NOW COMES THE MYSTERY

I don't remember arriving at the hospital! I don't know how long we were there! I don't remember any medical tests, as I'm sure there must have been! I don't remember how we got to the ship's store, yet the first thing I have remembered is standing in the ship's store looking at the cigarettes, wondering how in the heck I got there! The three of us were wearing full fatigue outfits with the radiation symbols stenciled on the front. The ships store was crowded and as we were strolling around we had our backs to the people. I selected a couple packs of cigarettes and got into the line for the cash register. I assumed we were discovered because all of a sudden the store was empty except for us three and the girl operating the cash register. It's too bad we didn't keep a journal of dates and times, however, I'm not so sure the journal would've stayed with me after all this time.

REFLECTIONS

Duffy's Tavern was an enlisted man's club on Eniwetok, no NCO's, no OFFICERS allowed unless escorted by a member. On three separate occasions the guys invited me there and I took them up on it once. The other times I had equipment problems to fix. Make no mistake about it, that was a real honor to me, and when I could make the visit, it was with a lot of pride.

Years later seeing the movie "On the Beach" brought back memories of Rongerik.

I can't help but think it's too bad the worlds leaders, especiaily the third world countries were not present March 1st, 1954 to witness the awesome power of the hydrogen blast. They might have second thoughts about developing a nuclear arsenal or having someone launch one of those things their way.

John Sapp
6463 Carriage Lane
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068

Chapters
|| The Assignment || Eniwetok || The B-29 Drone Modification ||
|| The Hydrogen Bomb Test] ||
|| Rongerik part 1 || Rongerik part 2 || Rongerik part 3 ||
|| Mystery and Reflections ||

|| Articles || Mail Box || Notices & News || Bios || Viewpoints || || Home Page || Email: Harold Wainscott || || Atomic Veterans History Project ||

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