The following report was submitted to the Commander, National Association of Atomic Veterans regarding the USS Curtiss reunion held at Portland Oregon September 5th - 8th, 2001.
Report To The Commander:
On Saturday September 8, 2001, in Portland Oregon, it was my great priviledge and honor to be invited as guest speaker at the USS Curtiss AV-4 Assn. reunion. This is a finely tuned organization with over 1000 known survivors and several hundred active members.
As you know the USS Curtiss was the primary weapons carrier for atomic tests in the Pacific. It too has an honored naval combat history from the attack at Pearl Harbor and throughout the Pacific Theater during WWII.
Also in the room were about 100 of the most seasoned participants of America's nuclear tests. I was introduced to the crewmen as the Atomic Veterans History Project webmaster and the Portland representative of the National Association of Atomic Veterans.
I offered a sincere welcome to the City of Portland Oregon as their reunion meeting destination. I asked if the local newpaper organizations had sent reporters to cover this important meeting. I had sent press releases to the Oregonian and the Portland Tribune with details that I assumed would cause a stampede of reporters to honor these fine men. Their reply was to the negative.
I offered some short humorous stories of Oregon history and turned to the subjects of atomic history and ask for a show of hands of the participants of the Operations of Sandstone (2) then Greenhouse (several) Ivy (many) Castle (many) and Redwing (several). I knew well I was in the presence of a great and significant history.
They had asked me to speak of the history and goals of the Atomic Veterans History Project website which I manage, and so I began my report. Starting with my witnessing of an atomic detonation and a chronological progression of my study of atomic history and of the 4 years of the website construction. Included were details of the National Association of Atomic Veterans organization with recommendations to join and for the men to contact the organizations State Commanders. I also notified them of the upcoming NAAV National convention in Las Vegas on October 14 and 15.
I focused on subjects of atomic history, recognition, VA mismanagement, families of atomic veterans, military records, benefits, declassification, video programs, doctors, the coming 50th anniversaries, and other atomic veterans websites.
In closing I again expressed my appreciation and honor for my invitation. I also expressed my thanks to those 25 or so whose stories appear on the website and to congratulate them on having such a fine and active organization. I offered them best wishes and a safe trip home. I stayed for another couple of hours visiting with many of the men and listening to many important stories.
Having very much enjoyed meeting the men at the USS Curtiss reunion, I recommend to all that study this history, to renew your efforts to organize and participate in other similar organizations. To work harder to contact and bring to the organizations new members. To plan activities that increase the brotherhood of these remaining witnesses to the threat of atomic weapons, for the benefit of the veterans and their families and for the common good.
