Roster of Fallen Atomic Cleanup Veterans of the 1977 – 1980 Enewetak Atoll Atomic Cleanup Mission – Updated 12/12/2021 listing 78 known Fallen Atomic Cleanup Veterans. [Red highlighted listings indicate they died during the mission.

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• Abelon, Albert Palomo – Died 5/5/2002 – Provided by Kim M Westenfeld (daughter)

• Albright, Mark Aaron “Mark Price” – Died 11/17/2019 – Provided by Ancestry

• Anders, Charles J.– Army – Died 10/8/2017 – Carpenter Masonry Specialist – Lojwa Island – Died 10/8/17 – Provided by Thomas Parrish who served with Charles.

• Aquino, Amando Espinoza “Mandy” – Air Force – Died 10/7/2018 – Sgt – Medical Technologist – Enewetak Island- Suffered many medical problems including neuropathy and depression. – Provided by Amando’s wife Milagros Revote Aquino

• Bauchspies, Robert W. – Defense Nuclear Agency Commander – Died 12/22/2006 – Bob retired from the service in 1984 with the rank of Colonel after having served as Chief, Systems Analysis and Evaluation Directorate, Ballistic Missile Defense Program Office with the Army General Staff, the Pentagon. His last overseas assignment, ‘78-’79, was as Commander, Joint Task Force, Defense Nuclear Agency, Enewetak Atoll, in the Marshall Islands. The atoll had been used as an experimental site for the expenditure of 43 atomic weapons and the first H-Bomb in the 1950’s.

• Boice, Edward Jr. – Army – Died June 2010 – First Sergeant, Enewetak Island 5/19/77-5/8/1980, died June 2010 of bladder cancer. – Provided 8/8/16 by Eric Boice (son)

• Brigance, Dan – Died in 2008 – Enewetak Island – Died of cancer in Tennessee 2008 – Provided by Dan’s daughter Kimberly. 

• Brown, Kenneth Lee – Army – Died 8/8/2012 – “Kenneth Lee Brown passed away on Wednesday, August 8, 2012 at the age of 68. He was a native of Sulphur, Louisiana and a resident of Baton Rouge. Ken was an active member of First United Methodist Church. He graduated from LSU with a degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1971, and received a M.S. in Contract and Acquisition Management in 1979. Kenneth was an avid supporter of LSU football and loved his motorcycles. Ken is survived by his wife of 45 years, Carole Anne Brown; three daughters: Mary-Margaret Zabalaoui and her husband James Zabalaoui of Huntsville, AL; Rebecca Valadie and her husband Toby Valadie of Baton Rouge; and Catherine Collins and her husband Michael Collins of Slidell. He has 7 grandchildren; Ashleigh Zabalaoui, Justin Zabalaoui, Helen Valadie, William Valadie, Elise Valadie, Julia Valadie, and Kenneth Collins. Kenneth is also survived by his two sisters: Evelyn Brown Vincent and her husband James Vincent; Susan Brown LeLeaux and her husband Mark LeLeaux. He was preceded in death by his parents Lee and Inola Brown of Sulphur, and his sister Joyce Brown of Sulphur. Ken served more than 22 years in the US Army, from which he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1988. He began as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. Then, he was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers. During his Army career, he was responsible for building a Naval Air Facility in Sigonella, Italy, remediation of nuclear waste at the nation’s Pacific bomb test area at Enewetak, assistant chief of a project in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Affairs at Army Headquarters in Washington, DC, and the final design and construction of the Red River Water Way as the Deputy District Engineer of the Vicksburg District. Ken earned the respect of everyone with whom he served, especially for his ability to apply a common sense decision making process to every situation. His military service was recognized by the receipt of numerous awards and decorations that include the Legion of Merit Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star, the Humanitarian Service Award, the Army Commendation Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and twenty-two Air Medals as well as others. Ken was President of BCG Engineering and Consulting of Metairie. Under his leadership, his firm made substantial contributions to the improvement of flood and hurricane protection in South Louisiana, particularly in Jefferson and Orleans Parishes. He was an influential voice in the call for coastal protection and restoration initiative as he directed efforts to address the beneficial use of Mississippi River sediment. Ken led the effort to obtain the Congressional authorization necessary to establish the Southeast Louisiana Project (SELA), a project that has resulted in significant improvement to the canals and pumping stations in Jefferson and Orleans Parishes and will continue to result in improvement to these and other Parishes. Kenneth will be remembered as a loving husband, father, brother and grandfather to his family. To all who knew him throughout his life he will be remembered as a friend, mentor and, to some, a competitor who possessed those traits of character, honesty and integrity we would hope to see in all. He will be fondly remembered and missed. Visitation will be held Friday, August 10, 2012 from 1pm-3pm at First United Methodist Church with memorial service at 3:00pm, 930 North Boulevard, Baton Rouge.”

• Buchanan, Richard Lee – Died August 14, 2019 – Just wanted to let you all know my dad Rick Buchanan passed away. He was one of kind and a good man. We are heartbroken. He was one of the many fine young soldiers that took part in the cleanup efforts. Say a prayer for our family tonight please. – Bobby N Shelly Carl

• Butler, Hugh Troy, Sr. “Motor Mouth” – Navy – Died 6/6/2014 – 1979, Lojwa Provided 2/18/2015 by Carl Fleenor: “Checked his FB Site & saw he passed away (from cancer) June 6, 2014. SOB, I served with Hugh in ACU-1 & Lojwa / Enewetak. What A Loss.”

• Clouatre, Robert Ray – US Air Force – Died 7/19/2017 – Staff Sergeant (E-5) Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) FRST 3/1/1977 – 9/1/1977 lived on Lojwa Island and worked on the Northern islands Radiological Support/ordnance identification. Died of Cancer of the mouth/tongue 19 July 2017 in Seattle, WA. “I really didn’t know Ray that well. When I arrived at Clark AB in June 1977 he was already at Enewetak on the initial crew. When he got back he helped convince me I should volunteer for a tour and that’s part of the reason I ended up at Enewetak in April of 1978. By the time I got back from my tour, I believe he had already moved on to a new assignment back in CONUS. Ray and I were stationed together at Clark Air Base, Philippines in 1977.” – Michael M “Spanky” Sanford.

• Corrigan, William Patrick, III – Died 10/23/2006 of colon cancer. – Provided 5/30/16 by Daniel Corrigan (son).

• Crisman, Bernard “Bernie” – Died ~ 8/07/2015 – In memory of Bernie Crisman who served on Lojwa 1978 A good friend who taught me how to operate the 25 ton P&H crane. Compiled from 2015 news articles as follows: Bend Police are asking for the public’s help in locating 57-year-old Bernard (Bernie) Paul Crisman. He hasn’t been seen since he left his home on NE Wells Acres Road at about 3 p.m., Friday. Crisman lived in an adult nursing home, but would come and go as he pleased; however, it is unusual for him to not return or check-in by phone. He is also an insulin dependent Diabetic and left home without his medication and with little money. Police say He often rides a black and blue Mongoose Mountain Bike Which was found on Sunday along the COID canal east of NE Boyd Acres Road. He was last seen wearing a green shirt that says “Alaska” on the front.
  Bend, Ore. – On August 7, 2015 the Bend Police Department responded to the Central Oregon Irrigation District Canal adjacent to Juniper Ridge to assist with the rescue of a person from the canal. It was determined early the person in the canal was deceased. Based on the location of the recovery of the person, investigators started to look into the possibility of the identity being that of Bernard Crisman. By the evening of 08-07-15 the body of the deceased was tentatively identified as Crisman. Through the weekend, Bend Police Detectives had been working on obtaining further information regarding this investigation. There does not appear to be any signs of criminal activity being associated with the death. The Bend Police Department
  continues to work on the investigation to find further information leading to the cause of death. – Provided by Skip Weythman

• Daniels, Theodore “Ted” Guy – Army – Died 2/25/2018 – One of our brothers passed this year. We’ve been searching for Ted Daniels for years and one of our members, Kevin Morrissey, found his obituary yesterday. He passed in February of this year, unsure of the cause. He was with us in the advanced party on Enewetak June through November 1977. Although we haven’t seen Ted in over 40 years it’s amazing how sad we all are. – Provided by Bill Sullivan

• Davidson, Daniel Martin – Navy – “Daniel Martin Davidson, 65, passed away on May 19, 2017 at Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks, CA after a 5 month battle with pancreatic cancer. Dan was born on March 14, 1952 in Hardin, Montana to Dean Carl and Gladys Vining (Smart) Davidson. Dan spent his early childhood years in Sidney and Billings, Montana before moving to Bozeman, Montana where he graduated from Bozeman Senior High School in 1970. After high school Dan served in the Navy during the Vietnam era from 1971 to 1975 when he was honorably discharged. While in the Navy, Dan participated in a two-month atomic survey of Enewetak Atoll in preparation for an atomic debris cleanup conducted by the Defense Nuclear Agency. Dan was stationed in Coronado, CA where he met his wife Georgia Ann Prine and they married in 1973 in San Diego, CA. Dan attended college at San Diego State University, CA where he received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1984. Dan was a member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. Upon graduation he began work for ITT Gilfillan in Van Nuys, CA as a Design and Manufacturing Engineer where he worked until 1992. Following, he held various engineering positions within the aerospace and telecommunication industries. In 1987 Dan moved his family to Simi Valley, CA. He loved his wife of 43 years with all his heart and strength and they raised five children with unceasing dedication and spirited energy. Dan coached soccer, cross-country running, and wrestling for many years and this allowed him to not only mentor his own children but many other young people. He called his grandchildren his crown and enjoyed spending time and playing with them. Some of his favorite hobbies included fishing, hiking, running, gardening and camping. He enjoyed teaching others all he had learned and was experiencing through Christ Jesus. He also enjoyed worshiping and playing guitar with his church family. He taught at One-in-Christ Christian Fellowship, in Simi Valley, CA for many years. He frequently helped the homeless and opened his home to those in need. He was strong and courageous to the end. His admirable passion and faith will always be remembered. Dan was preceded in death by his parents Dean and Gladys, and his brother Dale. Dan is survived by his wife Georgia Davidson; sons, Ben Davidson and wife Kylie, and Andrew Davidson; daughters, Jody Bancroft and husband Matt, Naomi Breithaupt and husband Brian, and Hannah Mobeck and husband Ken, all of Simi Valley, CA; sisters, Donna Lewis and husband Rick of Superior, MT, and Carla Kelly and husband Ross of Fredericksburg, VA. He is also survived by his nine grandchildren Trevor, Amber, Ethan, Dana, Logan, Savannah, Ella, Dean and Tucker as well as many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, 2864 Sycamore Dr. Simi Valley, CA 93065 at 11:00 a.m., June 3, 2017. A reception will be held immediately following at 840 Irvine Rd. Simi Valley, CA 93065.”

• Duzan, Brad Marvin – Army – Died November 15, 2016 – Brad was a veteran of the Air Force and the Army. He was a typical good ‘ol boy and good family man. – Provided by Timothy Grant Whitehurst

• Ehelbach, Thomas Michael “Tommy or Thomas” – Army – Pfc – Enewetak Island- Died from cancer and diabetes- provided by Thomas’s fiancé Marianne Nommay

• Farr, Stephen J – Army – Medic, supporting EOD Air Force, 84th Engineering Battalion – Provided by Stephen J Farr

• Flores, Jon R. – USAF – On 29 December 1978, two men stationed at Lojwa Camp, Captain Jon R. Flores, USAF, (the camp doctor) and Private First Class Timothy P. Jarvis, USA, were lost while sailboating in the lagoon for recreation and became the fourth and fifth fatalities of the project. They had been sailing near the three-island complex of Aomon-Bijire-Lojwa. When they failed to return, a massive search and rescue effort was initiated, covering the lagoon, all the islands of the atoll, and the downwind ocean areas to the southwest. The search employed all available local boats and helicopters, as well as U.S. Coast Guard, Navy, and Air Force search and rescue aircraft from Pacific bases. The search continued without result until 3 January 1979, when it had to be discontinued because of worsening weather conditions from Typhoon Alice.

• Forrest, Bill – Army – 84th Engineer Battalion – Died 4/12/2008, St Robert MO – Provided 1/19/2015 by SGM David Breitbach.

• Fosdick, Walter – Army – 84th – SP5 – 3/1/1977-6/1/1977 Enewetak Island He was a heavy equipment operator. Heavy equipment operator. Heart failure, date unknown, but at least 15 years ago (somewhere near 2000) An old and dear friend. – Provided 1/25/2015 by Paul Riley.

• Foster, Anthony Wayne – Army – Died 4/26/2009 – A few months after returning from this project Anthony began to have skin rashes, chronic eczema, finally diagnosed as Sarcoidosis and pulmonary fibrosis then Stage II Sarcoidosis, renal cell carcinoma mass on right kidney, nodules formed on his lungs and he was on oxygen the last few years of his life. The evening of April 26, 2009 his lungs ruptured, busted and he bled out. Anthony was a perfectly healthy young man before he entered the military! Months after returning from this project site he began his horrible journey with these diseases and other health complications. He loved the military and honored it! But it’s a shame that they don’t honor all of you in the same manner. I tried a few years after his death to prove his case was military related, but they denied me. I met him years after his tour in Enewetak but he always swore his condition was from the radiation cleanup. I have started the process again, we’ll see how it goes, anyone with suggestions, let me know. I am so thankful for this site and I pray that God will allow all of you your just rewards for your service. In the set of pictures by John Thomas Street, I am certain that picture #36 shows my husband sitting on the crate/container near the front left of the pic! Thanks. – Provided by Myra Foster

• Foster, Michael – Army – Died 10/3/2017 of Cancer. – Provided 11/7/2017 by Mark Sargent.

• Fuller, Virgil Merle – TSgt, Retired, USAF. 1925 – 1996. Was NCOIC MAC Airfield Team, Enewetak Atoll, September 1978 to February 1979. Conducting cargo and air missions to and from the Enewetak Atoll Radiological Atomic Clean up Project, assigned to the 6015th Provisional Support Squadron. Tsgt Fuller passed away July 27, 1996, age 71 in Sacramento, California.

• Gohr, Ernest Lee – Holmes & Narver – Provided by Jaylene Renae Gohr Monjaras

• Hahn, Lawrence Martin – Navy – Electrician on USS Thomaston, 6/1/76-11/2/76 & 11/15/78-5/1/79. Died on August 31, 1984 after losing his battle with testicular cancer. – Provided 9/17/16 by Linda Hahn (wife)

• Halleran, Kenneth E. – Army – Col. Kenneth E. Halleran, (Ret), formerly of Newington, lost his long battle with cancer on Thursday (July 31, 1997) in Locust Grove, VA. He was the son of the late Helen and Kenneth Halleran. He had a long 32 year Army career serving in Korea, German, France, Lebanon, Vietnam, Thailand and the Marshall Islands. He served on the Army general staff at the Pentagon. He commanded the final radiological clean-up of the U.S. Nuclear Test Range in the Marshall Islands.

• Horten, Michael – Our Brother Michael suffered much before losing his life to the iodizing radiation he unknowingly brought home with him from this Cold War mess our government left for us to clean up back then in the 70’s when we were at the top of our game healthwise…. back then when we were young and invincible. “God Bless Our Brother Michael Horten and Our many Brothers who have left this earth too early. May they know now the Peace and Joy and Love of Heaven. Amen – Provided by John Laramie

• Jacobsen, Kenneth K – Army CW4 Pilot – 11/30/1978 – 6/30/1979 – Died of Cancer of the stomach and liver. My father died on 21 Mar 2014 in Lancaster Co. Pennsylvania. The cancer spread through out his body quickly. – Lore’

• Jarvis. Timothy Paul – US Army Corps of Engineers – 1977-78, Enewetak Atoll, Reported “deceased” to our family in December, 1978. We were told “he was lost at sea, and his remains were unrecoverable.” However, have always believed he was involved in a radiation accident. 8.) 5′ 10″, blonde hair, blue eyes, his rank was private, promoted to corp at death. He was stationed in HI, just prior to being sent to the Marshall Islands. 9.) I am his younger brother, I was in the 7th grade when he died, now I’m 47. We never received his body. Our family was told by the US Government to stop communication with other families, whose son’s were supposedly lost at sea with my brother. That’s why we never believed his death was the result of a sailing accident. Charles Ikner 11/8/2014

• Jones, Danny – Provided by Danny Kirkendall

• Jones, James William “Jim” or “Jimmy” – Army – Combat Engineer – 6/14/1979 – 11/14/1980 – Enewetak Island – Health complications: Liver disease, low platelet count, pulmonary disease, mental health problems, hearing loss. – Died 11/08/07 in Glendale, Arizona due to health complications from the above mentioned. – Provided 12/14/2014 by Rebecca Jones. “He was an amazing father and person taken way too soon.”

• Keene, Timothy Ray nickname: Bean & Pinky – Army – EOD – Demolition clean up of barrels. My father died 12/8/09 of problems with the pancreas, issues with blood & mental illness. There is probably more that I don’t know of. Supposedly of sepsis. I think he was there in 1979. – Nicole LaFosse

• Kline, Donald Leon “Don” – Air force- TSgt- Squadron Maint, Supervisor- Enewetak Island-  Directed 7 Maintenance crews. Died on 10/6/89 of Giant Cell carcinoma cancer. Provided by  Kim Kline ( Westenfeld). Donald’s Daughter.

• Lagrand, Stephen James – Army – Died November 6, 2020 of stroke complications. – Provided by Gary Pulis

• Laird II, Paul Edward – Army-  SP4- Bull Dozer Operator- Enewetak Island-  Bull Dozed shrubs and ground soil.  Had cancer in kidney, bladder, and esophagus. Died 3/17/19 at his home because of cancer. Provided by his wife Vicki Laird.

• Langmeyer, David James – Navy- Enewetak Island- Sight clean up, mechanic, and equipment operator.  Had COPD and diabetes. Died 6/7/19 of complications with illnesses.  “He served his country proudly. Our country did not accept it’s responsibilities for his health issues.”  Provided by David’s brother William Langmeyer. 

• Lawton, Robert Lee “Bob” – Army- SP5- Enewetak Atoll- Removed debris, plutonium contaminated soil, and structures.  Had poor memory and suffered from flu like symptoms. Died 1/9/16 from Hemolytic Anemia.

• Lentini, Todd – Army – Died 4/3/2015 of cancer. Provided 11/7/2017 by Mark Sargent

• LeVan, Paul Bowman ‘Buddy’ III – Army – Sierra Sentinel 5/1/2015 Obituary states “Paul Bowman LeVan III, 58, of Copperopolis in Calaveras County, entered into eternal rest due to unexpected myocardial infarction on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 5:58 PM along Pool Station Road. Paul was born on January 18, 1957 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and was the oldest son of Audrey Jean Wolf of Pennsylvania and the late Paul Bowman LeVan Jr.”

• Marler, Sammie Lee “Singing Sam” – Died March 16, 2021 of Congestive Heart Disease – Provided by Lori A. Marler

• Masculine, Richard “Brooklyn Ball Buster” – Army – E-4 – 84th Engineer Battalion – Lived on Lojwa Island – Died 11/25/2013 at home in Summitville, New York due to cancer related to exposure to radiation. – Provided 12/14/2014 by Gary Pulis. “He was one of, if not the, first “Short Timer” to take me under his wing. We worked on some of the same islands, breathed some of the same dust and drank from the same “Jungle Juice” barrel.”

• Matlab, Petrus “Pete” – Army – Died of Prostate Cancer – Provided by Texi Ngiraingas 

• McCarn, Kevin O’Brien “Eagle Eye” “AWOL” – Army – Surveyed the crater for construction of the dome on Runit. Died 12/14/14. – Provided 5/16/17 by Kevin Riley

• Michaud, Richard Leo – Navy – Worked on Lojwa & Enewetak. Died 8/25/2000 from lymphoma. Provided 5/6/15 by Mary Michaud (wife)

• Millspaw, Bruce – Army – E-2 – 84th Engineer Battalion – Lived on Lojwa Island – Was told he died at an early age of cancer, possible bone related. – Provided 12/15/12014 by Paul Laird. “Was stationed with him at 84th Eng Battalion Schofield Hi. before the project began. Bruce Millstone was a 20 year old Mormon from Utah , never smoked I’d drank that I knew of. I believe his death was a result of his exposure from working on the clean- up project.”

• Mixan, Edgar J – Joint Task Force, Colonel, Commander, Joint Task Force Enewetak Defense Nuclear Agency – Died 2/9/2017 – Provided by Tim Wood

• Moody, Donald E. – Army – SGT – 84th Engineer Battalion – Lived on Lojwa Island – Sgt Donald E. Moody died 14 August 1978 while jump starting a vehicle on Aomon Island at Enewetak Atoll. His body was crushed between a bulldozer and a dump truck. Sgt Moody was well liked by all who knew him.

• Nicholson, James Milton – Navy – Died July 21, 2019 – Provided by Gary Pulis

• O’Rielly, Paddy – Died March 2019 of Liver Complications – Provided by Anon

• Padgett, Randy – Died November 13, 2020 of Heart disease – Provided by Gary Pulis

• Paiste, Jaime Carbajal – Army – 5/1/77-10/1/77, Carpenter who built 500 man base camp on Lojwa. Died 9/24/13. Provided 4/19/16 by Rodolfo Maldonado (Squad Leader at Enewetak)

• Parrish, Joseph Jackson – Navy – 5/7/1977-10/7/1977 – Died of Heart Failure 1/18/2017 – Mr. Joseph Jackson Parrish, age 67, of Vernon, Florida passed away January 18, 2017 at his home. He was born May 3, 1949 in Bonifay, Florida. Joe served his Nation as a member of the U.S.Navy, who enlisted October 1968, serving during the Vietnam era. He assisted with the nuclear cleanup of the Marshall Islands and later retired with the rank of Chief Engineman, (E7) He further served with the Merchant Marines as a contracted Engineer. FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS, my Brother.

• Plum, Rodney Howell – Army – Died 3/5/2016 at Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock Arkansas of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Pharynx – Provided by Kellie Kett (daughter)

• Preciado, Richard F, Sr. “Sgt P” – Army – 11/29/78-6/29/79, SFC, in charge of Lojwa Motor Pool. Died 10/23/05 from heart problems. Provided 7/11/16 by Richard F. Preciado Jr. (Son)

• Priest, Victor J. – Navy – “On Enewetak Island, the first fatality of the cleanup project occurred on 19 August 1977. Hull Technician Vlctor J. Priest, USN, was welding on the bow ramp of a landing craft when preservative in the void area inside the ramp exploded, ripping a 6-foot hole in the ramp and killing him. The accident was investigated by Commander, Amphibious Group Eastern Pacific. Memorial services at the base chapel the following Sunday were attended by over 200 military and civilian personnel, including Iroij Johannes Peter and many of the dri-Enewetak.”

• Pruitt, Michael – 84th English Batallion – Welder- Lojwa Island- “Mike was a Vietnam veteran as well as a Enewetak survivor. He was a great maintenance man and an all around mechanical genius.” – Provided by Dennis Cleghorn

• Ray, Roger – Army – Col. Roger Ray, USA., Ret., 84, of Middletown, died late Wednesday afternoon, January 31, 2007, at Homewood at Crumland Farms, Frederick. He was the husband of Mrs. Dorothy M. Ray, his wife of 23 years.
  Born February 26, 1922, in Yonkers, N.Y., he was a son of the late Col. Martin Hassett Ray, USAF, Ret., and Josephine West Ray. He was a 1943 graduate of the United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., and entered the U.S. Army during World War II. In addition to his education at West Point, he graduated in 1946 from the U.S. Army Command and Staff College, attained his masters degree from New York University in 1948, and graduated in 1965 from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Washington, D.C. Col. Ray’s distinguished career as an Army Officer and Civilian was focused largely on research dealing with our national defense. In addition to serving as a deputy assistant to the Secretary of Defense, he was involved with experimentation at NASA and the University of California, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. A highlight in his career was serving as project manager of the Enewetak Radiological Support Project, where he provided scientific advice, radiological support and technical direction for the cleanup and rehabilitation of Enewetak Atoll, the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Col. Ray was highly regarded and recognized throughout his long career. He was decorated with the Distinguished Service Medal by the U.S. Army and the Exceptional Civilian Service Award from the Defense Nuclear Agency. In addition, he was appointed by the president of the United States as a charter member of the U.S. Senior Executive Service and recipient of the Distinguished Career Service Award for the U.S. Department of Energy. Surviving, besides his wife, are four daughters, Kaaren Ray, Mary Hoyt and husband Mark, all of California, and Robin Ray and Vivian Bratton and husband Randolph, all of Nevada; stepchildren, Carey Mongeon and husband Leonard, Mark Boettcher and wife Terri and Jack Boettcher, all of Middletown, and Jamie Boettcher of Rockville; 13 grandchildren, Lauren, Christena, Leigh, Tara, Jediah, Camille, Marcia, Lenny, Michael, Jacqueline, Erik, Natalie and Eva; and five great-grandchildren, Jamey, Kelcey, Kaegan, Chad and Taylor; as well as brothers, Col. John Ray and wife Julia, USA, Ret., and Cpt. Alan Ray, USN, Ret., and wife Mary, all of Massachusetts; former spouse, Marilyn Ray of Nevada; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Col. Ray was preceded in death by siblings, Lt. Martin Ray, USN, and Margery Ray Ormond. The Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, Frederick, is handling the arrangements. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, at the Old Fort Myer Chapel, Va. Inurnment will follow in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Army Emergency Relief, Attn. Donations, 200 Stovall St., Rm. 5-N-13, Alexandria, VA 22332.

• Reedy, Patrick Joseph – Army – Patrick Joseph Reedy, 58, of Falls Twp., died at home from cancer Saturday. (9/16/2017) He was born May 6, 1959, to the late Leo C. Reedy Sr. and Joanne (Perks) Reedy-Mirabelli. Patrick served in the Army in the 309th Transportation Company, working as a watercraft operator and was ranked as an SP 4. He was an Atomic Veteran and worked on the Enewetak Cleanup Project. He was a strong advocate for the Atomic Veterans. He continued to stay very close to his military buddies, especially Todd Lentini who passed away, Jeff Dean, Mike Riggins, Bryan Butterfield and many others. He traveled to see them and went to many reunions. Patrick loved fast cars, demolition derbies and mechanics. In addition, he loved traveling and the ocean. Throughout his life, Patrick worked in construction as a truck driver and was always happy to travel.

• Reid, Ivan – Navy – ACU-1 – Ivan Reid was a BM1 in the Navy with ACU-1. He ran the waterfront at Enewetak the first half of his tour in 1979 and was at Lojwa until the end of the cleanup in 1980. Reid passed away February 2015 in Texas. May God find peace for his soul.

• Ridgeway, Gary – Provided by Dawn Ridgeway Bechtel (daughter)

• Robbins, Charles Douglas – Died July 10, 2019 from cancer – My father Charles Robbins passed the other day peacefully. His struggle with cancer was unknown to all of us until a couple weeks ago. It is still a shocking situation and hard to believe. I wanted to let you all know though. He cared deeply about this page and the people involved in it. – Provided by Amanda Reneè (daughter)

• Rose, Dan – Army – Died 10/17/2018 – Dan passed away after his long battle with health issues created by the invisible radioactive bullets he brought back from our 1977 – 1980 Enewetak Atoll Atomic Cleanup Mission. – Provided by Girard Frank Bolton, III.

• Stearns, Robert “Rob” – Navy- Died 1/17/18 from cancer. Provided by Statesman Journal.

• Stover, Carol Diane Bell – Department of Energy – Died 1/19/1998 – Provided by Dayton Daily News.

• Summerfield, Phillip Kevin – Army- Lt – Enewetak Island-  Died from breast cancer on 3/29/1988 – Provided by a family member Rev. John Walton.

• VanKirk, Charles Edward ” Chuck”– Army- PFC- Combat Engineer- Lojwa Island-  Cleaned up beaches-  Degerative Bone and disk disease- Provided by Charles Vankirk.

• Volk, Robert H. Jr. “Mickey” – Army – Medic – Stationed at Enewetak Atoll. Died on March 27th, 2011. Was told by Bev Androl that he died of cancer.

• Vollbrecht, Stephen Dean “Doc” – USAF – 11/1/78-4/1/79, served on all islands as an independent duty medical technician. Died 3/1/02 from lung cancer. Provided 5/21/17 by Doreen Vollbrecht (wife)

• Wahlgren, Lynn Merle – Army – Lynn Merle Wahlgren, 59, passed away November 6, 2012, in the loving company of family. Burial, with full military honors, will be on May 15, 2013 at 1pm at Arlington National Cemetery. – “I was doing some digging one day and came across this. 1st Lt Wahlgren is in this picture. He was the first commissioner of softball on Lojwa. I was his assistant. I remember him as a good officer.” – Provided 11/7/2017 by Mike Garrity

• Watkins – Army – E-5 – 84th Engineer Battalion – Lived and worked on Enewetak and Lojwa – Was told by another that he died of a form of cancer, possible bone involvement. – Provided 12/14/2014 by Paul Laird. “He was my squad leader.”

• Westerling, Rod “Cowboy” – Army – E-4 – 84th Engineer Battalion – Lived on Lojwa Island – Was told by a family member that he died of heart problems. – Provided 12/15/2014 by Paul Laird. “Was stationed with him at 84th Eng Battalion Schofield HI and spent time with him on Enewetak before we went to Lojwa.”

• Whyte, Timothy – Army – Died Nov 11, 2014 in San Antonio, TX – Captain, Company Commander Co A, 84th Engineer Battalion – Commander of unit primarily responsible for the initial work on Runit and excavation of the crater. – Provided by Tim Wood

• Wilson, David L. – Defense Nuclear Agency – David L. Wilson (Carey) Beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother, David L. Wilson, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 23, 2014. He was preceded in death by his son, Randall D. Wilson. He leaves behind his wife of 66 years, Mary Jane; 3 daughters, Kathleen Owsley and husband Randy, Barbara Van Bibber and husband David, and Cynthia Glos and husband George; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Neil Wilson and wife Sharon and Steven Carey and wife Anne; sister Carole Myers; and many more family members and friends. The son of Rita Gray and Jerome Carey, David was born July 18, 1927 in Springfield, MO. When his mother remarried, he was assigned his stepfather’s last name, Wilson, but later used his original name as an author and speaker on Near Death Experiences and the Afterlife. His early childhood was spent trouping the Southwest with his grandparents’ tent show, the Musical Grays, and drifting around oil boom camps with his stepfather. In 1943, the family moved to Albuquerque where David worked as a waiter in the Fred Harvey dining room at the famous old Alvarado Hotel while attending high school. In 1944, he spent the summer fighting forest fires in Idaho for the U.S. Forest Service. Upon returning to Albuquerque, he graduated from Albuquerque High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was scheduled for landing craft duty in the invasion of Japan when the war was ended by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He served as a warehouse foreman at Naval Aviation Supply Depot 3149 in the Philippines during demobilization and shipment of material to Bikini Atoll to support Operation Crossroads nuclear weapons tests. After his discharge from the Navy, he attended the University of New Mexico briefly and married his high school sweetheart, Mary Jan Tatom. In 1947, he went to work for what then was known as the Manhattan Project and was later renamed the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project (AFSWP), the Defense Atomic Support Agency (DASA) in 1961, and the Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA) in 1971. He rose through civil service ranks to become the agency’s chief logistician, responsible for staff management of logistics at seven storage depots, Nevada Test Site, Johnston Atoll Test Site, and Enewetak Atoll Test Site. Much of his work was on Top Secret missions and projects, including storage, shipment, and demilitarization of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, and logistics support of nuclear weapons tests and nuclear weapons effects tests. His favorite project was unclassified. He was the command project officer for planning and accomplishing the radiological cleanup for Enewetak Atoll Nuclear Test Site in the Marshall Islands so that the Enewetak People could return safely to their home islands after a 33 year absence. For his work on the project, he earned the peoples’ affection and the Defense Department’s highest civilian medal. The report he compiled on the radiological cleanup project was later used by the Russian government in its radiological cleanup of its nuclear weapons test site in the republic of Kazakhastan. In 1983, after 36 years with the agency during which he earned 26 Sustained Superior and Outstanding Performance awards, he retired to devote more time to genealogy and private studies, including Near Death Experiences (NDEs) and the Afterlife. In 1990, David completed writing and privately publishing a book, The Oneness, in an endeavor to provide a semblance of the Near Death Experience of reality and the Afterlife based on his own experiences and years of research. The family expresses their sincere gratitude to the caring doctors and staff of UNM Neurological ICU. Private family services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Animal Humane Association, 615 Virginia St. SE, 87108.

• Wimberly, Robert K “Top” – Army – Died of Cancer – The best Damn First sergeant in the Army, lived by the same rules he had for his men. – Provided by Johnny Ray Deardorff

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If you knew a participant of the 1977 – 1980 Enewetak Atoll Cleanup Mission who has died please add that Fallen Veteran’s name to our roster now.