1.1 ORIGINS OF THE NTPR PROGRAM. Through a series of meetings held in 1977, representatives of DOD, DOE, VA, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), among other agencies, concluded that research should be conducted concerning personnel participation in the U.S. atmospheric nuclear weapons test program. DOD and DNA representatives made commitments to establish an effort that would coordinate this research during hearings held by the Subcommittee on Health and Environment of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce during 24-26 January and 14 February 1978. Their statements, along with decisions made during the 1977 meetings, laid a basis for the official establishment of the Nuclear Test Personnel Review (NTPR) in 1978. oo An initial step was taken by the physician assigned in February 1977 to the Paul Cooper case at the Salt Lake City VA hospital. Concerned over the possibility of a connection between his patient’s illness and his earlier participation in Shot SMOKY, the physician contacted Dr. Glyn G. Caldwell, Chief of the Cancer Branch of the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia. studies, Dr. Caldwell, an epidemiologist who had an interest in leukemia then contacted Dr. LaWayne R. Stromberg, Director of the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI).* Dr. Caldwell informed Dr. Stromberg that he wanted to investigate the question of possible relationship between participation in a nuclear test and later development of cancer. Dr. Stromberg agreed to support the effort by attempting to retrieve dosimetry readings for the names of DOD personnel forwarded to him by Dr. Caldwell. Shortly thereafter, the VA decided against Paul Cooper’s claim. Sergeant Cooper then took his case to the media, which accorded him considerable attention. "Almost immediately the subject became a part of the public consciousness," to quote from a document tracing NIPR origins that was drafted by Paul H. Carew, DNA Comptroller. According to Carew, CDC received corre- spondence within a few days from "several dozen people" who claimed to have participated in the nuclear weapons tests. The number of letters increased to approximately 2,000 within 4 months (1). *AFRRI is a subordinate DNA organization responsible for studying the biological effects of ionizing radiation.