Carl Fleenor, 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 Carl Fleenor

Branch: Navy Rating: E2 Fireman Apprentice Location: Enewetak, Lowja Year:1977-78

Quote:“Recognition is richly deserved by my fellow animals. Many of my brothers are suffering. I just want what is rightly and properly due to us.”

“I am 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 on 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 the 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.

When asked about what he knew of Enewetak or his assigned duty there, Carl Fleenor answered without hesitation. “I’d heard about Enewetak when I was stationed at AC1 in late 1976-77. (I went to AC1 right out of Navy Basic Training at Great Lakes.) I had always wanted to travel and had commented to my father about volunteering to go to Enewetak. My dad kind of chuckled when I shared that information. He himself had been a Navy Corpsman stationed with Fox Company Third Marine Division. They fought on Guam and Iwo Jima. (Incidentally, he never spoke about it until his later years) That led credence to me wanting to volunteer to go.

“Protective gear? I chuckle every time I see comments about safety gear.” Carl paused briefly as he added, “You know, I’ve noticed I’m starting to forget names. There’s not a day in my life that I don’t think about my fellow Animals (Lowja) and what so many of them are going through.” Mr. Fleenor took a slow breath before continuing. “I think maybe some of the Air Force personnel who were doing radiation monitoring might have worn some but as far as I can remember, we only wore the full suit during training. At times, we did wear dust masks like when we were hauling debris to Runit. Those were just plain little masks with elastic bands. We thought it was completely ineffective since it never molded to your face but we were young. We were invincible.”

“I don’t know a specific “a-ha” moment to pinpoint but there were times during my first tour I suspected that something was amiss. There was always a nagging suspicion….we were especially concerned for the guys who were working with all that debris. I’ve even commented how I thought it so strange that they only wore the standard operating attire on Lowja during that time. Standard attire generally meant boots, a Boony hat, and an optional T-shirt for the most part.”

“When did I get to that point where I figured something was amiss/not what it all first appeared? During my second tour in late 79/80. It was around the time that we were winding down to close out the operation. Being part of the Navy, me and a few other guys were asked to clean up one of the U-Boats (LCU) of contaminated debris from the nooks and corners. Of course, we were being monitored for radiation exposure by an Air Force sergeant (Brothers was his name) and we had to do an absolutely thorough job before they could dispose of it. We ended up having to go back and clean it several times because the sergeant said it wasn’t clean enough (meaning it was still ‘hot’ or contaminated). We argued about why we had to clean it out so well when there we were without protective gear just cleaning away. We asked about that and never received an answer.”

“After I came back from my second tour, my family and friends wanted to hear about the things I had done, my ‘sea stories’ I guess you could call them. I don’t think anybody really comprehended, I mean, I never thought this was as historically significant as it was/is at the time. In recent years, it started nagging at me that I wanted to reconnect with people I served with. I wanted to be able to talk with the guys who all experienced the same things I did and I started Googling Enewetak. One thing started following another and through some trial and error, I eventually found the Enewetak Survivors group. I felt like a kid in a candy shop when I connected with these guys. Though I don’t comment all that often on the site, I have to admit: I check out the pages every day. It’s almost like a morning cup of coffee for me.”

What would I like to see happen? First of all, recognition is richly deserved by all of my fellow Animals. Many of my brothers are suffering with different aspects of their health. I just want what is rightly and properly due to us. We were young and willing to do what our country asked of us during a time when serving in the military wasn’t exactly the most popular thing to do and we willingly went over there. We are just asking for help in the medical area….considering how big of a mess our government created; we went there to ‘clean it up’. It’s not like we are asking for a guaranteed winning lotto ticket. We just want to stay healthy as long as possible. We just want what was supposed to be promised us when we got out.”

"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.”

Follow our cause: Atomic Veterans of Enewetak Atoll