Operation Redwing
US Atomic Veterans
Kenneth D. Fink
Kenneth Fink sent email about his duty at Operation Redwing.
From: kfvf@cox.net
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Operation Redwing - 1956
Date: Sat, 6 Jan 2001
My name is Kenneth D. Fink and I was stationed onboard the USS Curtiss (AV-4) reporting there on 12/13/55 and subsequently transferring on 9/24/57. During the time the USS Curtiss (AV-4) was on station at the Pacific Proving Grounds (PPG) during Operation Redwing -1956 from 4/10/56 through 7/25/56, Seaman Fink was at the time a member of the Supply Department (S-4 Division - Disbursing) as a DKSN, and later advanced to DK3 before departing the USS Curtiss (AV-4).
As a junior enlisted man, Seaman Fink was assigned to a working party reporting onboard the USS Knudson (APD-101) from 7/11 through 17/56 for the expressed purpose of decontaminating two (2) ships; the USS George Eastman (YAG-39) and the USS Graville S. Hall (YAG-40). The USS Knudson (APD-101) took the working party consisting of numerous sailors (and possibly troopers) assigned from the ships and activities located at Bikini Atoll to Enewetak Atoll.
According to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) who had completed a radiation dose assessment for Seaman Fink and in which the DTRA indicated that only one ship was decontaminated, that being the (YAG-39) while it was anchored at the Parry Island anchorage, Enewetak Atoll on 7/14/56. Seaman Fink continues to insist today that there were two YAG's decontaminated by the assigned decontamination working party before the working party returned to the USS Knudson (APD-101).
During the ensuing atomic events of Operation Redwing - 1956, all ship's crew members were asked to sit or stand outside on the open deck during one or more of the atomic events. All hands could clearly see bright light clear through their arms being held tightly over their eyes, and shortly thereafter, could feel the heat (and radiation), then the pressure caused by the explosion, and a few moments thereafter, were ordered to turn around and actually face the detonation seeing a red/blue/yellow extremely hot fireball bellowing upward into the sky until it appeared they were standing directly underneath the hot fireball.
There are numerous reports of serious radioactive occurrences onboard the many activities participating and as were reported by many of the people that had participated in Operation Redwing - 1956. However, it would appear that the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, has for the most part, minimized any dose re-construction for these activities of having received radiation or radioactive contamination fallout when there is so much personal testimony to the contrary. Why that appears to be true, has not been yet been explained.
Seaman Fink spent some time on one or more of the islands at either Bikini and/or Enewetak Atoll (one probably being Japtan Island) and therefore having seen on one of the islands vary large green lizards, a Japanese freighter that had been run aground on one of the beach areas and thousands upon thousands of expended rifle cartridges that were laying about the beaches, plus several landing craft rusting away while sitting up on the beaches and even some landing craft that had been sunk out in the deeper water along with what appeared to be small army tanks yet remaining inside the craft.
Seaman Fink did on occasion travel with the Pay Master of the USS Curtiss (AV-4) to pay other vessels being serviced by the ship (disbursing, supply, mail, etc) and even he himself had traveled to pay U.S. Marines who were stationed on guard duty on barges containing atomic explosive devices while at Bikini or Enewetak Atoll. These are some of the experiences while at Operation Redwing - 1956.
I am the National Association of Atomic Veterans (NAAV) State
Commander for the Great State of Minnesota.
Kenneth D. Fink
DKCS, USN (Ret)
Southwest Minnesota
Email: kfvf@cox.net
Keith Whittle
January 7, 2001
[ Operation Redwing ]