Operation Redwing
US Atomic Veterans
Pat Simoniello
Pat Simoniello sent email about his duty at Operation Redwing.
Date: Tue, 17 Sep 2002
From: felps1@optonline.net
Subject: Re: A Survivor
To: Keith pdxavets@aracnet.com
My Name is Pat Simoniello. I served in the
Air Force and my squadron at that time, the 49th Air Rescue Squadron, was part of
Joint task force 7 sent to Eniwetok atoll in 1956 to participate in
Operation Redwing.
I was there for about 7 months and witnessed all the
shots. All these years I always wished I had had a camera at the time which of course was not possible and now I have the pictures I always wanted, 14 of the 15 nuclear detonations. It brings back lots of memories.
At the time I was only 18 years old and still vividly
remember the detonations till this day, the initial blinding light
through welders glasses, the prolonged noise and echoes off the islands, the
hurricane force winds, and the steadily increasing heat. quite an
experience for a teenager who should have been at a hamburger drive-in in those days.
In retrospect I wouldn't have changed a thing, because of those
efforts and sacrifices then, today we are the super duper power with the
ability to maintain the freedoms we have always enjoyed, I consider it my small
contribution to the country I love.
Thankfully we have never had to use this
enormous power since WW 2 . But now in view of 9-11 and since moronic
Neanderthals are hell bent on destroying these freedoms, I would consider
it an honor, and privilage, at my age, to pilot the plane after leafleting
the countries involved and end the threat they they pose. Then all the dead
Atomic Veterans would not have died in vain.
I often wonder what became of
the members of my Squadron, and how they are fairing, since when we returned
to the States the squadron was disbanded and sent all over the country for
security purposes. I have never heard from any of them since.
I have read
the letters from family members on this site, and understand their anguish,
but would like to say to them, if its any consolation, that their loved ones
would have, if given the choice, volunteered for these missions, because
that's the way Americans thought back then.
I have learned over the years
that the very freedoms that we sacrificed for over the years, at times work
against us as is evident in the continuing debates we are now experiencing,
protecting the rights of the captured terrorists dedicated to destroying us
and our way of life. It's beyond me.
As far as mementos I still have, a
picture of the Squadron in front of our SA-16 on Eniwetok, a certificate of
participation in operation Redwing, and an old speargun I bought at the PX
and used for spearfishing in the lagoon reefs, the many shells I collected
on Parry Island, and Eniwetok, are long gone. Parry Island was off limits to
the G.I.s. It was for the civilian workers with the A.E.C. who were quartered
there, and although the food on Eniwetok was great, the food on Parry Island
was better. So when the L.C. ferry left to take the civilian workers back
for the night, some of us would slip on an Aloha Shirt and blend in and go
over for some Filet Mignon.
I could go on and on but this letter is getting
to long, so I'll end saying thanks for the site, and I would love hearing
from any of the squadron members still around.
Pat Simoniello
Email: felps1@optonline.net
Keith Whittle
September 17, 2002
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