraft coming to bring new choppers and take the old ones. (Before the old choppers were loaded they checked them with a Geiger counter, the Huey's were very hot) Shark fishing. Beautiful weather. Gorgeous sunsets. No phone calls.
Before you could leave the Island you had to do the 24 hour urine test. Ideally you would attempt to fill the gallon jug. This is where the Primo came in handy. You would have to carry the jug everywhere. It was like a badge of honor because it meant you were short. Our unit had a hat we would pass around that said "next" on it. When you were "next" to leave you would get the hat and then pass it along when you left.
| I located my best picture of the craters on Runit, a picture of Lojwa and a coastline shot flying north off of Eniwetok Island and some other pictures. The group photos are of some friends. | 
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I am honored to contribute to your excellent page.
Grant Carson
Avn. Det. 84th Eng. Bn.
gmc77@surferie.net
Keith Whittle
March 20, 2002
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