Hardtack 1958
US Atomic Veterans
Jim Taylor
Jim Taylor sent email about his duty at Operation Hardtack.
From: "Taylor, Jim" TaylorJ@jax.disa.mil
To: "'pdxavets@aracnet.com'" pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Operation Hardtack
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2001
I served on the USS Magiffin from 1958 thru 1960. We arrived at Eniwetok May
of 1958 on our way to Japan.
As a 17 year old
farm boy from Hamilton County Fla. was looking foward to going Japan but
surprised when told we were to stop in the Marshall Islands to watch some atomic bombs blast. I had faith in our Government and knew they would to put us in any danger. Right.
I guess the thing I rember most is the preparedness we had to go through before
the first underwater detonation. As a Boilerman I had to prepare the Fireroom by removing all light covers from the light bulbs in case the viberation was so great that the metal cover would bump aginst the light bulbs and break the glass bulbs.
The other thing that comes to mind was the time we were allowed to sink one
of the ships that had been left close to the
blasting areas for measurements. The Magiffin only had one 5 in. gun mount
but we put 19 out of 20 rounds at the water
line thanks to Red the gun captain. I don't rember his real name but I
rember he escaped the Arizona as a seaman at Pearl Harbor.
Thanks
Jim Taylor
Jacksonville Fl.
Email: JOTROGER@southernco.com
Keith Whittle
January 31, 2001
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