Eniwetok Clean-up
1977-1978
U.S. Atomic Veterans
Steve Duncan
Steve Duncan sent email about his duty at Eniwetok.
From: Sgd301@aol.com
Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2005
Subject: Eniwetok Cleanup
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Hi. I just ran across your website on the Eniwetok Atoll cleanup.
I spent a 6 month tour there in 1977-78 as an Enlisted Boat Coxswain for the
Navy.
Stationed at Assault Craft Unit One, Coronado, Ca. we were rotated to
Eniwetok to provide water transportation from island to island. While most of us
were crew members on the old 'mesh' boats..old 1500 series LCU landing craft..I
got lucky and was given one of the 21 foot Boston Whalers to run around with.
What a dream job for a 19 year old kid!
I would make mail runs to the guys on the other islands, transport officers
who didn't want to wait on the slow LCU's, and even take visiting 'high
brass' on sightseeing tours around the Atoll.
I remember when the typhoon tore down our pier, and I had to swim out to
where my boat was moored each morning, then swim back in every evening. Losing
two army cooks over the side when the handrail on my boat came apart after
hitting a large swell a little too fast (they eventually came back up..wet and
not too happy..but ok). Being stuck on the beach just a hundred yards or so
from where the demolition team blew up a bunker, showering us with football
sized chunks of concrete. Submerging a 2 Star General in the sea, up to his
neck, when the boat was swamped during a squall we were caught in. And quite a
few things I won't go into, just in case they can still revoke my honorable.
Anyway..I have great memories of my time in Enewetok, but lost all my
pictures in a fire over 20 years ago. If anyone has some they'd like to share,
please contact me.
Thanks.
Steve Duncan
Assault Craft Unit One, Coronado, CA.
Sgd301@aol.com
Keith Whittle
July 23, 2005
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Wetokian