Ray Durden sent email about his duty on board the USS Bairoko.
From: "Nowlin Theilacker" mjt2003@bellsouth.net
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Death Notice
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003
Ray Durden, USS Bairoko, died Friday August 16, 2003, from lung disease related to bronchiectasis. Please contact me if further information is needed.
jtheilacker1@yahoo.com
Jeanette Theialcker
4645 Knoxville Ave.
Cocoa, FL 32926
Email: jtheilacker1@yahoo.com
From: Jeanette Theilacker t0@quancon.com
To: Keith pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Re: USS Bairoko operation Castle
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 1999
Hi Keith,
My brother, Ray Durden, served on the Bairoko during the A. bomb tests.
He has described to me many times the events that occured during the
tests. He is in the hospital now with recurrent lung problems which
remain undiagnosed after 4 years. His physicians say it is possible it
is related to his radiation exposure during the testing. When he is
able I would like to link him to others who were on the Bairoko.
Jeanette t0@quancon.com
Hi Keith,
I am sending Ray's recollection of the events of March 1, 1954. Again I want
to thank you and all others involved for this site and the work you are doing.
Jeanette
RAY F. DURDEN
1435 W King Street A-23
Cocoa, FL 32922
I was an A-E-3, an Airedale, on the USS BAIROKO in 1954 assigned to work on the
ship's twelve and twenty-four volt, aircraft support systems. We also
supported the scientist's trailer labs on the hanger deck which also used the
twelve and twenty-four volt systems. The BAIROKO was not scheduled for this
test until either the CVE-112 or 113 blew an engine on a shakedown after being
outfitted for this test. We were then pressed into service to replace her
rather than delay the test.
I will relate the events that occurred on the morning of March the first 1954
as I remember them.
I vividly recall the explosion of the Hydrogen bomb, later known to me to be
Bravo. I was on the deck wearing my assigned dark goggles when it occurred.
The sight of the explosion was awesome. We all stood with our jaws hanging
low, staring at this enormous white cloud which changed colors as it rose high
into the atmosphere. Since I was wearing the dark goggles, the light was not
blinding but it was extremely bright.
We could see the shock wave coming toward us like a massive clear rippling
cloud. I describe it as looking as though someone had taken an immense roll
of saran wrap and crinkled it up and it was being pulled toward us with great
force and great speed. When it hit us, it forced the skin on our face back
like a powerful wind. The heat from the blast surrounded us. Ash started
falling on us and Captain O Bierne recalled the one helicopter that we had
launched as ordered. When the helicopter was back on board we turned and tried
to get away from the area. No ship could outrun this, even if we had started
to leave before the explosion.
Ash fell to a two - four inch thickness on the deck and most men were ordered
below.
They assigned the rest of us to carry out the wash down procedure. The
installed system was ineffective so the Skipper ordered use of fire hoses,
seawater and Tide. This produced a greater flow and surge of water and overall
cleaned the area. This is not a commercial for Tide but it was fairly
successful. We just about had the deck under control when a second wave of
very fine ash fell. This was inhaled by all on deck as we had no protective
masks.
I had subsequent small burns around my waist and neck which were treated in
sick bay and eventually healed without incidence. We completed the series of
tests and headed back to San Diego. Shortly after I got back, I had a high
fever with a sore throat and was very sick. My sister called the NAS and they
immediately dispatched an ambulance to pick me up. I was taken to Balboa
Hospital and was in isolation for several days. I wondered what I might have
that caused me to be in isolation, but didn't figure it out until later.
I remember well the little island that we referred to as recreation island. It
was to be a place we could go to relax. When the blast was over recreation
island was no more! We had worked hard to make it a nice place to go in this
deserted part of the world. It was only used once that I remember.
We were given orders to remain silent on the events that occurred that year,
and until now I have done that. It did puzzle me that when we got back the
news media and others seemed to know more than we did about what happened. I
was twenty-three years old when they fired Bravo and I turned twenty-four, two
days later, on March the fourth. I had a very limited knowledge of all of the
events that unfolded during those test, knowing only that if my commanding
officer told me to do it I would give it the best that I had. I think most of
us were that way then. We were dedicated to serving and preserving our
country. I have no regrets about my service and would do it again if needed.
Many of the men aboard the USS BAIROKO I did not know. Those I worked closely
with I knew primarily by their last name. They included: WIZNIESKI C. W. O.
V-H DIVISION OFFICER, LOBDELL, WHITSON, SHIEB, MANDAVIL, GORDON, JACOBSON,
HENCHEN, STEPHENS, TAGLIRONI. These names may not be exactly the way they
spelled them but are very close.
I remember Captain O Bierne as a Skipper who maintained a firm control of his
ship without becoming bogged down in rules. He allowed us to wear baseball
caps and roll up our sleeves in the hot, humid one hundred degree weather of
the pacific. Commander McCabe I remember as being strict in following rules,
not deviating from regulation.
Ray F. Durden
Email: t0@quancon.com
Keith Whittle
August 18, 1999.
[ Operation Castle ]