Hardtack 1958
US Atomic Veterans
John Rogers
John Rogers sent email about his duty at Operation Hardtack.
Update
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001
From: John Rogers preacherrogers@yahoo.com
Subject: Hardtack
To: Keith Whittle pdxavets@aracnet.com
Keith:
Received the video and enjoyed it very much.
The underwater shot is the one I was able to
view. There were two, and I don't know if it was the
shallow water shot or the deep water shot I saw.
There were many others, mostly atmospheric
which I was unable to view, since I was a Boilerman,
usually on duty below decks. I was able to follow
them only as the PA System made the announcements.
When the shot went off, at first, there was
only a large mound of water similar to a
"ground-swell"
that appeared. I thought, 'there wasn't much to
that'! But after a moment, it burst through the
surface, and water and debris went up as high as I
could see.
Then, the concussion came, feeling like a
very hard slap especially to the face. Then the sound
came so intense that one would really need ear
protection, which we didn't have, except to plug the
ears with our hands.
Next, we could see the tidal-wave
approaching
and we could see it on the other side of the blast
site
as it rolled over the island in the distance. We were
ordered inside to close all water-tight hatches soon
after this. But I was able to stay on deck long
enough to see what none of the videos showed: The
Mushroom Cloud!
The cloud was perfectly formed, wide at the
top, with a stem narrowing downward to the lower
cloud,
smaller in width than the top cloud, with yet a
narrower stem extending from the waterline. This is
what set apart a "Blast" from an "Atomic Blast"! Very
awesome.
Of course, then, we turned into the oncoming
wave, so as not to catch it broadside. I was later
told that one Boilerman in the After Fireroom, which
was my station, actually evacuated his position,
because the steam lines were swinging to the maximum,
about to break loose from the hangars! Looking back,
I
can't say as I blame him! Having been through some
explosions in civilian power plants after my Navy
experiences, is not the most desirable place to be!
You just feel more of a "sense of duty" in
the military, and the self discipline is prevalent
more
so than in civilian life. But we all did our duty as
prescribed, and came out as "Good Soldiers" carrying,
as we believed, the Torch of Freedom for all future
generations to enjoy the Democracy we still have!
God Bless! all of the "Atomic Veterans",
whether "Lifers", or "Warriors" for a short time: WE
DID OUR PART!!
Thanks To All!
John (JT) Rogers
CPO (BT) RET.
Formerly of: USS Floyd B.Parks
Milledgeville, Georgia
Email: JOTROGER@southernco.com or preacherrogers@yahoo.com preacherrogers@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 12 Aug 2001
From: John Rogers preacherrogers@yahoo.com
Subject: Reference your e-mail 01-16-01 and 01-27-01:
To: Keith Whittle pdxavets@aracnet.com
In reference to 01-16: Thanks a million for
adding my story of Operation Hardtack to the Atomic
Veterans histories. Also for the addresses and the
info about the videos available of the tests.
Just yesterday I received an e-mail from a
fellow
shipmate whom I served with and had liberty with, as a
result of these communications! It was great, and many
thanks to you!
I have just recently returned to work following
a third back surgery for "degenerative disc disease"
and, I thank God, that this one did me some good. So,
I've been out of the picture so to speak, for about
four months.
I have been reading a lots of interesting things
that you were instrumental in getting out, some of it
new and recent.
Again, THANKS, and,
God Bless!
"This is the day The Lord hath made; JT Rogers
I will rejoice and be glad in it"!
John T. Rogers
Milledgeville, Georgia
Email: JOTROGER@southernco.com or preacherrogers@yahoo.com
From: "Rogers, John T." JOTROGER@southernco.com
To: "'pdxavets@aracnet.com'" pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Operation Hardtack 1
Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2001
I was stationed aboard the USS Floyd B. Parks DD 884 when we were
told we were scheduled to report to Eniwetok for Atomic-Hydrogen Bomb tests.
This was the first time probably any of us had heard of the islands that
made up the Bikini Atolls. One particular island was called Japtan and
was used fof a recreation area.
We were told there was a woman behind every tree. A standing joke,
because in previous tests most all trees were blown away. Our ship was
assigned the duty of weather observation. We had two Aerographers on
board (another word or Rating we never knew existed:( "one who observes and
forecasts weather and surf conditions"). They would send up weather
balloons when we were underway to chart wind currents. Inside the balloons
would be shot some foil like Christmas tree tinsel that the ships radar
could detect and track. Attached to the balloons would be some electronic
transmitting device. With these, the aerographers would be able to track and
record wind currents on large charts of the area for several hundred miles.
The wind currents would have to be consistent and in a favorable
direction for a number of days before a blast would take place. The idea
was that radioactive fallout would not be carried toward any inhabited
islands. Never mind that when the blast did take place we were positioned
in the immediate area to monitor the radioactive content of the "fallout" as
well as to detect the effects of the tidal wave, etc. on the ships and
crews.
Of course, soon after the blast, we would turn the bow to face the
oncoming tidal wave and we would go inside and close all watertight hatches.
After the tidal wave passed and while the fallout was filtering down,
a crew of men, especially suited, would venture out onto the main deck with
geiger counters to measure the intensity of the radiation. Inside, however,
we were all breathing air from the outside with no filtering of ventilating
air.
We had film badges to wear that were periodically changed and in
the event of future health hazards we could have these badges retrieved and
checked for the amount of radiation any individual was exposed to.
Before departure for Eniwetok, all cameras were checked in and
stored until these operations were concluded. We were not to write home
about our whereabouts or our assignment. Many times men would receive
newspapers from home that told us more about these operations than even we
knew.
The Russians were known to be conducting their own tests elsewhere,
and they also knew about our tests, the locations, and approximate times of
the tests. Once, our sonar detected a submarine tracking us. Our captain
was advised through the Pentagon or the "brass" in Washington, not to
appear in a hostile condition, but to follow the sub. It was supposed that
eventually the sub would have to surface, as it was not believed at this
time that the Russians had no nuclear submarines. Many days passed and the
sub never surfaced, and eventually was lost to us.
In the rare times at anchor at the atolls we would catch a boat to
Japtan. Recreation was divided into three activities: (1) Swimming in an
area netted to keep out the sharks; (2) Softball on a crudely constructed
diamod, and (3) The Bamboo Palace, which was a makeshift liquor bar.
Activities #1 and #2 soon gave way to activity #3.
Once, a fellow shipmate and myself ventured out to walk around the
recreation island. No one knew where we were going. We were picking up
"cat eyes" from the beach , and on the opposite side of the island from the
recreation area we saw a beached WW2 ship. This was only 12 years or so
after the war and such wreckages were common. We decided to swim out and
climb aboard, which we did, only to find nothing on the other side. It
never occurred to us, or to me, until years later the potential danger from
sharks in this unprotected area! And we probably would not have been missed
at all until muster the following morning!
Today, I feel I was probably more in danger from the sharks than the
radiation at least in the short term. Now, in the long term, and for the
last twenty years I have suffered severly from degenerative spinal disc
disease and arthritis. It makes me wonder, but doctors tell me that claims
to radiation causes would probably be denied, and I am told most of the film
badges are no longer available because of a warehouse fire or some other
reasons.
After my regular navy tour, I continued in the naval reserves and
recently received my first retirement deposit for over 20 years of service.
I was a boiler technician and retired as BTC. In my civilian occupation I
have generated over 34 years as a boilet-turbine operator with Georgia
Power. I am also a licensed volunteer Baptisr preacher.
I would like to hear from anyone with these or similar experiences,
and especially those who served on the Parks between '57 and '60.
Thanks for the memories!!
John T. Rogers
Email: JOTROGER@southernco.com or preacherrogers@yahoo.com
Keith Whittle
January 16, 2001
[ Operation Hardtack1 ]