We received an email from Tim Rahmn about his service at Operation Dominic.
Date: Wed, 04 Nov 1998
From: Tim & Kathy Rahmn tkrahmn@light-years.com
To: Web Editor pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: my story
I was sent to Christmas Island by the Air Force in mid June 1962. I was
an Airborne Radio Repairman with the 146th Consolidated Maintenance
Squadron based out of Van Nuys, California. We were an activated Air
National Guard Unit in 1961 & 62. I was an Airman Second Class.
My first exposure to the island was an Australian Sargent who warned all
of us, as we boarded the bus, of the danger of getting sunburnt, since
we were so close the equator.
My Job was transit maintenance, refueling
and such. I worked across from the Islands air terminal.
I saw the last
four shots in the Dominic 1 series; Bighorn, Bluestone, Sunset, and
Pamlico. Also, I saw the H bomb set off in the atmoshphere south of
Hawaii.
Before each shot they would have all of us go out to the ramp
area and take role call. I can still hear the loud speakers blarring the
count down. "This is Mahatma T minus ten and counting, etc.
Just before
each blast we would turn away from the direction of the blast, put on
our blackout goggles and wait.
You could see the B-52's contrail coming
closer and closer. After each blast we would turn, put up our goggles
and wait for the shock wave to hit. It was an exciting time in my life.
Only once did the blast cloud drift our way. Still don't know how much
radation I took?
I remember a mashed jeep that several guys died in when they got drunk
and drove on the right side of the road and a truck hit them. Since it
was an English Island we drove on the left.
Also, the Gilbertese
Islanders chanting a song as they picked up our trash cans and the large
rats that ran across our feet as we watched the outdoor movies. And of
course the land crabs on the road in the evening. We used to borrow a
jeep and try and crush the buggers.
Holmes and Narver Construction was a
big part of the operation and provided our great mess facilities.
I would like to communicate with anyone who was on the Island when I
was.
Tim Rahmn
Email: tkrahmn@light-years.com
November 5, 1998--Tim sent three photos taken during Operation Dominic, we put them in his Photo Album
Keith Whittle
November 5, 1998
[ Operation Dominic 1 ]