Operation Teapot
US Atomic Veterans
Philip Pantoja
Subject: TEAPOT - Veteran
To: Keith pdxavets@aracnet.com
From: Philip_Pantoja@nps.gov
Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007
Hi Keith,
I was with "Charlie" Co. 1st Bn. MCTU#1 from 1954-1957. I participated in
Shot Bee in March of 1955. I really don't recall specifics but I remember
the trenches, ground zero, the helicopter flight around the fireball, the
devastation to the mock city.
I remember that one detonation was cancelled
due to weather. I wasn't aware of this site until a couple of years ago. I
did it by accident. I requested my Marine records and there it was so noted
about "Teapot".
MCTU 1 was my first assignment as a Marine in 1954. I was
the second man to report to the newly activated company. We just did
regular infantry training (0311) stuff. I went to NCO Acadamy at Camp Del
Mar and later made Meritorious Sergeant. I was a Heli-Team Leader and Squad
Leader in the rifle platoon.
You have probably heard from others that we
did testing of operations using the old Sikorsky choppers, we tested
vertical envelopement with choppers which included loading and unloading
heli-teams in just seconds to allow the chopper to lift off.
Little did we know that we would use the chopper extensibly in VietNam. (I was in Nam in
70-71),Very successful if I may say. We use to board our chopper carrier in
Long Beach,CA. (USS Thetis Bay, small flatop).
Some detachments from each
company were sent to test cold weather gear at Pickle Meadows, CA. Some of
our "Charlie" guys participated. If I recall, we flew out of El Toro Marine
Air Station to Camp Desert Rock, Yucca Flats. I remember the count-down,
the shock wave, the ground shaking, and our faces between our knees. It
was hard to believe what we had just witnessed, the destructive power of a
20-KT Atomic Weapon. I shipped out to Japan in '57 and joined the 3Bn. 9th
Marines at Camp Fugi and I got to see some of the older victims of the
weapon in WWII. At first I thought they were lepers, but they were not. The
scars were terrible.
I have met one teapot veteran here in Seattle and had corresponded with 2
others by email. Those two were in my company. Sometimes I wonder how many
of us are still living. My Seattle friend has had some sort of skin cancer.
I don't think there's any way to obtain a roster of Marine participants
from MCTU 1 is there? If there are other guys out there from MCTU 1(any
company) let me hear from you.
I also participated in Operation
"Strongback" in the late fifities. I am 72 and still kicking. Tomorrow is
the Marine Corps Birthday.
Semper Fi to all. God Bless
Philip Pantoja
Email: philip_pantoja@nps.gov
Operation Teapot
Keith Whittle
November 29, 2007