Pacific Proving Grounds 1958 1958 - 2008 Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Military Participation in Operation Hardtack Umbrella Shot Shot Oak Click on images for larger view. During Operation Hardtack 1 and 2 (1958) there were 62 US atomic weapons fired into the atmosphere, fifteen other devices were detonated underground. The Soviet Union also fired 34 atomic weapons above ground in 1958. The British exploded 5 weapons at Christmas Island. There were 16,000 DOD personnel involved in the US tests. Declassified Hardtack Documents U.S. Atomic Veterans Rodney Buntzen was a Student Scientist with the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory (NRDL) Doug Ashby was an Engineman Fireman on the LCU 666. Ronald Pope was with the 7.3 Boat Pool USS Monticello LSD 35. Robert Clayton was an Engineman on the USS Lawrence County LST 887. Darel W. Landers was a GM3 aboard the USS Joyce DER 317. Charlie Nachbar was with the 24th Helicopter Squadron. Don Smith was a Navy photogaphers mate 2C attached to LASL. Lewis Sample was with the 1705th Periodic Maintenance Squadron. Charles E. Jenson served aboard the USS Orleck DD 886. Rolan Conoley served aboard the USS Arikara ATF-98. John Hampton was a photographer with the 1370th Photo Mapping Group. Everett Ford was a Shipfitter aboard the USS Munsee ATF-107. David L. Bentz was attached to the Task Group 7.3 Boat Pool. Bill Kishbaugh served as an Engineman on the USS Renville APA 227. Guy Alewine worked in the Supply Squadron of the 4951st. George Mace worked in the CTG 7.3 Communication Center. Red Stratton was with the 4951st Support Squadron. Comptroller. Jim Rogers was a member of the 4951st Support Squadron. Administrative Jim Gregory was on the Navasota and Lansing DER 388. Ray Ross was with the CTG 7.3 Communication Center Ed Ries served with the CTG 7.3 Boat Pool. Don Rowan served on the Fleet Ocean Tug USS Takelma ATF 113. Larry Borman served aboard the Submarine USS Sterlet SS-392. Dave Stewart was a welder aboard the USS Renville. Loren S. Pryor was an SK2 aboard the USS Moctobi ATF-105. George Coulston was a yeoman aboard the USS Joyce DER 317. Gerald E. Smith was a FTG 3 aboard the USS Benner DDR 807 Martin (Marty) Fox was an Aircraft Mechanic with the 4951st. Jay Fowler was a Fire Controlman, Second Class (FT 2) aboard the USS Boxer. Philip Drake was with Holmes and Narver at Eniwetok. (Photos) Ron Berwick served aboard the USS Merapi AF38. George Tower served aboard the USS Tortuga (LSD26). Thomas J. Hanlon was with the 76th Engineer Company (Support) Redstone, United States Ballistic Missle Agency Richard Greene served as a Yeoman 3rd Class on the USS Belle Grove. Jim Taylor served as a Boilerman on the USS Magiffin. John T. Rodgers was stationed aboard the USS Floyd B. Parks DD 884. Rodger Dana served as an ET aboard the USS Chowanoc ATF 100. Leon Eneboe served as a Yeoman aboard the USS Boxer. Forrest Bahler who served on the USS Renville at Operation Hardtack, has passed away. Bob Eix was a seaman on the USS Belle Grove. Roy Magerkurth was a diver on the USS Chanticleer ASR-7. Victor DeLor was Pipefitter 3rd class aboard the USS Boxer. John F Healy was an Airman 3/C U.S.A.F. and worked in supply at Johnston Island. H. E. "Buddy" Engelhorn was Quartermaster 3rd, class [also signalman] aboard the on the USS Joyce DER 317. J.W. Brooks was an GM3 on the USS De Haven DD 727. Robert Graf was with an Air Rescue Detachment Dee Patrick was stationed aboard the USS Boxer in the Print Shop. Tom Cuthbert served as a a Radioman on the USS Boxer CVS21. D'Wayne D. De Ziel on board USS Hooper Island ARG 17. Jack (John) Empson served with the 4951st Support Squadron. Bill Alexander served aboard the submarine Bonita (SSK-3) for test Wahoo and Umbrella. Jim Burlingame was with the 1st Radiological Safety Support Unit. Dan Martin was co-pilot of Crew 8 Patrol Squadron 28 (VP-28). Frank Dujanovic was a gunners mate on the USS Benner DDR 807 Lynn McDaniel was an EM2 aboard the USS Boxer CVS 21 Arden Brooks served as Signalman 2nd. Class on the USS Belle Grove, LSD-2 and USS Boxer. C. Thomas Sheehan flew classified missions wih the 58th Weather Recon Squadron. Fred Martin served as an SK2 onboard the USS DeHaven, DD727. Jim Beasley was a seaman aboard the USS Belle Grove LSD 2. Clement (Jack) Mulroy was a CS/3 aboard the USS Boxer Ken Brown was a mechanic, Airman 1st Class, with the 4951st Support Squadron Ray Mullins was a Boilerman on the USS Belle Grove George Weyhrich was Supply Sergeant for the Operations Detachment. Thomas R. Bowlin, Jr., who served on the USS Boxer, at Operation Hardtack, has passed away. Jim Hunnemeyer was a Radioman 3rd on the USS Belle Grove, LSD-2. Wayne Parker USAF, was stationed on the USS Boxer. Richard Wixon IC2, served as a seaman on the USS Grasp ARS. Joseph C. Senn, IC2, served on the USS Collett DD730. Robert J. Hall served onboard the USS Arikara ATF-98. Charles Farr served with the Naval Special Weapons Facility, as an Airframes Division Supervisor. Mat Mulqueen was an engineman striker in the Task Force 7.3 Boat Pool. Herb Hill was a Special Weapon's Officer at Operation Hardtack. Mike Ferrell was in the Task Group 7.3 Boat Pool and served on an LCM John Medynski served as a radioman aboard the USS Munsee Bill Hight served aboard the USS Chanticleer ASR-7 as a a DC-3(DV). Robert De Blasi served aboard the USS Rehoboth AGS50, as an Aerographers Mate, second class (AG2). Pete Gettys was stationed with the 1253D AACS Squadron and was an Airman 3rd class Donald J. Koestler served as a Radarman on the USS Monticello. Harley DeVaux Jr. served on the USS Boxer CVS21 as a Chief Electrician Mate. Walter Venator served as an Air Force, electronics technician, on Eniwetok. Richard Peterson served in the CTG 7.3 Boat Pool at Operation Hardtack. Don Lawson served as an electronics technician on the USS Orleck DD 886 at Operation Hardtack. Bob Winters, a Marine, served aboard the USS Boxer at Operation Hardtack. August 19, 2000--Robert M. Rhodes Jr. an Atomic Veteran of Operation Redwing 1956, Operation Plumbbob 1957, Operation Hardtack 1958 and who served with the First Radiological Safety Support Unit as a Radiation monitor has passed away. Bill Simonton, an aircraft electrician, served with the 4951st Support Squadron at Eniwetok. James A. Leggett, was serving aboard the USS DeHaven DD 727, as an SH3. William R. McIntire, A/2nd Class, 57 Weather Recon, while TDY (temporary tour of duty) on Eniwetok. Harold Wainscott publishes The Wetokian, a newsletter and website which contains many excellent stories about the military duties and lives of the US Air Force Weathermen stationed at Eniwetok during the atomic tests. Russ Cook a member of the Marine Detachment aboard the USS Boxer, writes about his duty at Operation Hardtack. Arvel Stevenson was stationed aboard the USS Boxer as a MMFN and worked in A Division. Harold Ferguson an Airman Second Class on temporary duty AACS at Eniwetok. Ronald Doran was in VP28 and in charge of afternoon maintenance of returned aircraft at Operation Hardtack. James Oneyear Electrician Third Class, was also stationed aboard the USS Tortuga-26. His certificate of participation (TG 7.3, Operation Hardtack Certificate) is included here. Click on the picture for a larger view. Larry Stanczyk was stationed aboard the USS Boxer Charles R. Westbrook was stationed aboard the USS Tortuga-26. His picture of the ship is included here. Click on the picture for a larger view. Wayne McCormick served as an Illustrator attached to Headquarters, Joint Task Force Seven. Leroy Peffer served as an Electricians Mate on the weapons carrier USS Curtiss during Operation Castle, Wigwam, Redwing and Hardtack. Richard (Mike) Jenkins describes his duty aboard the USS Mansfield. Mike also sent pages from the DOD Fact Sheet, pictures of the Atomic Veterans Memorial in Biloxi and a JTF List of Ships at Operation Hardtack. February 1, 2000--Allen Skelton an Atomic Veteran of Operation Hardtack, Task Group 7.3 Boat Pool and who was stationed on Perry Island, has passed away. Andy Anderson was 23 years old, when he was stationed on Eniwetok. Anderson served as an Educational Specialist and stood on the beach to watch the blasts. John Kerslake, served on the USS Perkins DDR 877 at Operation Hardtack. Tom Thomas Electrician's Mate on the USS Arikara (ATF 98) contacted us by email and sent his very interesting and detailed story of his duty at Operation Hardtack. 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