’ 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