Hardtack 1958
US Atomic Veterans
Dee Patrick
Dee Patrick sent email about his duty at Operation Hardtack.
From: "Dee Patrick" dpat@microcore.net
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Operation Hardtack
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000
Hi Keith,
I was stationed aboard the Boxer during the bomb tests in 1958. I was in X-Division and worked in the Print Shop. I remember before going to Bikini for the tests we were put through some very intensive indoctrination concerning the radiation problems we might encounter. But more importantely, it seemed to me was the matter of keeping things quiet and secret. I know they took all our cameras from us and put them in a locked storage place and we didn't get them back 'till we got back to Pearl.
The first month or so after we arrived in the Bikini area and before the tests started I was picked as a radiological monitor. We were given training on how to find any hot spots that might occur if we were subjected to fall-out. If I'm not mistaken, the first test we had ( I think it was YUCCA) the wind shifted and blew radioactive material all over us. I can still see the ship sailing along with our water washdown system in full swing. We looked like a 900ft long sprinkler system Fortunately though I don't rember finding any hot spots after the snafu. It sure didn't give one a good feeling though having the very first test go haywire. I just wonder how much stuff we were subjected to during the course of the tests. I know when they issued the film badges to us they told us they would be picked up every so often to be checked to see how much exposure we had incurred. The only time they picked the badges up was when we got back to the states, six months later and after how many tests?
I don't remember how many shots the Boxer was involved in but I know it was several. I remember they set off one bomb under a ship sitting on a coral reef somewhere and we were only like three miles away standing on the flightdeck. We were also involved in one if not the biggest blast early one morning. I know when it went off I thought the world had come to an end. We had our backs to the blast with our arms over our eyes and it still was like a giant flash bulb went off. But it wasn't an instantaneous blink this thing just grew and got brighter and the heat started to build, and in just a split second you wonder when is this thing going to start to cool down. We had a couple of guys take off running for below decks because of the intense heat generated. It was awesome to say the least.
We were at Johnston Island for one of the rocket tests there. I can still see that in my mind today. The colors in the sky after the blast were indescribable. We had taken quite a few of the people from the island aboard and we all watched the blast from the flight deck. I don't remember what time it was but it was dark. There was a great red smoke ring that eminated from the blast and then these fingers of purple light seemed to stretch clear down past the horizon. I sure wish I could have taken a picture of it. It was truly beautiful in a scary sort of way.
I read an email from someone who said they took they're liberty on Bikini. Probably the same place we took ours. I think it was called Nam island. Wasn't anything there but a cement slab with a roof and at one end there was a stove where you could orders hamburgers and the like, then in the middle there was a booth where you got your beer and at the other end was the bar where you could get a mixed drink and behind that I think was the Chiefs club. I know the officers club was a little bit south of our club. It was quite a place. Nothing to do but swim, drink,play baseball once in a while and pitch horseshoes. I know we swam for about a month or two before they put up the shark nets.
One time we had a I think it was a MSTS run by civilians pull in and some over for recreation. The ships boatswain brought his reel to reel tape player over and we listened to Redd Foxx tapes for hours. I laughed till I hurt.
As for my duties in the Print Shop of course the main thing we did every day was print the plan of the day and distribute it to the various departments around the ship. Most of the stuff we did had to do with the tests and of course was classified. Both of us that worked in the shop had to have a secret clearence. And I couldn't tell you one document I printed that I remember while we were there. Of course it's been a few years also.
What I do remember printing a lot of though is stationary for the guys on board. We made up a really nice aerial picture of the ship and printed in in blue and most of the people like it a lot. But the most popular was our Playboy stationary with a picture of the Playboy bunny on it. We couldn't hardly keep enough of it on hand. I think about half the seventh fleet wound up with some of our Playboy stuff.
I would really like to hear from anyone that was aboard, whether you remember me or not.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Dee Patrick
Email: dpat@microcore.net
Keith Whittle
May 25, 2000
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