Operation Teapot
US Atomic Veterans
Walter C. Levine
From: walterl07@aol.com
Date: Sat, 6 Oct 2001
Subject: Re: Atomic Veteran (Operation Teapot)
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Dear Sir;
I was at Indian Springs AFB in early 1954 thru February 1957 when I was
discharged . I was with the Air Police. We did various tasks including base
defence base security desert patrols and guard duty. We all had Q
clearances, guarding atomic ordinance, the planes that dropped the
bombs, and the drones they flew through the radioactive cloud after detonation and
the such.
Was also transported several times by bus to Camp Desert Rock
where we were inserted into trenches to observe the bomb going off at several
tower detonations. I was not one that was ordered to leave the trenches and
walk through the dust and cloud like they had some of the army troops do.
To this day the government vigorously denies that any one was taken to the site by
bus and told to observe the detonations. Typical lies from the DOE they
even said that I was never there and although I have my Operation Teapot
Certificate of Participation. As for my records, they say it was burned up in
some fire in St Louis years ago.
We also guarded the crashed drones till the
decontamination crews got there to spray them. In all our activities we were exposed to
radiation.
I to this day still have some pictures of these crashed radioactive
F-80 drones they used. No one was allowed on or off Indian Springs AFB
during the test period and you had to be on an access list to be able to
enter there during that period.
I also have a kind of permanent party base
photo album embossed with pictures of all the blasts with everone who was
permanent party in it with their names and home towns listed. I have other
documents but will only send copys not originals. I've known former friends
who sent to the DOE their original documentation and of course they all
disapeared ( the paperwork). They also were told they were never there. A
sorry state of affairs I'd say.
Well thats about it in general. I if you would
like anything more specific feel free to ask.
Thank you and keep in touch.
Walter C Levine
Lafollette, TN
A/1c
4935 Air Base Group
Special Weapons Center
Air Police
Indian Springs AFB, Nevada
Email: walterl07@aol.com
Operation Teapot
Keith Whittle
October 7, 2001