Operation Crossroads
US Atomic Veterans
Clifford A Hylden
Date: Sun, 09 Jul 2000
From: bhylden@lakenet.com
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Operation Crossroads
I was an electrician on the USS Dixie, a destroyer tender, at two atomic
tests at Bikini Atoll in July, 1946.
The first test on July 1 was above
ground. We stood on deck observing the test site until ordered to cover
our eyes with our arms. Shortly after the explosion we were allowed to
observe the mushroom cloud ascending and drawing up moisture in a huge
column. We were about 22 miles from the test site.
Some days later an electrician shipmate and several others were taken
from the ship because of high white counts in their blood. His name, as
I recall, was Kistler. I never heard of him again.
I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in Nov. 1997. My daughter
had died from Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in Aug., 1997 after nearly four
years in remission from her first diagnosis in Jan of 1993. No one
else in my family was afflicted with lymphoma. I am in remission since
chemotherapy ended in April, 1998.
At the time there was little known about the hazards of radiation.
Sincerely,
Clifford A and Betty Hylden
bhylden@lakenet.com
--Keith Whittle
July 13, 2000
Operation Crossroads