SeeRTK INCIDENT
4 MAR 1954
I had no indications of any, but usual operations from any of my detachments.
Weather reports were coming a little late but considered excellent
under the conditions.
Example:
Rongerik - 1 hour late, Ponape - 42 minutes,
Kusaie - 1:05 late and Majuro - 11 minutes late.
About 2300 that night I received a message from my detachment at
Rongerik DIG 010300Z as follows:
"FOR JTF SEVEN ENIWETOK SMCLN PASS TO MR.
BRESLIN PD AUTO MONITOR PRESENT READING IS ONE ZERO ZERO PLUS REPEAT ONE
ZERO ZERO PLUS. CHA FEN OFF CHART AND HAS BEEN IN THIS POSITION SINCE 9250
ZEBRA REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGEENT OF RECEIPT FROM BRESLIN SIGNED COMMDR",
Since
I attended a Radiological-Safety course at Keesler AFB in February - March
1949, I realized that serious fall-out might have occured.
I awakened Col.
Hammond, Test Services Unit Commander, whose quarters are in the next room
to mine, and explained the possibilities,
The communications center personnel
had explained that they were unable to contact Mr. Breslin at Parry Island
and had called me since they were unable to obtain the desired acknowledgement
of the message,
Since I did not know the relationship of the monitor reading
to the radiation value (Roentgens) I could not evaluate the seriousness of
the situation.
However , to preclude any serious effects and to minimize the
danger of exposure, I prepared a message to WOJG Kapral, my Officer in Charge
at Rongerik as follows:
"CEASE ALL OPERATIONS IMMED AND ALL PERS REMAIN
INSIDE METAL BUILDINGS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE PD MAINTAIN ROTATING SHIFT
RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WITH DR FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS PD ROBINSON SENDS",
Major Montgomer, Executive for Test Services Unit was awakened and sent to
the communications center to send out the message and wait there for further
instructions from Col. Hammond,
In the meantime we had called Col. Crosby
25»rand Col. Houghton of TG 7.4 and Captain Chrestenson of the 4930th Test
Pte ateg
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