Operation Upshot/Knothole
US Atomic Veterans
Robert L. Delp
Date: Mon, 07 Jan 2002
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
From: "Robert L. Delp" rdelp@rollanet.org
Subject: SHOT SIMON
I was assigned to Headquarters Detachment 5017th Area Service Unit ,
Fort Leonard Wood, Mo...TDY to Camp Desert Rock, NV.,
operating with Battallion Combat Team Baker at SHOT SIMON on April 25,
1953. MOS 3322.
I do not remember too much of the shot besides the very
bright flash, even at the bottom of the trench. The ground shook like an
earthquake. Sand was fused like glass when we exited the trench. There were, maimed, dying, dead, and burning sheep. Telephone poles were snapped off and
burning. When the shock wave passed and we exited the trench, there was a very beautiful sight of the mushroom cloud forming on top of
a spike of cloud. The colors seemed to change from white to black
and all the colors of the rainbow. The sight was awsome and I guess
it took about 20 minutes and it started to drift off.
About a year after, while still in the Army, I developed serious gum and
teeth problems. About 1970 I started to have skin cancers
which are continually having to be removed. Heart problems started with
Hypertension in 1985, and then was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in
1994. Arthritis and hip problems started to flair up in1995.
The V.A. keeps turning down my claim for compensation because no exposure
records existed. The V.A. got a reconstructed dose information
summary from the NTPR on 29 April 1998 which stated
Total operational dose was 2.203 rem. However on June
20, 2001 the DTRA sent a letter to the St. Louis regional office
stating that Mr Delp would have received a probable dose of 2.204
Rem gamma and .003 neutron, BUT Mr Delps dose to the skin (Ears) is
21.9 rem.?????????????
Robert Delp
Okeechobee, Fl.
rdelp@rollanet.org
Keith Whittle
January 6, 2002
Operation Upshot/Knothole