’
t
4
re
sere ane eee
rt
re
drive to the landing pad (about two miles) about three minutes at 40 cph
sO as not Co strain damaged vehicles and have a breakdown and become
ie Sh
stranded? The geizer counters all read 500 R+ outside at this tine. We
“ "" . * yeached the copters safe, boarded, and returned to the ships. It was now
wo
_ adout 5:00 p.m. short day.
We Landed the ship on a large canvas pad.
We strip
“77 3) ped on the pad (only the shects).
Went to a small stateroom and waited for
Dd
,
disposal.
After about 10 minutes we were all told co walk over an open
Pot
- + grated companion way that stretched over open sea and we were salt water snowe-
owt
oy.
; a
\
.
-
os
7
;
ered nude and checked over with a geizer counter till we read O "gacma”.
I had no other clothes and was offered none so I reedressed in my old clothes.
~
' Iwas last to shower 0 "gamma" and was forgotten thereafter aboard ship.
~ It cook about 12 hours to return co home base Eniwetok from Zikini. I slept
-on the first hangar deck with the wheel of a copter for my pillow chat night.
Returned to my squadran and reported on my assignment.
’
toe!
On the second day
after "0" I started to feel feverish, light headed, no appetite, constant
+
headache.
Very little sleep that night. On the third Zay after O, I had
severe headache, a tisht forehead wich loss and blurry vision, feverish and
very nauseous.
I we-t to the orderly room to report for sick call about
.
-
3:00 p.m. che third
ay after "0".
My conmander saw me and asked ny_problea
I told him.
He asked if I was de-conteminated.
I told him about the sea
water shower and the geiger counter check. He advised that I go to the
Eniwoetox decon station first and then sick cathe | I do this.
A check for gamma shows some meter movement.
|
A check for Alphe shows 0.
->~-A check for Beta shows 35a on top of my head only.
-- =
a
They send me to the shower to wash off. I go sand pash and alsc lose fistfulls
4 of hair. I come out, ger checked and I am still hoc sbouc 122. I return
to the shower with a brush and scrub brush my head till I am sore. I now
read abcut 75 }R.
Again I go to the shcwer and stand under ic for 2 long
time, letting the water hit my head because it is so sore from scrubbing.
' I come our clean.
{- .
a
’
Now
‘After dressing and a short calk with che men there, I feel real good now. No
“more headache, dizziness, fever, nothing; like I'm well again.
In fact I
was pretty hungry and so I go to chow because it was almose 6:00 p.m.
I have
~iraculously recuperated so I do noc go to sick call.
.
oo
.
w2out Cwo or three weeks later I am told, by my Cormander co return to the
s
snker ca retrieve my tools and equipment because they were clearing the
island and was supposed to be safe now.
ae
wposure 12,
I return to bunker about three weeks later.
Upon arrive: I
wl
find the Bikini.still hot (100k+) and only allowed two hours stay. I take
“~~ “only one hour and return co ship, I feel no ill effects this except foGueazy feeling in stomach (maybe because of remembrances) for chat cay ohly.
-
Po
|
i. BROEARCHIVEs
Te
-| ow.
3000
—
~
as