Hardtack 1958
US Atomic Veterans
Leon Eneboe
Leon Eneboe sent email about his duty at Operation Hardtack.
I reported aboard the USS Boxer right out of Yeoman 'A' school in the fall of 1957. I remember that we spent several months at the Long Beach Naval Shipyards as the USS Boxer was being outfitted with an interim washdown system, along with other preparations for participating in Operation Hardtack.
We got underway for the Marshall Islands, I believe in February of 1958. This was no cruise for liberty hounds as we were isolated from just about everything except those personnel involved in the atomic testings. It was almost a "biggy" to me when we spent a few hours on Kwajalein. I remember the flour aboard ship became infested with weevils...because it was hot and humid day after day. So...you had to pick the weevils out of the bread, but it's funny what you can get used to and most of us did it.
Of course the big thing was that we were assembled on the flight deck to witness the various nuclear detonations. My vivid recollection is that there never was much in the line of noise, however, I could see a bright orange even though my head was down and my eyes were shut. The most fearful thing about many of these shots was the intense heat. It felt like a heat lamp had been turned on for several seconds close to the back of my neck.
The only recreation was to go in a small landing craft to Bikini. We went about twice a week to get away from the Boxer for awhile. The only problem being Bikini was probably already radioactively contaminated from previous nuclear tests! I can't help but think we all got a lot of radiation.
I worked as a Yeoman in the Operations Office with Pryor, YN3 who was in charge of the office, and Lefever, YNSN who worked in the OPS Office Also.
There was a boxing ring, full size basketball court and movies. These were some of the advantages of being on a carrier.
The Operations Yeoman were in the same compartment with the Signalmen and Photomates. I remember most of their names. Dunlap, SMI was our compartment PO. Some of the Signalmen I remember: Young, Lemanski, Ryan, Page twins, Lominac, St. Louis. Some of the Photomates I remember: Faulkner, Dickerson, Damon, Henline, Grabin, Eason, Ellison.
I have great respect for everyone who shared the experience of Operation Hardtack and I feel fortunate for having had the opportunity to meet the people I served with.
I fininshed out my 4 year enlistment with VP28 as YN2 in the Admin. Office.
Leon Eneboe
Email: leneboe@sbtc.net
Thanks to Albert Sepulveda for assisting his dad with this story.
Keith Whittle
November 14, 2000
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