Since I was a Radioman and we were always locked down for those shots I was
always in the Radio Shack with the portholes closed and locked so was never
privileged to see the shots like those on deck. Now I’m probably glad I
didn’t. However being in the Radio Shack I was able to hear all the
communications going on between the command center and we could also get some
of the aircraft communications when the bombs were being dropped from the
air. It was always our privilege to give the count down over the ships P.A.
system so the troops on deck would know when to expect the blast as well as
count down to when the shock wave would hit us. You see, being an oiler, we
were always stationed miles from ground zero. Seems to me we were always at
least 200 miles from the the target. Being this far away and locked in water
tight integrity the Radio Shack would still light up like a flash bulb went
off. Also the hair on your arm would raise up like you were holding it close
to the face of a TV screen. It was awesome even though we were not out there
where we could see the actual blast. I was able to slip from the Radio Shack
to the bridge a few times to see the towering plume afterwards. Of the 17
shots that I remember the one most people commented on was an air drop on May
21st, 1956, I found out later in my queries about my records that it was in
the megaton range.
I remember one time in particular when a bomb was to be dropped to test the
accuracy of the triggering mechanism. The pilot somehow got off course and
dropped the bomb miles from ground zero. We could actually see the chute
opening as the device fell, then all the ships in the area turned on their
water umbrellas and we buttoned up in a hurry. I remember that shot exposed
a lot of things on deck and volunteers were sent out to kick things over the
side, then strip down, throw their clothes over the side and washed down
before coming back inside.
Since we were the fleets "filling station" alot of the ships listed in Bill Mozingo's message came along side to refuel. But one that I don’t see on that list is what we called "Noah’s Ark". This was a refurbished vessel like an LST that had pairs of animals on board and a bearded professor that was
the lone person on board, at least that is all we ever saw. The bridge or
wheelhouse was thick lead and what this guy did was to steer this ship into
the radiation zone shortly after the blast to watch the effect on the
animals. I wished I had a picture of that deck. It looked like a barn yard
here in my home state of Nebraska. He came along side a couple of times,
then we never saw him again -- always wondered what happened to the animals
and what happened to that research scientist. Like us they were guinea pigs
and I’m sure those sheep died first. Don’t ask me why, just a thought.
Always enjoyed swimming and going over on the beach. We were not allowed to
swim after a shot, always restricted for a few days. But usually after three
days we would be allowed back over on the beach for a bit of R&R. I remember
getting badly sunburned one day on the beach when I buried myself in the sand
and went to sleep. Little did I know that I was exposing myself to massive
amounts of radiation all the while.
I can only remember one person that got what was later called radiation
sickness. He was taken from the ship and we never saw him again. Years
later when we had our first ship’s reunion I met this person and found that
he had been discharged after a stay in a naval hospital. He has been plagued
with different illnesses the rest of his life as have his children. And of
course, like many veterans, I am appalled at the treatment these veterans
have received in our Veteran Hospitals.
There were dosomiters aboard, but I don’t remember very many people wearing
them. I remember years later I requested my records to find my dosomiter
readings to find the only readings that were recorded were on May 23rd, 1956
thru June 25th, 1956. I know I had badges taken from me on a regular basis,
but that’s all that appears on my records. I also learned that shortly after
I requested my records that there was a fire in the wing that stored most of
these records and they are no longer available. Seems strange that the
fire was confined to only that part of the building. But at least I do have
my records.
I’m sure that many of those participating in all the tests would say the
experience was tremendous, I was glad to be a part of it, but I hope no one
has to see it again. I also hope that none of my grandchildren ever see an
atomic or hydrogen bomb explosion.
Bob Ruyle
Email: bobruyle@alltel.net
Keith Whittle
--October 10, 1999
USS Navasota photo added November 14, 1999
[ Operation Redwing ]
