Dale Olson sent the following email about his participation in Operation Dominic.
From: Dale_Olson@Dell.com
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Operation Dominic
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 1998
To Whom It May Concern
I was part of the Dominic I tests. I was aboard the U.S.S. John S.
McCain DL-3 and we were designated prime recovery ship. I was a radar operator (RD3)
working in CIC (Combat Information Center). We were home ported in Pearl Harbor
and steamed back and forth to Johnston Island for about 6 months.
I can remember the night that the rocket blew up on the pad..... Got
real sick feeling knowing that there was a fully active A-bomb on the rocket. It gave a
new meaning to "Put your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye." I
monitored the count down and opened the outside hatch (against orders - but what the
hell, if it blew who would know) when we heard the abort code. Hell of a fire ball!
I have a set of goggles (super dark red lens) and a dosimeter laying in a closet. I also have a certificate signed by Commander of JTF-8 (I believe).
I have been thinking about that time since I found you web page.Lots of old memories came back. Probably the biggest one was that they (the govt. and the Navy) did tell us about the consequences of what we were about to be part of.
I also remember about shot day when were at Circle William, complete shut down of the ship - hatches/ventilation and I was assigned to a location just below the berthing quarters. The temp climbed to about 120 degrees. We were in that position for about 3 hrs until they found the problem with the launch. They had 1 red light on the board (I.E. - Non Green). Come to find out it was a burnt out bulb.
I may be interested in a video... Might be something my grand kids would enjoy when they are old enough to understand what we did and its meaning.
PS - I checked my certificate and I was a RDSN at the time.
Dale K. Olson
4070 CR-467
Elgin, Tx 78621
Email: Dale_Olson@Dell.com
Keith Whittle
July 17, 1998
[ Operation Dominic 1 ]