Operation Tumbler/Snapper
US Atomic Veterans
Thomas Kimball
From: Thomas Kimball kimbah@newnorth.net
To: Keith pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Upshot/Knothole
Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2001
Keith:
Good to meet you on the Internet! This is Sgt. Tom Kimball; 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejuene, N.C. I left camp for Cherry Point, Marine Air Base to fly commercial flight to Nevada. This was April or May 1952.
Two days of blowing sand, so the tests were postoned. Had a mockup of so many tons of TNT to show us what the real shot would sound like. The next day, as I remember, the plane come over while the ground controller was telling us what was all going to happen. The count down started and the bomb was dropped. Then the air burst on ground zero. In our fox hole we counted 1001, 1002, 1003, and put on the infra-red glasses. When I stood up, it was so bright I thought it was too soon, and wnt back down. Then got up angain and I watched the fireball rise and rumble and crack; then the concussion ring on the ground. When it got to the foxhole, it knocked my steel helmet back on my neck.
Later we loaded up on trucks or buses and drove up to ground zero to inspect. Of all the Marine Corps clothing and equipment desplayed at or near ground aero, all that would burn did so. Tanks, jeeps and trucks had been rolled down the desert 50, 60, yards. Whatever was in shadwo, and was not exposed to the intense light and heat did nto burn. Even the paint on all vehicles blistered where exposed.
Before loading up to leaved the area they scanned each one of us with a geiger counter and used an old broom to brush off the radiation dust from uniforms. Then we were loaded back unto the trucks or buses.
Rumor around camp was maybe down the road, we might have health problems, but no one knew for sure just what effect radiation might have on us.
In a day or so we boarded our plane and went back to Camp Lejeune.
Just in the last six or seven years I've gotten a blood platlet condition, known as essential Rhrombocytosis and have been put on drugs to help control it. Thaey are having a real problem trying to balance the red platlets and the hemoglobin. I have been transfused 18 units of blood since the 18th of December, 2000. Some of it was due to having neck surgery, but most because of low hemoglobin. I can't be operated on unless the hemoglobin and platlets are under control.
I wondered if you knew of any other atomic veterans who have the same, or similiar blood problems.
Thanks,
Tom Kimball
kimbah@newnorth.net
--Keith Whittle
March 18, 2001
Operation Tumbler/Snapper