Operation Castle 1954 US Atomic Veterans Lloyd Kosted JTF 7, Castle Certificate US Atomic Veteran from Washington, Lloyd Kosted Engineman Second Class watched the detonations of Operation Castle and wrote a detailed story about his service. His certificate of participation is included here. (Click on the picture for a larger view.) Lloyd and his wife Edythe got a new computer for Christmas and quite naturally Lloyd wanted to find out if there was information about his atomic duty. He found our website and sent us an email about his participation in Operation Castle. From: "Edythe & Lloyd Kosted" To: histgaz@aracnet.com Subject: Operation Castle = NAAV Story Date: Fri, 26 Dec 1997 To Whom It May Concern: I also was at Operation Castle l954. I was in the United States Navy and my rate was Engineman Second Class, attached to the Comm Task Group 7.3 Boat Pool. I had to work on the Mike Boats and all of the smaller boats that the U.S.S. Bellegrove LSD ferried over to the Bikini Atoll from Coronado, California. All the boats were used to haul H & N construction equipment from Island to Island. We hauled bulldozers, rollers and trucks. I was in on the March l, 1954 Bravo shot. We were not allowed to take or have any cameras with us at that time. Seems as though there was a total of 4 or 5 bomb explosions on Operation Castle if I recall right. Also, I remember on the Bellegrove, when we would go to Eniwetok and pick up the bombs in the tin shacks on barges with four (4) automatic winches on each corner to hold in place until detonation. Also, I would like to mention that we definitely had our backs to the explosion. We were never allowed to face it even with our arm over our eyes as it would have blinded us. After the initial fire ball died down than we could turn and look at the mushroom cloud. I and anyone else who was in on that Operation Castle would hope and pray to God to never see one again. On March 1, 1954 blast, we were on the forecastle (bow) of the ship with our backs to the fireball. We had to put our arm over our eyes and one could almost see through your arm. Back to the March 1, 1954 Operation Castle, the Bravo Shot. It was early morning when it was set off, about 0700 or 0800. Shortly afterwards we were all sitting around on the Forecastle (bow) of the Bellegrove and some Sailor's came out with geiger counters. They spoke up and said, "everybody below deck as we are now in a heavy radiation fallout.". The Ship (Bellegrove) was set up with a complete sprinkler system. It had fire hoses to completely cover the ship with salt water so they could wash the radiation off. So for three days and nights that's the way we steamed around in circles. No one was allowed top side until the radiation level was down. Once that was down we steamed back into Bikini Atoll and what a sight. Whole palm trees were blasted apart, lying and floating everywhere, dead fish everywhere and debris everywhere. It was really unbelievable and what a tremendous sight to all of us. Also, on one of the other Shots, they didn't have time to pick up one of the Bulldozers. So after the Shot and the Island cooled down, one of the smaller boats went back to look for the Bulldozer. They found it alright, it was a pile of melted steel. Another Shot put one of the Islands 500 feet below sea level. When I was assigned to 7.3 Boat Pool I had to sign a statement that I would not talk about this for Twenty (20) years after this Operation Castle. It has been a long time. Never will I forget the sights though!!!! I just wanted to go home to Phoenix, Arizona and to my Wife of almost a year. I would once again be very grateful for any information that you could send to me, We went over to Bikini in January 1954 and stayed until May or June of 1954. I live in Granite Falls, Washington. Thank You, Lloyd D. Kosted Email: ekosted@email.msn.com Keith Whittle December, 27 1997 [ Operation Castle ] [ Home Page || What's New || Email || Family Mail Call || Notes and Hints ] [ Atomic Veterans, Atomic Test Series and Dates ] [ T-Shirts || Videos ] Information about the National Association of Atomic Veterans [ The NAAV Story || NAAV Medical Data Base Information ] Atomic Veterans History Project © 1997-2000 For use of the material found on this web site, please send us an email with your request.