Operation Hardtack 1
1958
US Atomic Veterans
Charles R. Westbrook
Stationed aboard the USS Tortuga-26 during Operation Hardtack
Charles R. Westbrook sends this email.
From: Bichon1@aol.com
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Hardtack
While doing a search on the USS Tortuga-26 your web page came up.
I served aboard the Tortuga from 1956 to late 1959 and was on board the
Tortuga
"Feb. 58-Apr.58" as shown in the list of ships involved in operation Hardtack.
To the best of my knowledge we were not involved in any detonations.
We transported a lot of equipment in our well deck and it was always covered
with
large tarps. When we would inquire about it, we were told that it was "top
secret."
In 1958, you did not question anything; you just carried out your orders and
kept
your mouth shut.
We did have liberty call on Eniwetok or Bikini and played baseball and and
swam
in the water. We were instructed "not" to eat the coconuts.
It is kind of ironic, because I was just talking to one of my former shipmates
on
the telephone yesterday about this operation. We did not remember what it was
called, but were curios about all the secrecy.
Have you had inquiries from any other Tortuga crewmembers? If you have could
you
please send me the E-mail of anyone that has contacted you. I have been
searching for old shipmates.
Thank you
Charles R. Westbrook
Evansville, IN.
Email: Bichon1@aol.com
Keith Whittle
July 29, 1998
[ Operation Hardtack1 ]