Operation Sandstone
US Atomic Veterans
Jack B. Green
From: "JACK GREEN" BJ-BEAR-GREEN@email.msn.com
To: "Keith" pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Sandstone
Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2000
Hi Keith:
Reference Operation Sandstone: I do not remember the ship that took me to Eniwetok but I think it was a troop ship, my record shows Albermarle AV5. That was 50 some years ago I am now almost 80 so my memory isn't what it used to be. Upon arrival at the atoll five radiomen and myself were sent to Japtan Island. We installed a Radio station, including transceiver for contacting the destroyer on picket duty at the deep channel entrance ( the ship was about one or two miles off shore).
We also installed a receiver to monitor the sonar buoys that were out at the entrance to deep channel. If the buoys heard a contact, the operator on duty would notify the picket ship and they would check it out. The purpose was to make sure no unauthorized submarines got into the atoll. Someone was on duty around the clock. We slept in quonset huts, it was like camping out all the time we were there. Someone came over by boat each day and brought our meals, most of the time "C" rations.
The radio was in a wooden tower that was close to the deep entrance. When the A-bomb went off we turned our backs put our arms over our eyes, after a short while we put our goggles on and turned around, what a sight!!!! watching the mushroom cloud. I remember the heat wave when it hit was like sticking your head in a heated oven.
I also remember that there were thousands and thousands pieces of equipment that was left on the island, many mega bucks, also there were washing machines that the GI's had built out of 55 gallon drums, they were powered by the wind.
Thats about all I can remember. I would like to hear from anyone. My rate during operation was RM1, Retired in 1958 as RMC.
Jack B. Green
Melbourne, Fl.
BJ-BEAR-GREEN@email.msn.com
--Keith Whittle
July 24, 2000
Operation Sandstone