From: lyhanks@cs.com
Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2001
Subject: Crossroads
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
I served aboard the USS Arkansas BB33 at Bikini Atoll. Test Baker was detonated at 9 a.m. The closest ship was 11.7 miles from ground zero. They said virtually no contamination to target ships. I was one of the men who went back aboard after Test Able. The fantail was very hot with radioactivity.
My duty was to take notes of the damage
after Able. Below decks was a pipe from the 2nd deck to the over head with
another pipe with a sharp piece on it to show how much the deck came down. We were near the Nevada, which you know they missed the target. We had a soda fountain on the Arkansas. Some of my buddies drank from it but not me.
When we returned to the states I was put in the Long Beach hospital.
There was spots on my lungs and high blood preasure. Over a month in the
hospital and they could not find out why. I still have high blood preasure but I signed a waiver
4 years later, when I was discharged, they wanted to send me back to the
hospital, so I signed the waiver not to hold them responsible.
Otherwise I think I am in good health.
Lonnie Hanks
BB 33
lyhanks@cs.com
[ Operation Crossroads ]