Operation Hardtack 1
1958
US Atomic Veterans
Harley DeVaux Jr.
Harley DeVaux Jr. sent this story about his duty on the USS Boxer.
From: "harley devaux jr" hdjpd@uia.net
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Atomic Test: Operation Hardtack
Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999
I am an atomic veteran, my name is Harley DeVaux Jr. and I was on board the USS Boxer CVS21 as a Chief Electrician Mate.
I have all my records during this time. I was a past member of the National Association of Atomic Veterans and I am interested in knowing just what the U.S. Government has to say about us.
I was topside during all 35 tests, we had no goggles, no film badges or other protective devices. I was the senior officer for the engineering department, our instructions were to about face from the blast and to kneel and cover our faces with our arms. During the underwater blast we faced the blast and could watch it because it was under water and of course nothing to harm our eyes. During the two redstone stratosphere shots we covered our eyes for some time then could look at it, this caught people on the beach in Hawaii
by surprise to say the least, it lit the beach up like day.
At one time we had one blast then got underway and ran south to set another blast and ran into our own fallout, we activated our very poor washdown system and in about 4 minutes we had radiation down in the fire rooms and when they took us to the showers people had radiation in their nose, mouth and other private parts of their bodies, thats when we realized that this stuff was not to be played with.
I have been retired from the Navy for 35 years and from the tests for 41 years but I will never forget the " TESTS " I felt the heat and saw the after effects.
I will answer any questions and send any records that I have.
Respectfully
Harley DeVaux Jr
February 17, 1999
Email: hdjpd@uia.net
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