Operation Upshot/Knothole
US Atomic Veterans
William K. Luebbert
From: leader4966@mypacks.net
To: Keith Whittle pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: A-bomb Test - 7th in Upshot Knothole series "Simon"
I was stationed at the 5th Army base in Ft. Riley, Kansas and was assigned to G-2 as an Assistant Instructor. My MOS was 1890 Photo Interpreter. I was sent to the test after I had prepared a display of photographs and bomb damage estimates for an open house that was held in Patton Hall on base. The subject of this presentation was Nagasaki and Hiroshima "before" and "after" the bombing at those locations. My Major at the time (Major Brown) thought I could gain more knowledge about Atomic warfare by actually participating in an actual Atomic Bomb test, orders were cut and I was shortly on my way to Camp Desert Rock.
My experiences are similar to other accounts I have read. In the early morning before sunrise, the desert is extremely cold. One additional experience I still recall is while waiting for the countdown to begin several soldiers in the area had prepared small bon-fires attempting to keep warm. Shortly thereafter a voice came over the Public Address system that was operating in the staging area and announced "Please extinguish the fires in the staging area as we have delicate instruments in place to obtain information from the blast" and "If you will be patient we will have our own centrally located heating system operating in a very near short time." (meaning the bomb blast of course.) That instruction kind of took the "edge" off of the wait.
A siren wailed shortly before the countdown began and in the silence of the desert that sound is penetrating. We then braced ourselves against the forward wall of the trench as the countdown began 10, 9, 8...... With arms over my eyes the blast 'flash' was as if a photo flashbulb flashed in my face and as I peered out of the end of the trench the surrounding hills appeared white as sheets for a short while. After the return rush of dust spilled into the trench I stood up and watched the unusual and 'beautiful' display of activity occurring within the atomic cloud as it slowly rose. It seemed as if the blast woke up the sun. From pitch dark before the blast to dawns new light immediately following the blast everything in the forward area was clearly visible. We exited the trenches and walked toward ground zero. Looking behind our trench location I saw what appeared to be Joshua trees burning in the far distance. As I walked toward ground zero, sheep in shallow pits had their sides burned. The sheep I saw appeared to still be alive. Many other items located near the blast were severly damaged. We were stopped shortly from our walk forward and told to get on our designated bus. We were checked for radiation as we entered the bus and told the level that existed, if we asked. I asked!
I have never been contacted by anyone regarding my experiences or provided information about the test's result. The main record center here in St. Louis does not have a copy of my service orders. These apparently "burned up" in a major fire that happened at the record center years ago.
Best wishes to all my fellow A-Bomb veterans.
William K. Luebbert
US Army
Email: leader4966@mypacks.net
Keith Whittle
May 1, 2007
Operation Upshot/Knothole