Operation Greenhouse
US Atomic Veterans
Roy V Slavin
From: "Roy V Slavin" RJSLAVIN@planetkc.com
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Eniwetok
Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2001
Keith,
My name is Roy V. Slavin, I was stationed on Eniwetok from Jan 1951 to Feb. 1952. I was a radio operator in the Army. During the tests we lived in tents in the company area. After the tests, I was assigned as garrison and remained on the island till February of 1952, we lived in the radio reciever building at the end of the island nearest to the garbage pier where we fished. As I remember there were about six operators and an NCO. We handled all ship to shore traffic and were Net Control for traffic to Los Alamos. We also handled the teletype receivers.
I arrived at Eniwetok from Camp Stoneman in Jan. 1951, aboard the Hugh J. Gaffey. We anchored in the lagoon and went ashore in a landing craft. We landed in what was to become the swimming area. I and several others who came with me were assigned to the Communication Detachment, 7127th. Then reassigned to the 726th AU Army Element. JTF-3 (TG 3.2).
I was a radio operator and worked in the receiver building on what I believe was the west end of the Island. It was the wide end near the beginning of the runway. We handled all the ship to shore radio traffic and also had a phone patch for the ships in the lagoon. We also had a C. W. net with Los Alamos, N.M. and a teletype net with Los Alamos also.
The NCO in charge was Sgt. Gerald Stemen, the officer in charge was Lt. Fisher. Other radio operators who arrived with me were Henry Hardin and Warren E Jones, Bernard J. McVey was also on the ship but he was a cryptographer.
Whenever there was a shot the people on our end of the island who were not on duty were taken to a pier where we received supplies and were told to kneel at the countdown with our back to the lagoon. We had very dark polaroid glasses (like welders glasses) and we were told not to look at the explosion until told it was safe. Then, even with the glasses it was very bright.
I recall during one shot they lost control of a drone, T33. I think and it went directly over our heads and crashed in the lagoon just off shore. I remember seeing several B17 drones that were damaged by the heat when they were flew throught the cloud.
For entertainment we had outdoor movies, Radio Eniwetok, The Swimmers Tavern, NCO club, swimming and fishing. We weren't allowed to eat the fish but the sharks were fun to catch. I remained on the Island after the tests as part of the garrison. We went to Hawaii, Ft. DeRussey for R&R after about six months on the island.
I finally left the island February 52 and finished my enlistment at Ft. Monmouth N.J. at the Signal School. I am 69 now and don't seem to have any ill effects from the tests. All in all, it was quite an experience and a whole lot better than the alternative - Korea-.
Roy V. Slavin
Kansas City, Mo.
rjslavin@planetkc.com
--Keith Whittle
December 26, 2001
Operation Greenhouse