James H. Taylor
James H. Taylor sent email regarding his duty during Operation Dominic.
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2000
From: "JAMES H. TAYLOR" jhtaylor@Prodigy.Net.mx
Subject: Operation Dominic
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
I was a Lt. jg, Supply Corps on the USS Cabildo during what I assume was Dominic I. I did not know that there was a Dominic II.
I have a Certificate of Paticipation from Joint Task Force Eight that certifies my participation in Operation Dominic during the Spring and Summer of 1962.
During this period we took out and anhcored the targets for the next test. After a blast we would retrive that same target, I do not remember what was done with the targets. We operated out of Christmas Island during the time of this Operation.
I remember many stories about this period.
I am surprised that you do not list any metion any of the Cabildo Crew members.
James H. Taylor
Email:jhtaylor@Prodigy.Net.mx
From: "JAMES H. TAYLOR" jhtaylor@Prodigy.Net.mx
Subject: Operation Dominic/USS Cablido
To: Keith pdxavets@aracnet.com
In reference to details or stories about duty on the Cabildo during Operation Dominic at Christmas Island... I do not remeber specific dates except that it was during the Spring and Summer of 1962. I was engaged at that time to my wife to be. We were married in October of 1962.
I was the assistant Supply Corps Officer whose main reponsibilities were those of Division Officer, Disbursing Officer and feeding the crew.
On the latter point we had some heated discussions via radio and telex about keeping our supplies up to the minimum required by the Navy. At one point we were sent supplies by air. Since we had requested fruit and the supply center only had watermelons, they built some good size wooden crates to ship them in. The point being was that the crates were of exagerated size. There were three or four to a crate that could have held three or four times the amount.
At first, the local population was placed within a tennis court which was covered along the sides so that when a blast went off they were faced to the north and had some protection from the light.
At one point we received a diplomatic visitor from England. The rumor was that the elders on the Island had presented their concerns to England about the safety of the children and women.
It was resolved in the following way: Every evening before a scheduled test was to take place, the women, children and any male adults who wanted too, were taken on board the Cabildo. They slept on the well deck and in the morning, we showed them movies (they liked the western the best because they had not seen horses before) and served them tea and bread. After the blast, they were returned to the island.
At one point, the British enlisted invited our sailors to a soccer game. Our men got beat rather badly, but I sent a crate or two of oranges. I was told that when the crates were presented to the British, the crates were taken under custody with two men on guard all through the event. The British apparently had not seen fresh fruit in some time as they were supplied by sea only once every six months.
The tests became rather mundane, but we all faced away from the blast as instructed by the PA system. We could see the sound wave ripple across the ocean as it approached us. The most memorable was the last test which turned night into day and then back to day again. The bright light seemed to last long enough to make the appearance of night again seem strange.
We visited a few other islands during this period. One of which, I believe was Johnson Island. I remember that one had a cable relay station, we sent over ice cream and the few remaining watermelons. I was told by the Chief that this was the first time that the kids had had ice cream and/or watermelon and that the kids went crazy over both.
We down loaded some equipment from one or two islands and we replenished the emergency supplies on a deserted island.
At this point, this is all that I can remember. I doubt that it will add anything to your store of knowledge.
Jim Taylor
Email:jhtaylor@Prodigy.Net.mx
Keith Whittle
September 6, 2000
[ Operation Dominic 1 ]