Operation Castle
US Atomic Veterans
James L. Coffey
James L. Coffey sent email about his duty at Operation Castle.
From: "James L. Coffey" goldco@hotmail.com
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Operation Castle
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001
Hi Keith!
My duty aboard the Bairoko was division petty officer in charge of the electronics
group for maintaining all electronic equipment in CIC, as well as all other
radar and radio gear both for airborne and otherwise including antennas.
I remember sitting on the flight deck with our backs to the Bravo shot and
then turning to look at it. After we steamed into the fallout to check the
sprinkler systems another ET and myself were ordered to check out some
radios used for airborne under the flight deck on the starboard catwalk just
aft of the bridge.
Water was pooled all around the flagbag area and when
monitored was really hot. After we serviced the radios we tried to return to
our area just under the flight deck and the bridge and were not allowed to
return inside thru that hatch. We were told to go to the bow under the
flight deck and there we showered in saltwater and then keeping only the
badge we had to throw everything we had on including our shoes and all
clothing over board and then we were allowed to return to our area.
I remember hearing all the stories about the people on the bridge getting
radiated. I stayed for another 3 or 4 shots after Bravo and then flew to the
states via Kwajelein and was discharged.
I am interested in reading about
or hearing from anyone that might have been in the ET gang with me. So far I
seem to be in good physical shape. Don't know how much radiation I recieved
but I am sure in the hour or so spent exposed to the wind and water from the
sprinklers it must have been some.
Thanks
Jim Coffey
Sonora, Ca.
Email: goldco@hotmail.com
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