Jim Mc Donald sent email about his duty at Operation Dominic.
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Date: Sat, 19 May 2001
Subject: Operation Dominic
From: gunrmac@hotmail.com
Keith:
I too have monitored your site with considerable interest and to find the
whereabouts of former shipmates from the Old Sweet Pea. I was a Corporal
in V-2 Division and a plane crew captain on the hangar deck of the USS
Princeton, LPH-5.
Sea duty was fun, interesting, challenging, and so much more but it was
not much like the Marine Corps on board. We were part of the Marine Air
Company and there was also a Marine Guard Company which also held Marines
of many different MOS's.
I too still have my JTF 8 Certificate for Operation Dominic as pictured
in comments by Ray Longaker. We were there in the Fall of 1962, as I had
just got married and two days later we were on our way to Johnston Island
by way of Hawaii. Probably why she was my first Ex, anyway that is
another story.
Its funny how time and distance can affect the memory and while I have
forgotten much of the small details, I recall the beach parties and
picking up the crew on the island for each shot. I also recall how we
were encouraged to watch the detonations from the flight deck. As was
stated by my fellow participants, there were never enough goggles to go
around so many of us would have to bury our eyes in the crook of our
elbow and wait for the all clear before looking.
I too recall the experience as the brightest light I have ever seen and
the effect of looking at the bones in my arm as if in an x-ray. This was
followed by the warm wind that washed over the ship as the explosion
pushed everything out. The the reverse occurred as the cloud rose and
sucked all of that warm air back toward the initial site of the
detonation. I do not recall having a dosimeter or any of the readings at
that time. I have received letters from the Defense Nuclear Agency
denying that I was ever exposed to more radiation than I would receive
from a radium dial watch. Somehow I just couldn't buy into that.
I left the ship and active duty on December 13, 1963, and was released
from active duty at Long Beach Naval Shipyard. I did remain with the
Reserves over the years and served with MABS-47 at Los Alamitos, CA, 3rd
ANGLICO of Long Beach, and Det B, H&S Btry, C Btry, and H&S Btry of 4th
LAAM BN, 4th MAW. We were mobilized for Desert Storm but CNN cancelled
the war before we were deployed so we came back home. Was a damn good
show with 398 of 400 Marines reporting for duty - and two shirkers who
made the press.
I retired from the Marine Corps Reserves as a CWO4 on 01 February 1998
with 28 years of creditable service as a companion to 25 years in the
financial industry. In May, 1998, I was diagnosed with head and neck
cancer and had surgery to remove a third of my tongue and 22 lymph nodes.
Six months later, the cancer was back very aggressively and I was back
in surgery - this time the condition was life threatening. I lost 40% of
my thyroid on that one along with some more meat from the neck and
shoulder and some necessary nerve damage that affects the shoulder and my
left eye. This was followed by 6 1/2 weeks of intensive (daily)
radiation therapy to kill any possible remaining cancer cells in the
affected area. This destroyed the salivary glands, the rest of my
thyroid, and some of my taste buds. Sure as hell beats dying though.
As I have seen from others, I want to say that I have had excellent
medical care at the VA Palo Alto Medical Center in Palo Alto, CA. My
doctors have been among the best and the brightest and my surgeon a true
sculptor in putting me back together and saving my onery old hide. I
just filed a claim for cancer with the VA based on the exposure to
ionizing radiation as recommended by the Veteran's Rep at the hospital.
I am not sure how they will rule or when but as stated, it does take them
a while. I have also asked my doctor to review the RECA to see if he
feels I have a qualified claim.
It was all so many years ago that we on and near that little piece of
flat rock that the mail plane could just barely land on and yes, it was
boring duty for the most part. Sort of like the sailors on "Mr.
Roberts," just a bit more scary when you learn about the effects. While
I don't regret one day of the service or the units served with, I wonder
what I would have thought at the moment had I known what I know today.
Probably the same thing - we follow orders - and at that age thinking I
was immortal.
Thanks to this site I have been in touch with some of the Marine's and
Sailor's who were aboard the ship and it has been a pleasant experience.
Thanks to you Keith for this site and for being a web master who gathers
us together.
Sincerely,
Jim Mc Donald
CWO4 USMCR, Retired
gunrmac@hotmail.com
Keith Whittle
May 21, 2001
[ Operation Dominic ]