Operation Hardtack 1
1958
US Atomic Veterans
Dan Martin
Dan Martin sent email about his duty at Operation Hardtack.
From: DotDan8@webtv.net (Dan Martin)
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Operation Hardtack 1
I was the co-pilot of crew 8 Patrol Squadron 28(VP-28) during Operation
Hardtack. Our aircraft was a P2V-5F(Neptune) uniqely recognizable by the
"stinger" tail of its fuselage. These aircraft were primarily designed
for long range anti-submarine warfare.
Based at Kwajalein we spent most
of our tme chasing fishing boats out of the fallout zone. On one
occasion we were directed to fly at low altitude to monitor the
perimeter of the fallout cloud after detonation of the largest nuclear
device.
Our aircraft was sealed with duct tape and off we went to our
assigned holding point with a crew of nine airmen all wearing eye masks
at zero hour. The blast lit up the inside of the aircraft like a
flashbulb which was our signal to reverse course and proceed toward
ground zero until we detected an increase in our geiger counter
readings. At that point we would turn away and when the counter
returned to "normal background reading" we would turn back toward the
cloud of radioactivity and in this manner we could relay the movement of
the cloud at 3000 to 5000 feet altitude to our controller. Unfortunately
our mission turned disastrous. Our approach to the cloud was so abrupt
that we penetrated heavy radioactive fallout . We executed an immediate
180 degree turn as the geiger counter went beserk. We deliberately flew
into a few rain showers in an effort to "cool off " the aircraft and
wash off brown radioactive goo that had collected on all surfaces as we
returned to base.
We taxied to a decontamination area where the aircraft
underwent a pressure cleaning to remove the radioactive material from
its surfaces. We crew members were taken to decontamination showers
outdoors where we stripped and remained in the cold water using brown
soap to remove radioactive particles that had collected on our bodies.
Most of the men were released after an hour or two. They kept me in the
cold shower for 4 or 5 hours before releasing me.
I was very concerned
about our exposure but was met with casual indifference by the radiation
safety officer. There was no follow up, no declaration of our exposure,
but they took our film badges. We were issued new badges at a later
date(unknown) but listed in my records as the following day. My records
indicate that I was exposed to 1.56 rem. This does not reflect my
cooling off period in the shower or the gap between badges.
Thirty seven
years later I developed a squamous cell cancer in my right ear that my
doctor (radiologist / oncologist) states in a letter to the VA is most
likely the result of my nuclear exposure at Hardtack. VA has declined
my claim twice and I have 2 weeks to file an appeal with a hearing but
need corrobative experiences to convince the VA that my claim is service
related.
If anyone has had a similar long period between exposure and
manifestation of their cancer please write to me or e-mail this
correspondent.
Dan W Martin
LTJG, USNR
562 SW Sanctuary Dr
Port St Lucie, Florida 34986
Email: DotDan8@webtv.net
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