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Thanks to those survivors who have sent their email. We encourage any emails with comments from atomic veterans, friends and family. The strength of this web site is the personal histories. Help it grow, contribute your stories. Please email me for details.
~ Keith Whittle
I am the grandson of William J. O'Sullivan, who participated in Operation
Hardtack during the late '50s and who passed away decades ago. I am
interested in any information regarding his role in the Navy - he died before
I was old enough to understand what work he was performing. I got the
impression that some of his functions were (at that time) classified. My
mother and grandmother were never told specifics of his work by him.
Thank you in advance -
I live in Seattle. My father died when I was just a few months old of a
rare form of Lymphoma. He was 29, and left three young children. Mom has
always maintained that it was due to his having been exposed during his
service with the Special Weapons Depot at White Sands (and, we believe, at
the NTS). I have from time to time sought out information about his
service, and have obtained some Daily Reports, etc. There are periods of
time when he is released from base, with no specified return date. Some of
these seem to correspond with some Hardtack II detonations.
He was Top Secret cleared, and the ABC officer. I have spoken with one of
his former commanding officers, who says that one of the unit's primary jobs
was accompanying missiles to testing sites. He also was security at Trinity
Site for a number of months. He served '58 to '60.
I'd like your thoughts on pursuing further information. So far, I've hit a
dead end. I found his doctor, who ACTUALLY RECALLED his case, and said he
thought that the cancer was caused by the radiation. Perhaps finding some
of his mates?
I'd appreciate your help.
Recently my mom and I were talking about my father, who died at age 67 of a brain tumor in 1990, and I was surprised to hear that he had been sent to Nevada as an observer during nuclear testing...I am not sure what year he was there (he was in the Canadian military), but would appreciate it if someone could help me find out more. I don't know where to start searching.
I would be interested to know whether there is any documentation on a higher incidence of brain tumors among "observers' of these tests, and what other possible effects may show up in ensuing generations...Thanks for your time...
My father was at Bikini for Operation Crossroads. There are many
records about my father trying to get service "connected " disability.
The late Senator Bob Casey, personally took my mother to the Pentagon
for a hearing. The Navy Department is as
"forgetful" as the rest of them when it comes to caring for veterans.
My dad never got his disability, but he did not forget why he was at
Bikini. He was buried in his VFW uniform.
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
From:
Subject: NAAV
I am interested in whatever information and/or help you can provide me
with concerning bomb tests in May or June of 1953. I recently learned
that my father was a participant in one of these tests. I have done
some research and quite honestly the information is overwhelming. My
father is now recovering from surgery for lung cancer and I am trying to
help him in getting some kind of compensation. I am extremely
interested in this subject and what I have seen from various websites
concerning NAAV have impressed me. I would like to help in your efforts
in whatever I can do and also ask for your help in gathering more
information on the test my father witnessed. I have found myself
growing extremely frustrated and angry toward our government for what
they have done to so many servicemen and would like to help in their
efforts. My father was encouraged to know about the NAAV and relieved
to know others witnessed the same thing he did. Please contact
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
From: "The M Family"
Subject: DECEASED FATHER AN ATOMIC WAR VETERAN
Hi Keith. I am the daughter of a now deceased Navy veteran of Operating
Redwing. My father died in 1991 at the age of 56 of thyroid cancer. When
diagnosed in 1989, the doctors were very confident that because it was
"just" thyroid cancer, it was easily curable. After an operation to remove
his thyroid, he was given a radioative iodine treatment. It seemed that
after this treatment the cancer became more virulent. After being jerked
around by the Veterans Administration (he actually managed to live for the
physical exam that was scheduled 6 months later), he did eventually begin
to get veterans benefits. My mother continues to receive benefits since his
death. He never talked about the nuclear testing until he contracted the
cancer, but I do know that he was somewhere in the area of the Bikini
Islands, probably in 1956. His name was Richard Jacob Adams and he was from
Freemansburg, Pennsylvania. I am curious if there are any directories out
there listing personnel from the various nuclear tests and am certainly
wondering what health problems they or their families may have that could
be related to the nuclear testing.
I am writting to Mr. Keith Whittle, or to whom it may concern.
The reason that I am writting to you is to inform you that my Grandfather,
just recently passed away, July 31, 1997, to be exact.
I had heard that he was in the Navy as a young man during WWII. It wasn't
until about 8 years ago that we, the family, found out exactly where he was
during WWII, when he came down with stomach cancer. For the past few years
now I had been talking about his Navy days with him. All I knew, or he would
tell me was that he was there from 1941 to about 1946. He only recently told
me that during the time he served, his ship was involved with something to do
with the A-bomb, and the ship he was on had to sunk due to having so much
radioactivity on it.
Only knowing about the bombs that were dropped during the war, I assumed that
his ship had something to do with transporting parts of or the A-Bomb itself.
Never stoping to think about this, I brushed it aside.
It wasn't until a reunion of his shipmates that he found out that most of
them were starting to die from cancer. This is when we found out the name of
his ship, AKA Sylvania.
When Grandpa passed away, I had to help my Grandmother with finding out about
how to have his ashes scattered at sea. This is when I started to look at
the net to see if I could find out any information The ship he was on during
WWII. I asked Grandma about some information about what ship and where he
was at. Thats when I found out he was at Bikini Lagoon. I turned to the
net, and found your information about Operation Crossroads.
In reading the letters and interviews you have done, I can't believe that the
Navy was so careless with such a distuctive bomb, that they already knew what
could be done by it, having dropped 2 bombs during the war!. It wasn't until
your interview with Cecil Herald, that I was even able to find out that his
ship was there. Mr. Herald was on the same ship as my Grandfather.
During the interviews, Mr. Whittle mentions a video that was made about
Operation crossroads. I was wondering how I could go about getting a copy.
If you can could you please send me the address of where I can get a copy.
I must say thank you for your interviews. It has brought a little bit of
comfort to me and my family.
Grandpa was a very fun and loving man, who ALWAYS had a smile on his face and
never had a bad word to say about anyone, but most of all he was more than a
Grandfather, he was my best friend, and will be missed a great deal.
Thanks again
Subject: Big Bang
My brother-----------------------, Arkansas was at Buster-Jangle in 1951. He has been attempting to locate any fellow soldiers from is unit, the 231st Combat Engineers. Can you help him with a roll call roster. He has many medical problems ,i.e. skin cancers, heart,
eyes, nose and ear problems, but the VA won't help, seems there was a fire in the records department and he can't prove he exists. I became aware of your Web Page just this week. Thanks very much and good luck with your endeavor.
My uncle, a Navy veteran of WWII (Shipfitter
2nd), was a crewman onboard the USS (BB) New York in 1946.
He sailed with her and assisted in setting her up for the nuclear test. He then transferred to the USS Dixie. Immediately following the test, he assisted in cleanup and washdown on the NY.
I would like to find out more about this. He has been diagnosed with Parkinsons disease ... this has run it's course for more than 15 years and his health is quite poor now.
Can you help me find out more about this? While it is obviously too late for direct assistance, I believe the nuclear after effects have a direct impact on his disease ... perhaps we can all learn more from this incident.
My father was in Nevada in 1953. He was in the army and assigned to the testing grounds during the atomic testing. He died of cancer in 1979. It is my understanding that most of the men who served there during that time period have died. He was 46 at his time of death. I would appreciate any details you could give me about where he was.
My name is ------------. My Dad passed away in March of 1992 from a rare form
of cancer. Lieomyoscarcoma - cancer of the pleura. Daddy, (Pete) was involved
in Operation Crossroads, Test Shots Able and Baker and was
aboard the USS Henrico, APA45. Would anyone out there know him? I belong to
the newsletter, Henrico. Daddy was aboard the ship in 1946. Any help you
could give me would be appreciated. He was a Boatswainman and one heck of a
good Dad. I miss him so much and I am so angry he was taken from my brother
and I at only age 68!
Just stumbled onto your site through one of the search engines. My dad was in the South pacific during testing. He lives here in Portland and has had a number of health problems.
If your interested in contacting him, let me know. His name is -----------, I'm not sure of the dates he was in the Navy. Late 50s I think.
My brother-in-law,--------------, was in Nevada during the atomic testing
and had to wear some kind of meter for quite some time after the testing.
After that period he was sent to Alaska to, as he says, "cool down". We
had a bitch of a time getting him released to attend his father's funeral. We
had no idea it was because of this nuclear status of his.
Since then he has had some serious skin problems, which is some kind of
skin cancer, we believe. The VA hospitals seem to be pooh-poohing the
problems he has had for years and have him trying all kinds of skin creams
and other medications, not with much success though. (Also, my husband
and I feel he is also in the beginning stages of Parkinson's, which we are
not sure he realizes.
I was interested to read your web site whilst surfing the net. My interest lies in the fact that my wife was born on Christmas Island in March 1958, after, during and before tests were carried out. She lived on the Island uptil the age of eleven before leaving to attend boarding
school at Tarawa, Kiribati.She has had many health problems that we have often felt were related to the testing on Christmas Island and are interested to learn more about the effects of the tests on servicemen who were involved in the tests. Any information or advice on were to
find information would be greatfully received. You can contact me at this web site, workplace or at my home address.
Hi:
I hope you could point me in the right direction and possibly give me any
history you may be aware of.
My Father served in the USN for 20 years. He was exposed to the Annaweeta
(spelling?) atomic bomb testing on the USS Ft. Marion LSD-22 in 1956. He was also exposed to
aesbestos during his career as a Boiler Technician. He passed away in 1993 from Small cell carcinoma cancer at the age of 55 and my Mom lost her house and has nothing! She seems to remember a notice being sent by someone from the Atomic Vertarans Assoc. regarding radioactivity associated with the above atomic bomb testing. Do you know about this or can you tell me who would? I would like to see to it (and my Dad would too) that she is taken
care of if something is due to him for his service jeopardy.
Thanks for any help you can give,
Dear Sir or Sirs,
My name is ------------ Son of the late -----------------
My father was involved in nuclear testing in the Nevada area in the 50's
and recently died from liver cancer. We are told this is a VERY rare
occurance, due to the fact he did not drink.
In recent months I have heard that there are certain funds set aside
for Veterans and their families that were involved in the nuclear
testing that died from liver cancer. I have no idea where to begin to
look for information on this. I am told that it can also be obtained
for the family members left behind. My mother, now widowed due to this,
is in an awful financial bind after my fathers passing. If you could
be of help, and possibly point me in the right dirrection, it would be
most appreceiated.
The government denies that my father, or anyone for that matter was
affected (Of course) but we have PROOF in a newspaper article that has
a photo of my father at ground zero with the caption stating as such.
I just need to know where to begin this process..
I appreceiate any help whatsoever you or your organization could offer
in this matter.
My father ---------------------------- was on the ship Enterprise at the time of
the Atomic testing. I have a letter he wrote to my Grandmother discribing
the blast. In 1981 he died of thyroid cancer. I would like to know if
someone there knew how I could find out if he was recorded as a statistic
or if the goverment has recorded his death do to the blast or something
else. I would also like suggestions to other relevent material. Thanks for
your help.
I read with great interest your site regarding radiation exposure during the
50s. My father was Captain of the PLUCON Team (Plutonium Contamination),
worked EOD and most of what he did was classified. He was a career Marine,
retiring in 1961. He died of leuukemia in 1988 and my mother filed a claim
with the VA to establish the service connection of his death. the case is
still pending, and keeps being remanded because we cannot prove his radiation
exposure. His service records do not specify what he was being sent to do,
and all his docemiter badge readings have been lost. We know he went to the
test sites in Nevada, but his records only state that he is to proceed
pursuant to the verbal instructions of the commanding officer upon arrival.
Because what he did was classified, he never told us about it. He did tell
me that he wore docimeter badges on a regular basis, so I know the records
existed at one time. As you can imagine, we are quite frustrated and are
hoping you may have come across some information which would help us. His
name was Capt. ------------------------, U.S.M.C. He was such a proud Marine,
having joined when he was 18 and worked his way up from Private. The refusal
to admit his service would have broked his heart. Any help you could be
would be greatly appreciated.
Hi, My name is----------------------- and my father was a member of the UDT or
frog men at Bikini Island when they exploded the bomb. After my father
got out of the service back in '49 he had a serious problem with his
thyroid which they believed was caused by the radiation, but his
military record seemed to disappear when he went back to the Navy to
have it checked out. His name is ------------------------, he is now 71 years
old and served in the Navy from '43 to '49 and went back in for the
Korean conflict. Any information you can send me about your
organization and any progress you may have made would be very helpful.
Except for the thyroid problem when he first got out, he only has had
difficulty with healing of wounds. He had open heart surgery 17 years
ago and the wound from the surgery never fully healed it still oozes and
opens up. We were wondering if the radiation he was exposed to may have
something to do with this. Also, all three of his children, myself
included, have thyroid problems and my brother was born with Cerebral
Palsy. We are just wondering how much this may have been caused by his
exposure to the radiation?
I am searching for information on if any studies have been done about US
military personnel who were stationed in Japan just after the War and any
radiation effects.
My step father just died of esophageal cancer. The doctors said that this
type of cancer can be related to radiation exposure. His diary shows that
his ship was in Japan 2 days after the Japanese surrender. He was
stationed at vairous ports in Japan for six months.
His notes appear to indicate he may have been to Hiroshima.
Any leads on information would be appreciated.
I am looking for information on the first US Navy ship that entered
Hiroshima after the bombing. My uncle from Oregon was on that ship and
eventually died from Hodgkins Disease before he was 30. Someone told me
that there were 57 men on that sweep and only one is living. All died
young. Can you help me?
Would be intersted in literature for Atomic Veterans and surviving
families.
Father was involved in 'Smokey' test, 1957 in Nevada. Died of
prostate Cancer, age 54, 1989.
Subject: Personal history
My father was a junior Air Force officer involved in nuclear testing at
Los Alamos 1961-62. He and my mother died of cancer at the age of 43.
How can I collect details of the program he was working on and possible
radiation exposure to my parents and I.
Subject: Operation Crossroads
I have a uncle who is trying to prove he was at the sight of the tests
at Bikini. Why are there no records of his navy career and where can he
look for support of his whereabouts?
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