Operation Ivy
US Atomic Veterans
Gilbert Lee
Gilbert Lee sent email about his duty at Operation Ivy.
Date: Fri, 01 Sep 2000
From: Gilbert Lee glee@kih.net
Reply-To: glee@kih.net
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Operation Ivy
I stumbled across this website while trying to refresh my memory
regarding the little black building on the island of Elugelab. I was
an ET3 aboard the USS Curtiss during the summer of 1952 and was witness
to the detonation of "the device". I have a certificate that attests to
my presence at the test site.
I have many fond memories of that summer in 1952. As an ET on board the
Curtiss my duties were limited to routine maintenance (transmitters and
receivers in my case). That left a lot of time to do nothing except
watch that little black building and wonder about what was really going
to happen. It also gave us plenty to time to take advantage of an offer
by the C.O. of the Curtiss for routine recreation visits to an island
that had been nicknamed "Mary". Several of us on the Curtiss spent many
delightfull hours snorkling in the lagoon in Eniwetok before the device
was detonated.
Those of us on the Curtiss were told that the operation was secret and
that all information regarding Operation Ivy would be classifed for 50
years. When I ran across that old certificate recently it got my juices
flowing and I wondered if any information had been released. It is very
refreshing to see that someone has expended the time and energy to
research the information and to put it out for those of us who may never
have the time or opportunity to do it on our own.
Thank you,
Gilbert Lee
(retired)
Email:glee@kih.net
Keith Whittle
September 2, 2000
[ Operation Ivy ]