Len Glaser sent this email about his duty at Operation Wigwam.
From: Hlg3911@aol.com
Date: Fri, 5 Jan 2001
Subject: Operation Wigwam - 1955
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
I served aboard USS GRANVILLE S. HALL (YAG-40) during the subject test as
Operations Officer (LTjg/USNR). My previous duty station was aboard USS RIO
GRANDE (AOG-3), a gasoline tanker out of Pearl Harbor.
My only previous
connection with atomic weaponry was when AOG-3 took a team of civilian
scientists down to Rongerik and Rongelap Islands in the SouPac area to
provide for their transportation and accommodations while they interviewed
and examined island inhabitants for effects of the Eniwetok and Bikini
detonations and to bring back samples of soil and vegetation to their labs. I
had a Secret clearance which may have led to my assignment on YAG-40 at SFran
NavShpYd. Our task element commander was Capt. George C. Molumphy, USN, the
skipper was LCDR. Roy
Ginther, USN, Chief Warrant Officer (Machinist) was Rene F. Serghison, I don't
remember the XO, but he was a mustang LT.
On the detonation day, when all ships were on station, the crew of YAG-40 was
transported via a VP to LST 1048. YAG-40 was radio controlled and was to be
guided electronically thru surface zero after the shot. It had sampling
equipment to catch air fallout and devices to pick up water samples. Upon
detonation, the shock waves were so severe that the fires in the boiler room
were blown out and some firemen and the CWO had to go back aboard to light
them off again. The shot was awesome. I never knew the rating of the weapon
until I read this website. My health is good and I was sorry to hear that
other Navy may have suffered from the exposure at Wigwam.
Finding little exciting as a young single guy in ServPac, I asked for
transfer to Large Combatants, LantFlt, in particular, the USS NORTHAMPTON
CLC-1 since I was a graduate of Communications School, NavStaNPT, RI. and
felt under utilized. Surprisingly, I got it. On June 1, I left SFran for
NorVa where I arrived in time for departure on the summer Midshipman Cruise
from Annapolis to the Med and England. I served on CLC-1 as Signal Officer,
Radio Officer, and Flag (C6F & C2F)
Communications Watch Officer and made several cruises and finished my active
duty in March '57. Since I live in NJ, I saw CLC-1 reduced to scrap in River
Terminal, South Kearny, NJ in l980. She's now part of 20,000 Toyotas as the
scrap was sold to Japan. I am still a member of her reunion club and plan to
attend the 50th anniversary of her commissioning in 2003 at Northampton and
Quincy, MA
Only after reading your informative website did I find out that YAG-40 was
again used for chemical warfare weapons testing. I'm glad I got off before
that. In fact, the day after I left for NorVa BuPers cancelled my orders and
said I had to stay, but fortunately, I was aboard CLC-1 heading to sea. Now I
know why I was still wanted. Thanks for the good stories.
P.S. There is large report on Wigwam available from the Library of Congress
which I got to borrow from my town Public Library. Shows lots of things not
in your website.
Len Glaser
Ltjg, USNR (Ret)
Age 69, Watchung, NJ
Email: Hlg3911@aol.com
Keith Whittle
January 7, 2001
[ Operation Wigwam ]