Page One | Page Two | Page Three | Page Four
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
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1999
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
From: DON PETTERSON
SAMIZDAT@PRODIGY.NET
Subject: The Bravo Test
I need to tell someone this info about my brother and found your site. My
brother, Lyndon K. Petterson served on the destroyer escort USS Carpenter
at the Bravo Test. He passed away March 3rd, 1998 from a brain tumor. The
tumour was diagnosed in November of 1997. The doctor said he had never seen
such an agressive fast growing tumor in all his 30 years of surgery. Our
family doesn't have a history of cancer at all.
"O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea"
Don Petterson
From: Craig Cole
CJC13@worldnet.att.net
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Eating Contaminated food on Prinz Eugen !
Date: Sat, 16 Jan 1999
Dear sir,
I came across your site by accident looking for information about the Battle
Cruiser Prinz Eugen. You see my father-inlaw is a Navy veteran that has been
diagnosed with terminal cancer. He has told me on numerous occasions that He
and several of his ship-mates were assigned as crew members aboard the Prinz
Eugen during the Bikini Atol Atomic Tests. He told me that after the tests
they went back aboard the ship and went into the galley and ate canned
goods, crackers and other perishable goods because their meals were not
delivered. I was wondering if any correlation has been found between Navy
Vets that were at Operation Crossroad and developing any type of cancer. My
Father-inlaw has been given a few months to live so I am trying to gather
info so as to ease his thoughts on the matter.
Thank You in Advance!
Craig J. Cole
From: Craig Cole
CJC13@worldnet.att.net
To: "Keith"
Subject: RE: Eating Contaminated food on Prinz Eugen !
Date: Mon, 18 Jan 1999
Keith,
Thank You for your response. I think my father in-law (his Name is William A.
Stoll) would really like to see the video. We have hospice service for him
now and I know that his days are numbered. If he is up to seeing the video
maybe I can transcribe his comments about his feelings and post them to your
page wih a picture of him. I think that he would be honored and very
appreciative of this.
Thanks,
Craig J. Cole
From: "Craig Cole"
To:
Subject: Passing of an Atomic Vet!!
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1999
Keith,
Thank You very much for the video. My father in-law was not able to view it
because of his condition becoming worse. I explained to him about the video,
but he was to tired to watch it. Today at 1735 hrs, my father in-law passed
away. At least now he is not suffering and is with the rest of his Navy
buddies. I'm going to keep the video for my daughter (She is 8 months
old ). This way I can be assured that the she will know the truth about the
sacrifices her grandfather and all other Atomic Vets made for their
Country!!
God Bless You All!
Craig J. Cole
From: BEEHEAD9@webtv.net
THOMAS ROMERO
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: USS Franklin D. Roosvelt CVA-42 USS NAVY.
Dear Keith.
My husband is having difficulty with
the VA, since February of 1994 to present with out compensation. He
joined the Navy October, 1955 and received a honorable discharge in
1961.He went aboard the USS Franklin d. Roosevelt in April, 1956 at
Bermenton, Washington and went around Cape Horn to May Port Florida. Dr.
Bradberrry, Director of Los Alamos Atomic Agency and members of the
staff of the Secretary of the Navy were aboard as well. My husband
recalls the wearing of a round radiation detection Film Badge (A victim
count badge as it were). The problem he has is that his personnel
records are lost. And the VA claims that all his records were distroyed
in the famos fire of 1973. That is the reason why we are trying to
locate any of his shipmates of the USS FDR CVA-42. So that we can piece
together a record of events, to help in his VA case, As he is very ill
with Multiple Myeloma (Bone Cancer).He was in the V3 Division. Any help
would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You. Julie
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1999
From: margieestrada@hotmail.com
Subject: my father was a participant in greenhouse and ivy
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
My father is Jesus (Jess) Estrada. Born 9/19/27. He participated as a
marine in bother operations ivy and greenhouse. He lost a kidney to
kidney cancer at a young age (i believe 26) and he died of prostate
cancer on December 15, 1990 after a valiant battle of over 5 years. If
you need any more information please feel free to contact me at
margieestrada@hotmail.com
wishing you the best of luck in your
endeavors.
Margie Estrada
From: Martha Krumenauer
northernedge@hotmail.com
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Dad at Buster Jangles
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1999
My dad was at Buster Jangle from August until Nov-Dec 1951, he
witnessed, I know for sure, Shot Dog. He was assigned with a Dr. Hamm,
I believe, as part of the veternarian team. He was a SFC and witnessed
it from a cement bunker. They did tell him that as a result of the
radiation he could end up NOT having children, I guess I am the proof
that they were wrong, at least in his case. He has suffered three
strokes in the last 5 years. My mom asked if this could be a result of
the radiation he suffered, the doctor didn't think so. He was radiated
twice. I don't know much yet about the tests that occured there my Dad
never talked about it. But am learning more every day. My dad didn't
tell me much. I work at a school and a student didn't have a veteran to
interview. My dad volunteered and this is the first I've heard about
his being at Buster Jangles in Nevada at Yucca Flats. I'm not sure
which Battalion he was with if any, I'm not sure if Sargents are part of
a batallion, like I said I not too familiar with the military, but am
anxious to learn. Hope this info if not helpful is at least
interesting.Thanks for the great internet site.
M.K. in WI
From: TEWSSANDY@aol.com
Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Duty on the USS Comstock
My brother was assigned to the USS Comstock in the 1946-1948 timeframe. He was
involved in the Atomic testing on the Bikini island. He is presently 70 years
old. He was operated on Nov. 1997 for bladder cancer. Would appreciate any
information to verify his ships participation in these test. If a list of
cancers caused by this exposure is available we would be grateful for any help
that may be available. Any help you may offer would assist us in the battle
with the VA.
From: BKTeed@aol.com
Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Children of Atomic Veterans
Greetings to all.
My name is Bruce Teed the son of LLoyd Melvin Teed ( Curly ) Airman 2C with the 509th Air Refueling Squad under the 509th Bomb Wing. My father died in 1964 of Leukemia when I was age 4. I lust wanted to say, after reading some of
the postings here, that the difficulties you have had in getting records sounds so
familiar. Its the same run around that my mother and I been given by the V.A.
And our senators and representatives in congress. At least in my fathers case
the Leukemia was found while he was in the survice, so this gave him a service
connection. And we received our benefits without much hassle. However it is
important to us that we prove his Leukemia
was due to his radiation exposure at the tests Ivy and Castle. Again we have
had no luck finding any records that he was at any test. His records, too, where
destroyed in the infamous fire at the records archive. But don't let the V.A.
tell you those were the only records on your fathers. There are other records
archives that seem to have been lost or forgotten about. Every now and then I
hear about someone that receives records from an unexpected source.
Unfortunately I don't know what this source is. If any one finds this source
please PLEASE! let me know.
I believe the biggest reason it is so hard to get the bill for an atomic
veterans metal passed is that the Government would have to start acknowledging
names and dates. Something they obviously don't want to do. Because the V.A. could no longer deny the Atomic Vet.
To the web master of this page.
You may use all names in this letter.
And if you would be so kind as to post my web page address I would be very
thankful.
http://members.aol.com/BKTeed/
Email is BKTeed@aol.com
This page has been set up for the Children of Atomic Veterans in hopes of
bringing this community together. I, for one, don't want the Government to think
this issue ends with the death of the last Atomic Vet. Thank you for the time
you put into your pages.
Bruce Teed
aka BKTeed@aol.com
To: pdavets@aracnet.com
From: MalsGal52@aol.com
Date: Wed, 13 Jan 1999
Subject: Atomic Vet, Malbra R. Rowell - Operation Castle
My husband, Malbra R. Rowell, stationed on board the USS Bairoko CVE-115, was
involved in 5 of the 6 Operation Castle tests. According to Malbra, in the
first one, Bravo, the men were ordered to sit on the deck, with their backs
turned to initial blast. Immediately after they were ordered to watch the
explosion and resulting fireball soar 80,000 ft. surrounding a surveillance
aircraft at 40,000 ft. They were wearing protective glasses much like welder's
goggles. The resulting blast caused a wind shear, that had been predicted but
ignored, with the prevailing winds then carrying the fallout from the under-
estimated 15 megaton bomb. There had been experiments set up on the island
but were blown away as was the tiny island. The bomb had been predicted at
being only approximately 7 megatons.
When the fallout started the men were ordered below. A washdown system failed
to remove the fine particles so it was shut down and 40 men were ordered to go
topside to wash down the flight deck. My husband, Malbra, was one of those
men. They worked the rest of the day washing down the wooden, cracked flight
deck.
Another fallout hit the ship and Malbra was among the 40 men who again
participated in the scrub down. They used sea water and Tide Washing Powder
to scrub the ship's deck. That proved to be partially effective however, due
to the makeup of the flight deck the particles penetrated well below the
surface in the tiny cracks and never gotten completely "clean."
Malbra was exposed all day long and was not wearing a film badge nor did he
see one on any one of the 40 men cleaning the deck. He recieved untold
amounts of radiation due to those fine particles and the fact he had on his
regular clothing and a rain suit with a hat and no other protection. 25 R were
recorded in a cross deck gutter and 5 R on other parts of the deck. Malbra
was accumulating an extremely high dose all during the day and subsequent wash
down when fallout again hit the ship.
The dose was estimated very low, but how can you be splattered and splashed
with 25R and only get a small dose?
He cleaned his office, the "Radar Shack," situated just below the flight deck
but he said it was impossible to get it completely clean just as the flight
deck was not completely clean due to its rough surface.
Malbra received so much radiation that he was released from the Bairoko to go
aboard the Ainsworth to be discharged 3 months early. In the manual
"Operation Castle" it states "men who were highly exposed were allowed to come
back to the states early to keep them from getting any more radiation or were
moved to another location where they couldn't be further exposed."
Malbra was a Fire Control Technician 3rd Class and worked just below the deck
in what he called the "Radar Shack." He also carried the mail from one ship to
the other in a Bos'n Chair and pulled from one ship to the other by cable. He
was dunked in seawater going from one ship to the other at times.
Malbra was diagnosed with Bladder and Prostate Cancer December 28, 1988, was
operated on for removal of his bladder and prostate Jan. 15, 1989 and died
November 11, 1991, which was Veteran's Day.
During the physical examination given when Malbra was to be discharged early,
his Physician told him that he was sterile and would never have children and
would probably get some type of cancer within 30 years. It was a surprise to
us when I conceived a year and a half later. It was no surprise when at 34
years he was diagnosed with cancer. He was in the Navy from 4 August 1950 to
7 June 1954.
Hello Keith,
Subject: Malbra Rowell's Medical Care Givers
My husband, Malbra's Primary medical service initially was private when he was
diagnosed with bladder and prostate cancer. He was in a public hospital and
was operated on by a private physican. The distance to Lake City VA Hospital
was too far for us to travel each day and so was Gainesville. Both are
located in florida and we were living in southern Georgia at that time.
However, we were in Tampa visiting our children and to go to the Tampa VA
Hospital to have strange growths and black skin on Malbra's neck, face,
underarms and genitital area. This was after his bladder and prostate
surgery.
We next went to Gainesville to have what we thought was skin cancer on his
lower buttocks diagnosed. It was skin cancer and they mailed us a scheduled
appoiintment to have them removed but by the time we finally got the
appointment Malbra was in the last stages of cancer.
If you would like a copy of the reports from all of Malbra's medical history I
can provide you with them.
All so if you need the history of the Bairoko I have that. It was after much
painstaking research that I finally was able to get it.
100% Disability was awarded to Malbra about a year after his death. I am
currently receiving Dependant Indemity Compensation (DIC). However, I have
never received the first part of Malbra's Compensation even after many forms,
an interview and etc.. (The portion that is normally awarded when a claim is
first submitted.) I have been receiving DIC from October 1992. Supposedly my
claim is still at the rating board.
I have not heard from them since they sent a copy of my interview which was
not transcribed as I recalled telling it.
If I can be of help to you any way please let me know, I will be most happy to
help any way I can.
Alva
Respectfully,
Mrs. Malbra R. Rowell
MalsGal52@aol.com
From: IFUL@aol.com
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1999
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Operation Crossroads Widow
My husband was twice my age when we were married. I was 22 and he was 44. I
knew that I would miss out on being with him in his early years but our love
was wonderful and I am grateful for the years I was able to spend with him.
And little did I know that the time I was to spend with him would be cut short
again because of his involvement in the Crossroads testing. A few years after
we were married I ask him what exactly did you do in the war Daddy Greg.
Everyone called him that because of my son who he raised from a year old.
Just so happened, at that moment, a picture of the famous picture came on TV
depicting the A-bomb mushroom and all the ships in the water around it. He
said "Hey that was me, I was there." I said, "Sure, sounds like bull to me."
"No No, I really was there" and he preceded to tell me how he saw the bomb
when it detonated and how they told everyone not to look at it. Of course
that is the first thing you do is look. He said it was like looking at an x-
ray of his hand. He could see right through it. He told of how hot the
lagoon was with radiation, when they tried to go there right after the test
and had to wait a day or so until it cooled off. Like that was enough time.
What is it something like thousands of years that things stay radioactive and
some times never cool off? He told of how his job was to tag their experiment
things as being hot or not so hot. What's the difference!! Well, hearing all
of this I started checking into his service record and sure enough he was
there and was issued a badge and all.
One of the reason for me checking this out was that for a couple of years he had been getting these fevers once or twice a year and no doctor could tell us what was causing them. I had a feeling it was his exposure to radiation. This was around 1973. 1986 he was dead because of leukemia, a known condition caused by radiation exposure. We
filed a claim before he died and got nothing but run around and nothing to
help us with our ordeal we were going through. A few years after his death I
tried filing again because of the new laws being passed and seeing our
government giving non citizens money awards for things that were not anything
as patriotic as what my husband was going through because of protecting our
country and our government making a guinea pig out of him and thousands of
other service men and women. Most were never in the war some were on the
other side during the war. Breaks your heart doesn't it? How can you put a
monetary value on a human life? You can't. But, I feel the government owes
my husband and myself something because of all the anguish and all the
betrayal they have shown us.
Can you please help me find out where and what I need to file another claim. And are their any laws that have been passed that might be of help for me. Thank you for taking the time to listen to me and of being concerned. A bit of added information, October 4, 1998, my husbands oldest son died of a pre-leukemic condition that the doctors couldn't
contrbuite to anything except maybe that his father had died of exposure to
radiation and that perhaps, his mutated dna had been passed along to him
through his father.
Sincerely,
Mrs. George G. Smiljanich
From: Elonza@aol.com
Date: Sun, 6 Dec 1998
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Operation Crossroads
I have been reading letters from families regarding assorted A-Bomb
testings.....my father was involved with the testing at Bikini Atoll...this
was his first assigment upon joining the Navy at age 17...I have his diary
that tells of his ship's change of course to a "highly classified"
destination....It was Bikini......I recently purchased the video...."Testing
of the Atomic Bomb...The Early Years"....what an impact the testing would have
had on a naive farm kid from Kansas...my father died 30 years ago...I was only
14...he died from injuries suffered in a tractor accident on our farm....but I
have wondered if his exposure to radiation had anything to do with the fact
that I am sterile and will never hear the word "Mommy"...Daddy was on one of
the salvage ships, the Palmyra.....If any one out there was on that ship or
had relatives who were and may have know my Dad, I would like to hear from
you.....I was just recently informed of his activities as a young sailor and
his involvement with the testing of such mass destruction.
Please send you responses to elonza@aol.com...I would sincerely like to hear from you..
God Bless Us All
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 1998
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
From: John R. Cobarruvias
johncoby@orbitworld.net
Subject: Operation Ivy
PLEASE INCLUDE MY EMAIL ADDRESS AND NAME IN THE POST!
Mr. Whittle
My uncle who is recovering from cancer was on a ship during Operation Ivy at ranges of 11 and 37 miles from the blasts. He is currently being
treated for cancer.
He recently told a veterans admin person that he served on the ship and
wore what has been determine to be dosimeters and dark glasses during the
tests. The admin guy got my uncle "full benefits" because of this duty. I
don't really understand this.
The info the Navy sent him talks about the ship and the crew being
"contaminated" and therefore not allowed to get off the ship in Pearl
Harbor. It also discusses four hot spots on the deck, possibly from a
contaminated helicopter. The crew then carried this all over the ship.
I can't remember the exact ships name. If anyone has info they would like
to share, I would be interested.
johncoby@orbitworld.net
Date: Wed, 07 Oct 1998
From: Anna Grahek
gran9801@STCLOUDSTATE.EDU
Subject: Galen Wayne
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
To whom it may concern:
My grandfather was a navagator for the planes that were involved in
Operation Ivy. He was really proud of it. He recently passed away, he
died from a rare Cancer found only in Iceland. My family sees to think
that it was because of the radiation that he was exposed to while
following, and flying through the atomic clouds. My family told me to
see what I could find on the Internet about Operation Ivy and was
wondering if anyone else that was in the crew had had Cancer. It would
be very helpful for us to understand about his death and to learn more
about his past. With that said I am asking if you could send
information about Operation Ivy and any records of my grandfather (Galen
N.Wayne) to my family!
Thank you very much for your time!
Sincerely,
Audry Hendrickson
heau9801@stcloudstate.edu)
Date: Fri, 04 Apr 1997
From: DFBUCK@aiinc.com
To: histgaz@aracnet.com
Subject: Camp Desert Rock
Thank you for providing such a detailed account of the happenings of
Camp Desert Rock, Operation Buster-Jangle. My father was there, and
has recently been diagnosed with a somewhat rare form of cancer. The VA
hospital and physicians believe it to be from his exposure to the atomic
bombs at Camp Desert Rock. My father never told us, his children of his
experiences or about what happened there. He did not like to tell us
much of any of his army history, thank you, I understand alot more,
without totally having to probe my father for what occurred there. This
is a god send to me, and my sisters.
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: My father
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998
Pleasant suprise to see a note from your web site in the mail today. My father, William O. Davig passed away October 21, 1997 from cancer. My father was diagnosed with Multiple Myoloma and later Lymphoma in December of 1996.
My father was a US Army Veteran who was "assigned" to Camp Desert Rock..Operation Buster/Jangle. My father didn't talk to my sisters and I to much in regards to his time spent in the Army, so finding your site a year and a half ago was a much needed answer to alot of my questions. Thank you. My father was indeed a good soldier, a good man, and most of all a good person.
My heart to all of those who have lost a loved one who was "protecting our country". My father may not have died during his wartime years, or in "action" but gave his life just the same for our country after being exposed to "nuclear testing" in the Nevada desert. I really do appreciate all the information that you have obtained and provided. When I found your site I had my father come over and he sat and went thru all the pictures with me and read all the information. It was a good sharing time for he and I, and for the first time he felt somewhat "relaxed" to talk to me about this experience.
The VA had no quams about telling him point blank that his form of cancer was definitely from his exposure to the nuclear testing. I was glad to see that at least he
didn't have to fight that issue.
God bless, and keep up the great work on this historical event.
Diana L. Davig Buckmaster
Fallon, Nevada
Page One | Page Two | Page Three | Page Four