From: djordan452@webtv.net (david jordan)
Date: Tue, 30 Mar 1999
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Cumberland Sound
Hi Keith.
This is a brief description of my
duty aboard the Cumberland Sound AV-17.
This ship is a converted seaplane tender.
It was converted to a laboratory ship with
special facilities added on the seaplane deck for the purpose of firing
the Baker A-Bomb in Opperation Crossroads on July 25,1946 at Bikini
Atoll. We also participated in the Able test.
I served on the Cumberland Sound from 02/25/46 to 12/01/46
as seaman 1st class assigned to the first
division.The duty of the first division was
to maintain the forward section of the ship.
We sat on the deck of the ship and watched as the Able bomb
exploded and the huge fireball as it mushroomed up into the clouds. It was an awesome sight to
see. We were about 12 miles from the target area but it seemed like we were much
closer. We were issued dark glasses and
told not to look at the blast without them.
Even with the glasses, it seemed as though we were looking directly at
the bright sun.
As I said before,the Cumberland Sound was the firing ship for the
Baker shot. On July 25th we once again sat on the deck
and watched as the Baker bomb exploded
90 feet below the hull of the LSM 60. Tons
of water along with a giant fireball shot up
toward the sky. I'm not sure how high the
water reached but it seemed to just hang
there in the air for a few seconds and then began to fall back into the lagoon. All of the ships in that area, were drenched with the radiation contaminated water.
The Baker shot was even more awesome to see than the Able shot. We were about 10 miles from the Baker shot.
Shortly after each shot, we returned to the lagoon and lowered the Captain's Gig
and motor launches into the water and the Captain and other top brass boarded the
boats and toured the target area. When they returned we scrubbed the boats down
with special chemicals, because they were highly contaminated with radiation. I never
wore any kind of protective clothing, except a pair of rubber gloves. I was never tested or monitored for radiation exposure at any time.
I was discharged from the Navy on October 7, 1947. I never had
any physical problems untill 1970. Since then I've had severe blood and skin disorders,
which I believe was caused from radiation exposure at Bikini Atoll. The government
doesn't think so.
Well thanks for giving me this opportunity. I just recently became a NAAV member. If I can be of service in any way, let me know.
Thanks again.
David Jordan
E-Mail djordan452@webtv.net
[ Operation Crossroads ]