Michael Clancy, Enewetak Atoll (1978-79) Glimmers of Light

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 Michael Clancy

Branch: Air Force MOS: Explosive Ordnance Disposal Specialist (AFSC - 46450) Location: Enewetak Year: 1978-79

Quote: “I’d like to let our government and country know that it should acknowledge these men and do the right thing. Yet the veterans who proudly served a duty for our country there are being treated as if they never existed, as if Enewetak never happened.”

“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 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."

“Before I went to the Marshall Islands, I had no idea where they were located or what type of testing had been conducted there. I can remember my team chief telling us, ‘here’s a great TDY, (temporary duty assignment) tropical paradise, R&R in Hawaii and you can swim, snorkel, and fish all you want.’”

“At the time, I was 20 years old and at my first duty station at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. I was volunteered for the mission, specifically chosen because the EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) team needed to be familiar with Japanese WWII ordnance. I was asked because my team thought I could read Japanese and would be an asset to the mission. (My mother was from Japan). I was TDY on Enewetak from September/October 1978 – February 1979.”

“I was assigned to the Air Force Field Radiation Support Team (FRST) as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Specialist. In terms of protective equipment, we were given a one-day familiarization of wearing the yellow suit (AKA banana suit) and that was it. In my field of EOD, I had already been trained in the use of protective wear and use of instruments for monitoring radiation. While working on the island of Enjebi, we never wore protective gear, nor did we have any available to us except for paper respiratory masks.”

“I lived the entire time on Lojwa and worked on Enjebi. On several occasions, I also provided escort duties for scientists who were studying rats on some of the Northern Islands. For a few months I worked in the PMEL (Precision Measurement and Equipment Lab) laboratory because the ranking Air Force PMEL specialist was sent home. Since we were familiar with the instruments, I calibrated them daily and also ran the swipe machine that tested swipe samples. We’d also take readings from the air sample filters.”

“I worked in the PMEL trailer with another Air Force PMEL specialist. While working in the PMEL, one thing I took particular notice of was how the probes on the instruments (which had Mylar sheaths) always came back to the lab damaged. If torn, the instrument was not usable for the rest of the day. Another thing I noticed was how the radiacs had low maximums limits for reading radiation for the beta and gamma instruments. I can’t remember the specific range, but there were times when the instruments would black out entirely. This happened frequently on Enjebi in particular when we were taking readings on the concrete chunks left over from Japanese bunkers that were being took down. I used to test them and remember thinking, ‘This is not good.’ Beta and Gamma rays are mitigated by distance/shielding and the Army guys were in contact with that stuff all day long, never mind the fact that they were also breathing in large amounts of dust during soil removal.”

“Regarding the air sample readings we took, I remember one day there were some alpha readings that were elevated (reading more than 200,000 counts of alpha) which brought a host of visitors to the PMEL laboratory. If I remember right, these readings came from the island next to Lojwa, but my memory is dim on this. (I remember one Army Colonel who wasn’t very happy to see EOD personnel in the PMEL lab. The scientists who came out there were actually complimentary regarding how we operated the swipe machines and calibrated the instruments.) The next day, I was asked to return to Enjebi to work. I remember them discussing the elevated readings, saying they were probably due to high wave conditions (which could emit isotopes that would give high alpha readings).” All readings, swipes and air samples were recorded on a master roster. Not sure where that went but I think Eberline and the Army must have copies of them. (Note: All instruments were Eberline Corp.)”

“I wore a personal dosimeter the entire time I was at Enewetak. I’ve actually seen the readings from my dosimeter and they are all .000 with one .001 reading. I should also note that the same record indicates that I was at Johnston Atoll. I never travelled to that atoll. (I remembered why I always kept copies of my orders, just in case anything became an issue later in life.)”

“I already knew the dangers of radiation exposure because of my training in EOD. I think that for most of us, we never worried about the invisible dangers of radiation because we were there working and the issues were never really spoken of. I’ve never had any illnesses and the only changes I’ve had in my health over the years is a large number of freckles/moles. I’ve never had any tested and I remain healthy to this day with no history of illness or sickness. I wanted to share my information after reading about all the other veterans I served with who were having health issues. It’s amazing to me that the Atomic Veteran designation is not afforded to these vets. I am currently serving and am due to retire in two years (took a 20 year break) from the Army National Guard.”

“I’d like to let our government and country know that it should acknowledge these men and do the right thing. These veterans were young men who were sent to a place decimated by atomic testing, a place who to this day, the United States provides aid for, yet the veterans who proudly served a duty for our country there are being treated as if they never existed, as if Enewetak never happened.”

"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