Operation Crossroads
US Atomic Veterans
Thor Weatherby
Date: Thu, 25 May 2000
From: thor.weatherby@acsalaska.net
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Able and Baker tests Bikini, AD-14, AV-14
I was Fire Controlman 3/c aboard the USS Dixie, AD-14, during both Able
and Baker tests in 1945. I see no communication from any of my
shipmates, on your web page about the Dixie.
My clearest recollection is of standing at quarters on deck, with dark
glasses, during both blasts. We were provided with no other protection.
We were close enough to see the target ships in both cases. During one
of the tests, probably Baker, when the Prinz Eugen was dominant in the
target area, I volunteered to work with a team to collect instruments
from the target ships. The leader of the team was a scientist from the
University of Chicago(?), to the best of my recollection. We were
mobilized on the deck of the AV-14, a seaplane tender that had been
outfitted with decontamination showers on the aft ramp. We were
provided with protective clothing prior to boarding the ships assigned.
This was a one day adventure for me and I was quite excited to board
the derelicts, in their eerie dark silence, especially below decks.
Prior to returning to the Dixie we went through extensive contamination
exposure testing, and were declared clean.
I did make contact with some Atomic Veterans organization in the early
1980's. I was directed to go to Basset Army hospital here in Fairbanks,
AK. As memory serves I filled out some forms had a very cursory
examination, consisting mostly of questions and answers and dismissed.
I have every reason to believe this was bottom priority stuff to Army
hospital. In any case I sent the paper work to what ever office I was
directed to and dismissed it from my list of priorities. I heard
exactly nothing from anyone after that time.
As an aside I enlisted in the Navy in April, 1944 at the tender age of
15. Saw action on Ie Shima, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. I was aboard the USS
Granville, APA-171, when hostilities were ended. We were shuttling
warriors to the Amphibious landing sites and carrying the dead and
wounded to various hospital facilities, principally Guam. I also served
on the USS Southerland, DD-743 in what could best be described as China
Sea patrol. I left the Navy 1947, having earlier decided not to pursue
this as a career as originally planned.
If there are any under age veterans reading this I would like to pass
along information on an interesting organization with which I've
recently affiliated. It is Veterans 0f Underage Military Service
(VUMS). they can be contacted at 1-800-OLD VUMS.
Thor Weatherby
PO Box 73512
Fairbanks, Alaska 99707
Phone: 907 488 9741
FAX 907 488 9249
thor.weatherby@acsalaska.net
--Keith Whittle
May 25, 2000
Operation Crossroads