Operation Greenhouse
US Atomic Veterans
Charles E. Willey
From: cwilley@ec.rr.com
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: 1951 Operation Greenhouse
Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2000
I arrived on Eniwetok in 1950 as an Electronic Technician. However, due to the fact that the engineers that were suppose to prepare the main island for the troops, went to Korea instead and got shot up so bad, they never arrived, all personnel, no matter what their specialty, became construction workers. To get out of laying concrete, I volunteered to do electrical work. They told me to pick 3 helpers and get to work. That was a lot better than concrete work. Once the construction was completed, I went to my regular job as a Ground Radio Technician, working in the high power transmitter site on the narrow end of the island. I was there for all four of the tests and well remember the fallout coming over us.
Speaking of the fallout. I really don' t know how to describe it. It just made to air feel different, maybe dusty or dirty. I remember they told us to stay inside as much as possible and shower off often and I did. I think I'm reaping the benefits of that action
now. The fallout was like the bomb blast, it's impossible to really describe it to someone who didn't see it. You know that all the pictures that you see on TV and movies were taken with a filter that you couldn't see the sun through so the average person really doesn't have any idea what that blast looks like although they think they do!!
My trip was supposed to be
for 90 days TDY. I spent almost a year on Eniwetok until the tests were
over. I thought I was headed back to the states, but when I got to Kwajalein, I became the replacement for the electronic technician there. I kept telling
everyone that General Lee had told us all that he felt bad that the test
took so long on Eniwetok because of the shortage of engineers, that if we would
just hold on till the tests were completed, we would all go home!!! Somehow
the word didn't get to Kwajalein. If you were on Eniwetok at that time, you
probably heard the same speech by General Lee.
On another subject, do you remember
how so many guys committed suicide on Eniwetok? There was quite a few and a
few who faked an attempted suicide so they would be sent home.
I finally got back to California on Christmas Eve of 1951. Almost 2 years after I had left my 1940 ford convertible at a service station for 90 days. I had a hard time finding my car
as the man I left it with had changed service stations a couple of times. I found
his home about midnight the day before Christmas. They were so poor that they had
hardly nothing under the tree. I tried to pay him for taking care of my car
so long, but he wouldn't take a cent. I took his son off to the side and
gave him some money as I felt I had to do something and they had so
little. That little act has made me give many a dollar when I run across some
one I think needs and deserves a little help.
I'm almost 74 now, I'll be 74 in April. My health has been very good so far and I sure do feel lucky, as I know many of my fellow Air Force friends aren't as well off. Maybe I'm
saying the right prayers. I was S/Sgt when I was on Eniwetok and I retired from the Air Force as S/MS in June of 1973 with 28+ years.
I know they took lots of movies during my stay on Eniwotok,and I've always wanted to see some of them. I know I'll see some things I helped build.
I'm sending you some drawings I used. Maybe they'll bring
back memories. They do for me every time I look at them.
|| Holmes and Narver Book || Introduction Page ||
Wetok Map 1 ||
|| Wetok Map 2
|| Wetok Map 3 || Wetok Map 4 ||
Well I rattled enough. Best regards!!
Charles E. (Chuck) Willey
SMSGT retired
cwilley@ec.rr.com
--Keith Whittle
January 30, 2000
Operation Greenhouse
