Eniwetok Clean-up
U.S. Atomic Veterans
Ron Madden
Ron Madden sent email about his duty at Eniwetok.
From: mgharvey@advant.net (Harvey, Gary)
To: "Keith" pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Info on unit for Ron Madden
Date: Sat, 9 Dec 2000
Dear Sir.
My name is Ron Madden, I did a tour on Enewetok Atoll in 78-79. I found
out that I had Lung Cancer in Aug. 95. Ever since then, I've been fighting
with the V.A. about all my exposure to radiation and contamination. I'm trying
to find any information that might help with my case, or anyone else who is
also having medical problems. My next appeal goes to Washington In about
"TWO YEARS". So any information that I can add to my file will be deeply
appreciated. You can E-MAIL me at the address above. (This my brother
IN-Laws E-MAIL)
Sincerely,
PO Box 243
Westfield, IL. 62474
(217) 967-5678
Ronald L. Madden
mgharvey@advant.net
From: mgharvey@advant.net (Harvey, Gary)
To: "Keith" pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: info on unit for Ron Madden
Date: Sat, 9 Dec 2000
Keith,
I'd like to thank you for responding to my letter. Here is a short story of my adventures as a Lojwa Animal of Enewetok clean-up. My unit was B Co. 548TH ENGR. BN. ( COMBAT HEAVY ) I got orders for the clean up of Enewetok Atoll for Aug. 1978 to Feb. 1979. I spent about 2 days on Enewetok then went to live on Lojwa for 6 months.
When I first arrived at Lojwa, I spent a couple of days working on the Islands close to Lojwa, We had to wash the beach down with a high pressure pump because the beach was HOT!!! of course we didn't wear any type of protective gear. I should of knew then that I was in for the BIG GREEN ONE!!! so after a couple of weeks running a front end loader on several islands close to Lojwa. I was sent to work on the Island of JANET. This is were I spent the largest part of my time.
I operated a front end loader, loading contaminated soil from a large stock pile of soil located on the beach. In the same spot that we were off loaded and loaded up at . So every time we went to work we had to walk through the contaminated area without any protective gear. The Navy even brought our noon meal on a small boat (WHALER) and dropped it off in the same spot while we were still working at the stock pile kicking up ALL kinds of contaminated soil, GO FIGURE!
So back to my story, I loaded up 20 TON dump trucks with the contaminated soil , then the trucks were loaded onto boats and taken to Runit to be dumped into the crater. After about 3 weeks the personnel was due for rotation. I became SQUAD LEADER 3RD sqd. which was front end loaders and bulldozers. I also became the point of contact with the AIR FORCE who monitored the Island. They had this little white tracked vehicle that had a telescope on it to locate HOT SPOTS. They would put little orange flags outlining the contaminated area that needed to be removed. They then in turn would give me a map with the locations of the HOT-SPOTS that had to be cleaned up. That was the easy part, the hard part was trying to find the HOT-SPOTS. The only way to do that was to walk the area to locate the orange flags. Because of the tall vegetation, there was no way you would be able to see the flags. So when we went to locate the hot-spot we were not required to wear any type of protective gear. Which means we walked right through the HOT-SPOTS. SO after finding the area, I would take a D-8 dozer to the area and scrape about 3 in. depth of soil to be loaded in a dump truck and taken to the stock pile on the beach.
Of course the only protective gear I used was a respirator that was left on the equipment all the time RAIN-OR SHINE. I don't ever remember the filters ever being changed, and now I wonder why I'm having all these MEDICAL PROBLEMS HA. HA!
Of course we were young and dumb and did what we were told to do I just wish that the V.A. would stand up and support us now that we are having so many health problems. Well I better close for now, any information that you could send me would be deeply apprected.
Sincerely,
Ronald L. Madden
mgharvey@advant.net
Keith Whittle
December 10, 2000
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