Operation Redwing
US Atomic Veterans
David A. (Monty) Montgomery
David A. (Monty) Montgomery
sent email about his duty at Operation Redwing.
From: DAMontg@aol.com
Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2006
Subject: Operation Redwing
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Keith,
I went aboard the USS Badoeing Strait in January 1956 while she was in
Alameda NAS after being transferred from the USS Essex (CVA 9). I was a BT3
stationed in the aft (No. 2) fire room. Miserably hot in that climate and time of
year. Actually, the fire room is miserable any time of year.
The "Bing Ding" was built on an oiler's hull so she carried 3 million
gallons of crude oil. As a result, we had to provide oil to the other ships.
Especially to the tin cans (Destroyers.)
On our way to Bikini we stopped in Pearl Harbor and off loaded a lot of oil
to the tank farm. Someone left a valve in the wrong position and we pumped a
few thousand gallons into Pearl Harbor. Needless to say, the Army Corp of
Engineers was not happy. They had been working since 1945 to clean up all of the
oil from WWII and we had set them back to the very beginning.
As a result of the accident, they swapped out the Oil Shack personnel and I
was one of the new personnel transferred in.
After we had been in Bikini for a while, an oiler came alongside to
replenish our oil supply and while doing so overfilled one tank and the overflow pipe
was near the forward accommodation ladder. Unfortunately, Captain Jaap was
coming alongside just as the overflow "puked" all over him and his gig.
That was when we had another shakeup in B Division...everyone in the Oil
Shack (including me) was transferred out and new people rotated in.
We had one of the boilers blow and we thought they would send us back to
Pearl Harbor to have it repaired. Wrong! They sent out replacement tubes and a
couple of civilian engineers to supervise and we spent the next few months re
tubing the boiler, ourselves.
The ship could only do 6 or 7 knots during that time. Not very fast.
I remember when, after a few months, they decided to give us a break and
send us over to Kwajalein for a break. On the way over, they showed the movie,
"Mr. Roberts." I remember the scene where all of the sailors got drunk and got
into all kinds of fights and other trouble.
When we got to Kwajalein, we did likewise. We got pretty wild. Tore up the
EM club...the NCO Club...the Chiefs tore up the Chiefs' Club. I don't know
what the officers did. Chased any women we saw (or even long haired sailors.)
Come Sunday morning, we were kicked out of port.
After we got underway, Cap'n Jaap called everyone to quarters on the flight
deck and read us the riot act. Screamed at us that he had, "...never been
kicked out of port before." And," it was only a movie...a movie." He got pretty
red faced and reminded me of the Captain in the Mr. Roberts movie (played by
James Cagney).
On Bikini we were told not to eat the coconuts as they were still
radioactive. Joe Bradshaw (from Alabama and now deceased...in a car wreck, not from the
tests) and I figured that since it was a "new crop" and we were hungry, it
would be OK to eat them. A Marine SP, who made us throw them away, saw us.
When we returned to the ship it was announced for "...the two sailors seen
eating coconuts on the beach to report to sick bay." Since the Marine did not take
our names, I knew that they did not know whom we were. So I told Joe to just
be quite and forget about it. A little while later, Joe said the Doctor
wanted to see me. The dummy had turned himself in.
The Doctor (a full "four striper") asked me if I felt sick or nauseous? I
said, "No."
He said, " Well if you were going to be sick you would be by now, so get out
and don't eat any more coconuts." End of that story.
After returning to San Diego, I made BT2 and was transferred to the USS
Yorktown (CVA 10).
I spent 10 years in the Navy making BT1 (twice) and served on the USS
Princeton (CVS 37), the USS Midway (CVA 41) and the USS Grafias (AF 29).
Originally from Charlotte, NC, I settled in San Leandro, CA with my wife,
Florence.
I'm retired from Pacific Gas & Electric and we, both, enjoy being
active in the Coast Guard Auxiliary, flying safety patrols in my private
airplane. We are members of Angel Flight West. An organization that provides aerial
transportation for persons requiring medical attention from, and to, remote
locations at no cost to the patient. Each pilot picks up the entire cost of
using his, or her, airplane to transport these patients.
I'm, also, a volunteer with the Alameda County Sheriff's Aero Squadron,
performing Search and Rescue, Homeland Security, and Marijuana Eradication.
And, I'm a Senior Volunteer with the California Highway Patrol.
After 10 years in the fire rooms among all of the asbestos lagging,
witnessing 17 atomic tests, (not to mention the coconuts) and another couple of years
in the steam plant at PG&E I'm surprised that I'm still here at age 68.
Although, I did come down with hyper thyroid and type 2 diabetes in 2002, I'm in
general good shape. The thyroid problem burned itself out and the diabetes is
under control with diet alone (no medicine). So, I guess I'm one of the
lucky ones, so far...
David A. (Monty) Montgomery
San Leandro, CA
Email: DAMontg@aol.com
Keith Whittle
July 6, 2005
[ Operation Redwing ]