Eniwetok Clean-up 1977-1980 U.S. Atomic Veterans Gary Pulis Gary Pulis sent email about his duty at Eniwetok. From: "Gary Pulis" To: "Keith" pdxavets@aracnet.com Subject: Enewetak Atoll Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 Keith I was involved with the "Clean Up " operation at Enewetak Atoll from April to October 1979 and was attached to the 84th Engineer Battalion, Schofield Barraks, HI., as a heavy equipment operator. I worked on the islands of Enjbi, Pearl and Runit. At the time I was there, two islands were used for living quarters, the island of Enewetak was for administration and the island of Lojwa was for everyone else. I am lucky so far. I have had no health problems and our daughter was born healthy. My mom had contacted Mr. Kelly just after I returned from overseas but I never followed up with that contact. On Runit my job was to unload the landing crafts and stock pile the debris. From that pile it would be trucked to "THE CRATER" where we finally capped it with six feet of concrete. The island of Pearl is near Enjbi ( another island that I worked on). The thing that has always bothered me was that we would get readings of radiation from 20 feet below the surface. Take 6 inches of soil off the top and the island would be considered clean. How can that be? In the June 2, 1980 issue of the Army Times (magazine section) there is a article about Enewetak during the time that I was there. A picture on page 4 shows the "banana suits" that we wore on Runit. While on Enjbi two dozer operators and I pulled on to shore what was rummored to be the hottest metal found on the whole atoll. It was about 10 or 12 feet long, 2 or 3 inches thick and most likely 6 to 8 feet in diameter ( the sides were crushed in like a beer can). It looked like it could have been part of a tower that was used to drop one of the bombs. I'll keep looking for other items to jog my memory and write to you as I remember. I hope this has been of some help to you. Gary Gary Pulis "Gary Pulis" Keith Whittle January 26, 2000 [ Eniwetok Clean-up ] Wetokian [ Home Page || What's New || Email || Family Mail Call || Notes and Hints ] [ Atomic Veterans, Atomic Test Series and Dates ] [ T-Shirts || Videos ] Information about the National Association of Atomic Veterans [ The NAAV Story || NAAV Medical Data Base Information ] Atomic Veterans History Project © 1997-2000 For use of the material found on this web site, please send us an email with your request.