Operation Hardtack 1
1958
US Atomic Veterans
Mike Ferrell
From:banjer@c-gate.net
To: "NAAV" pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Fw: Email To Atomic Vets
Date: Sun, 8 Aug 1999
banjer@c-gate.net
Keith, Here is an e-mail I sent to John Debusk, that you may be interested
in. You may post any and all parts if you like. The reason I am sending you
this, is that as the e-mail states, I will be glad to furnish a copy of
travel orders or a simple list of dates, ships that hauled our boats, etc.
for any LCM crews for 7.3 Boat Pool for operation Hardtack. I only have my
own, but I believe all the LCM crews pretty much traveled together.
Thanks, Mike Ferrell
----- Original Message -----
From: banjer@c-gate.net
To: John J. DeBusk atomicvet@angelfire.com
Sent: Sunday, August 08, 1999
Subject: Re: Email To Atomic Vets
Hi John,
Thanks for the E-mail, and you are absolutely right about the records
thing.
I called to get my radiation doseage or any other info that they may have
some time back (1993 I think) and they said they lost all records in the
fire and that they had never heard of the Navy's 7.3 Boat Pool or
Operation
Hardtack.
Well, I have all my old travel orders and files plus my security
badge. When I told them that, I suddenly existed again!! Magic!! Voodoo!!
Ain't it lovely? I Know the exact dates, names of the ships that hauled
our
boats to and from Bikini and Eniwetok, what shots I was present for, etc,
etc. And I told 'em so. They then told me my dose reading! Now, listen to
this. I was there for four months witnessed at least fourteen blasts, was
constantly on and in the water. Many, many times, at the barges, and
target
ships and aboard this already radioactive LCM (from previous shot series)
and they admitted only that I was there for ONE DAY!! and my radiation
reading was 1.8 rem!! Also, that I would never have a health problem
associated with my radiation dose.
I informed them that I had no film
badge
until the last day that (actually only the morning we departed as they took
the badge away when we loaded our boats on the LSD). I was there and that
the
reading could not possibly be the total dose. We had one period that we
were
exposed to a heavy amount of fallout due to a wind shift and would have
attained more than 1.8 rem for that period alone. I can only assume the
1.8
reading is for the day of our departure. What about the other 100+ days?
Eh?
They then wanted me to send them my records. Yeah, right! I did send them
copies, and they sent me a package with their propoganda and maximum
dosages
recorded during the series, the shot lists for Hardtack and a sheet with
my
dose reading. What crap!!
If any of the folks that were with 7.3 Boat
Pool as an LCM crew needs a copy of our travel orders to Bikini or
Eniwetok,
to prove they were there, I'll be more than happy to send then a copy copy
of mine or a list of dates and ships.
God Bless you for what you are doing!!
Take care,
Mike Ferrell
Mike Ferrell sent email about his duty at Operation Hardtack.
From:banjer@c-gate.net
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Date: Fri, 21 May 1999
Hi Keith.
I too was a participant in the Pacific tests, (Operation Hardtack). I was at Bikini for a very short period of time, then on the Eniwetok - April - July 1958. I have no idea how many of us are left.
I was in the Task Group 7.3 Boat Pool and served on an LCM (Landing Craft). We were housed on Parry Island in tents, and the days were spent on the boat.
I have several physical ailments and have no idea if any wer due to radiation. I do have my service records, and all the dates. Also after proving the DNA a liar they gave me a copy of my film record. They have it for one day, July 5, 1958 and it reads 1.8 Rem. They say I was only there for one day. Must have been a time warp. That was the day we left. I had a film badge.
I feel very sorry for the others that participated and the hell they and their families have gone through on account of our government. I love our country, and I know we needed to be very strong at that time. But surely there could have been a better way to do it than to just fry members of the armed forces.
I'm ashamed for what our elected officials did then, but I'm more ashamed for what they're doing now, (cover-ups. denials, etc.). So far I have been one of the very fortunate few but only due to God's mercy.
I have really enjoyed the web site. I have already recieved e-mails and
phone calls from some of the guys that I e-mailed.
Al Skelton and I know each other. What a treat!!
I have also visited the
memorial site in Biloxi over the weekend. It is very nice and in a very
prominent place at the VA hospital and cemetery. I could not believe how
strategically placed the memorial is. It is right in front of the main flag
pole at the VA cemetery, and stands alone.That must have taken some pull.
All this has triggered more and more memories that have been buried a long
time, and I for one really appreciate the things you and others are doing
for us.
Sincerely,
Mike Ferrell
Email: banjer@netpathway.com
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