Tim Snider, Enewetak Atoll (1977) Glimmer of Lights

Introducing a series of narrative articles about the Atomic Cleanup Veterans of Enewetak Atoll.

The following are first-hand accounts told by comparatively few survivors of the Enewetak Atoll Atomic Debris Cleanup Mission, Marshall Islands; a mission that took place from 1977-1980. Their stories appear as told to T-M Fitzgerald(published author, veteran, veteran advocate) because theirs are tales needing to be known.

Read - H.R. 5980: Mark Takai Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act

Introduction: “Where in the World is Enewetak?”

Enewetak is just one of many atolls and islands in the Pacific Ocean’s Marshall Island chain. Located about 2,365 nautical miles SW of Hawaii (just north of the equator), the Marshall Islands were once a major testing ground for nuclear weapons post WWII. This island chain is also home to the project called Cactus Dome, a 350’- wide blast crater located at the northern end of Runit Island that has become known as the ‘Nuclear Trashcan of the Pacific.’

Between 1948-58, forty-three nuclear weapons were detonated over Enewetak and its sister islands. Among these tests were ‘Ivy Mike’ and ‘Castle Bravo’ (a device 1000X as powerful as the bomb ‘Little Boy’ which was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan post Pearl Harbor.)

In 1977, a coalition of United States military forces and civilian support teams were sanctioned to ‘clean’ the islands of residual radioactive fallout. Men, many who were mere teenagers back in the day, were tasked with cleaning the contaminated fallout from the nuclear testing that occurred throughout the previous three decades. Keep in mind, that as recent as 2012, the United Nations reported that the cumulative effects from all that nuclear testing had effectively caused near-irreversible environmental contamination. There was a problem beginning in 1977 and currently, effects from that exposure have begun to manifest, taking toll on many surviving Enewetak vets and contractors today. Four decades later, survivors are telling their stories because the world needs to know.

Personal story by Tim Snider

Branch: Air Force AFSC: 90750 Location: Lowja Year: 1979

Quote:“I was very proud to have served my country, was proud of wearing the uniform and proud of what it stood for. I had my father’s generation as an example. I saw firsthand how the VA supported the WWII and Korean vets in my teens. I volunteered for three years at a VA hospital near Cleveland Ohio. I guess I expected the same respect from my government that my forefathers got and I don’t understand why I didn’t get it.”

“I’m but one of a few of the survivors of the 1977-1980 Enewetak Atoll Atomic Debris Cleanup Mission that took place in the Marshall Islands.

A major focus of this group has been to help one another with information and moral support during some of the challenging times we’ve encountered following our time in service at Enewetak.

A secondary focus/goal is to urge Congress to change current law and recognize Cold War Era soldiers and contractors of the Enewetak Cleanup Mission as “veterans and workers who participated in radiation-risk activities during active service.”

By obtaining their second goal, individuals experiencing health complications resulting from radiation exposure at Enewetak Atoll will be eligible to apply for funds that have previously been set-aside for other Atomic Veterans who have already been recognized and acknowledged for their service.

“I knew there were Marshall Islands but as far as the mission or anything about radiation, I knew absolutely nothing; all I knew was, ‘Airman, go!’ So Airman went. Nobody in my unit had been down there before.”

“I did a fraction of the job I had actually trained for when I went to the Rock which was as an environmental health technician. I was assigned to the FRST a radiological survey team, which wasn’t my primary job but was still a part of my AFSC. As far as safety gear?” Mr. Snider paused and gave a little chuckle. “As soon as we got off the plane on Enewetak, there were military photographers standing out there. Three of us were grabbed off the plane and put into banana suits with PAPR’s (respirators) and that was the only time I wore protective clothing other than a dust mask or protective gloves. Our usual uniform of the day consisted of boots, Boonies and T-shirts (optional). “

“I was bounced all over the place while I was there. I got to work with a group of physicists and biologists out on the northern islands and would listen to them talk. I learned a lot about what was going on from them. We’d all pitch in and help the Army guys as needed. While we were down there, we were all grunts. It probably wasn’t until about month four when I started thinking that maybe things weren’t quite what they appeared. We’d been pulling debris out of some old WWII bunkers and were told, “You need to go give some blood.” We asked, “Is this for tetanus or something?” I started asking questions. I was basically told to follow orders and live long and prosper. As a matter of fact, the only medical records I have in my military file are from my initial entry exam, one from July of ‘80 when I had the flu, and one time from ‘81 when I had a cold. That’s the entire summation of my medical records. In 2011, I thought I was having a heart attack and so went to the hospital. That’s when I ended up finding out I had bone tumors. They just all of a sudden showed up. The hospital did a stress test and ended up establishing that I had multiple tumors in my ribcage, spine and cranium. I spent a six-month period of, “Yes you have cancer, no you didn’t have cancer” before finally going to another facility and having the tumors confirmed. They identified my condition as fibrosis but called it benign. The doctor told me, “I’d expect to see this if you were 80 years old, but you’re too young...” So now every year, I go to an oncologist for blood work and see what they have to say. I don’t fear it.”

“The lack of help and support from the VA is what prompted me to share my experiences about Enewetak. There are so many voices singing the same song, so these things must be true, right? I figured I couldn’t be the only one facing these issues. I found out that I’m not. When I started having my health problems, I began looking up information and researching Enewetak. That’s when I found the Atomic Cleanup Veterans page. (I actually found a picture of me posted on the site.) I don’t readily open up or give out information in public forums and am very hesitant with sharing anything but as I was reading through the site, I decided to add my name to the roster. I’d never been on Facebook before and the only reason I’m on it now is for the Atomic-veteran site.”

“I was very proud to have served my country: proud to have worm the uniform and proud of what it stood for. I’d had my father’s generation as an example and as a teenager, I had witnessed firsthand how the VA supported the WWII and Korean vets. I’d volunteered for three years at a hospital near Cleveland, Ohio and I guess I expected the same respect from my government that my forefathers came home to. I don’t understand why I didn’t get it. It’s a shame our country chooses to forget about those who serve. It’s not just with us guys who were down on Enewetak. I mean past and current veterans, too. It’s just disgusting what the VA is doing to those of us who’ve served.”

"The primary focus for this group is to urge Congress to change legislation and recognize soldiers of this seemingly forgotten cleanup mission as “veterans who participated in radiation-risk activities during active service.”

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