Another veteran of the USS Curtiss, Bill Holt sent email about his duty at Castle and Wigwam.
From: WINDY1033@aol.com
Date: Fri, 15 Jan 1999
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Atomic Veteran (Operations Castle and Wigwam)
Hi Keith,
Thanks for your quick response.
I served aboard the U.S. Curtiss AV 4, from May 1953/ Jan. 1956,
Roger Division, Rate FP2.
I was on board for both Operations Castle & Wigwam.
Operation Castle at Eniwetok and Bikini atoll islands in the Marshall Islands
was quite a bit more than anyone expected at the time. Doseage readings were
almost a guess. No one knew at that time just how much damage could be done to
those exoosed.
Being a pipe fitter, I helped with the design and installation of a ships wash
down system. This was a sprinkler system on the exterior of the ship where salt
water was sprayed all over the out side of the ship. The salt water turned out to be contaminated. We had to be out in it to make sure it was working. There were small pieces of coral on the decks and you could see sand. The fall out from this blast was a way out of control. We had to be exposed to some extent.
I have just joined the USS Curtiss Assoc., and have come to find out alot of my old
shipmates are gone. Some at a very young age, like early 40's. So I'm interested
to find out as much as possible.
At Operation Wigwam, other than the big wave, we were far to busy fixing busted water & steam lines (to see much).
Earl Willam (BILL) Holt
58-2 E. Western Reserve Rd.
Boardman, Ohio 44514-3340
Phone: 330-726-1155
U.S. Navy-1952-1956
Email: WINDY1033@aol.com
Keith Whittle
January 16, 1998
[ Operation Castle ]
[ Operation Wigwam ]