Operation Ivy
US Atomic Veterans
James A. Harmon
James A. Harmon sent email about his duty at Operation Ivy.
From: "James Harmon" jvharmon@sbcglobal.net
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Operation Ivy
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004
I ran across your web page tonight, while trying to find information
about Operation Ivy. I was stationed on Kwaj. Island from April
1952- April 1953 and participated in Operation Ivy.
Over the years I
have had health problems. I had my thyroid removed in the1970s,
prostate cancer, hearing loss, skin cancer removed over the years and
open heart surgery. I have been trying to get some compensation from
the problems that I have encountered. It has just been passed off as if
no problems could exist from this operation. I kept reapplying.
Presently a person has been assigned to my case and called me by phone
to inquire as to my role in the project.
I was assigned to the ship task
group that was a part of Operation Ivy. My job was fueling, maintenance
and decontamination of the planes of the task force, which was located on the
outside near the plane runway. I was assigned to the maintenance and
pre-flight status of the planes that carried the bomb to Eniwetok. I
was also part of the crew that assisted in the decontamination of the
planes upon landing from dropping the bomb.
Most of the time was spent in the open atmosphere, with the exception of
when I would fly in the plane to observe and record the blast from the
bomb. We would fly as close to the explosion as permitted for a period
of approximately 15-20 minutes.
Some members of our team were given a film badge, but only a selected
members of our unit got the device, on the assumption that the rest of
the outfit would likely receive similar radiation exposures.
I did receive a paper in the mail today that was a summary of what I had
discussed with the person by phone. I was asked to read and sign the
paper if I agreed with the summary.
The paper only made reference to my prostate cancer and nothing else. I
plan to add the information again about all of the other illness, which
I have submitted several times before.
I would be interested in hearing from
someone who was stationed there at the same time that I was.
Thanks,
James Arnold Harmon
Email: jvharmon@sbcglobal.net
Keith Whittle
April 24, 2004
[ Operation Ivy ]