Duty, Honor, Country - 84th Engineer Battalion (Heavy) - Enewetak Atoll Marshall Islands - Never Dau
84th Engineer Battalion (Heavy)
The 84th Engineer Battalion traces its roots and the chameleon symbol to 31 March 1930, when it was constituted as the 602nd Camouflage Battalion in the Organized Reserves. The battalion was transferred to the Regular Army on 1 January 1938 at Ft Belvoir, Virginia. Thirty months later, on 1 July 1940, the 602nd was redesignated as the 84th Engineer Battalion (Camouflage) (Army). Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the battalion served as the nucleus for the new engineer camouflage units and adopted the motto "We Conceal." Entering WWII in April 1943, the unit saw action first in Italy, then in Southern France and finally in Central Europe toward the end of the war. During WWII, the Battalion earned the following streamers: Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arn, Southern France (with arrowhead), Rhinelan, D’Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe.
In 1976 the battalion was redesignated the 84th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Heavy). This redesignation diversified the battalion’s mission to construction, combat engineering, and infantry operations. In 1977, the battalion deployed to Enewetak Atoll to initiate the massive cleanup of radioactive contaminated soil and debris left from the nuclear testing in the post WWII period. This project culminated in 1980 with the capping of Cactus Crater on Runit Island with a concrete dome.
The many completed, ongoing, and planned civic action and military construction projects indicate that the soldiers of the 84th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) are following in the proud footsteps of all those who have gone before them.
Veterans of the 1977-1980 Enewetak Atoll Atomic Cleanup Mission are looking for Surviving Army, Navy, Air Force, Government Personnel and Contractors.
The Lojwa Animals (84th Engineer Battalion (Heavy) were tasked with:
Removing all radioactive and non-radioactive debris (equipment, concrete, scrap metal, etc.),
Removing all soil that exceeded 14.8 Bq (400 pCi) of plutonium per gram of soil,
Removing or amending soil between 1.48 and 14.8 Bq (40 and 400 pCi) of plutonium per gram of soil, determined on a case-by-case basis depending on ultimate land-use, and
Disposing and stabilizing all this accumulated radioactive waste into a crater on Runit Island and capping it with a concrete dome.
Approximately 4,000 U.S. servicemen assisted in the cleanup operations, with 6 lives lost in accidents, in what became known as the Enewetak Radiological Support Project (DOE, 1982).
An estimated total of 73,000 cubic meters of surface soil across 6 different islands on Enewetak Atoll was recovered by scapping and deposited in Cactus crater on Runit Island.
Contamination Exposed to: Ion-radiation, cesium-137, plutonium, and other heavy radioactive elements, as well as other fission products
We are but a few of the Survivors of the 1977-1980 Enewetak Atoll Atomic Debris Cleanup Mission in the Marshall Islands.
Our main focus is to help each other with information and moral support during challenging times.
Our secondary focus is to urge Congress to change the current laws and recognize soldiers of the atomic cleanup mission as “veterans who participated in radiation-risk activities during active service.”
Many of the soldiers and civilians and government personnel who participated in the 1977 – 1980 Enewetak Atoll Atomic Cleanup Mission never saw each other after they returned to their ordinary lives after playing their part to make Enewetak Atoll somewhat safer to live upon.
Some of us have kept in touch. Some have lost touch. Some have died. Some of us have reconnected on various websites and social networks such as Facebook.
Quotes from the “Lojwa Animals” – Motto: NEVER DAUNTED
Branch: US Army, MOS: 31M20 Radio Relay/Multi-channel operator, MARS, descrambler, Location: Lojwa, Year: 1978, Quote: “I think it’s time the people hear the truth.” – James Androl
Branch: Army, MOS: 12B, Location: Enewetak, Year: 1978, Quote: “I would like for people to know that the guys who went to Enewetak in the late 70’s are having the same type of problems as the original Atomic Veterans had/are having and we should be given the same recognition and benefits as well.” – Barry Baity
Branch: US Army, MOS: 12B10, Combat Engineer, Location: Lojwa Basecamp, Year: Sep.1978-Feb. 1979, Quote: “I just assumed for all these years that since our government had sent us there to do what we did, then that is must have been safe like they told us…” – Kevin Bartlett
Branch: US Army, MOS: Senior Medic NCOIC (Also a Veteran of Vietnam as well), Location: Lojwa, Marshall Islands, Year: Sep. 1978-April 1979, Quote: “I’m proud to have served my country and would do so again. I just wish they had been up front with us from the beginning…” – Robert Bates
Branch: US Army MOS: 61C10 Transportation Battalion, LARC Mechanic, (Light Amphibious Resupply Cargo), Location: Marshall Islands Year: 1978, Quote: “It seemed we left more contamination than what we really cleaned up…” – Vern Bates
Branch: Army, MOS: 81B, (Combat Draftsman), Location: Enewetak, Year: Multiple Tours, 1977-1979, Quote: “I think the cleanup mission ended up being a huge embarrassment to the government and they’ve just wanted to slip it under the rug.” – Gerard Frank Bolton
Branch: Army, MOS: 64C-Truck Driver, Location: Lojwa, Year: 1978, Quote: “We helped the Micronesians with cleaning up their islands, but turned our backs on the guys doing the work…” – Patrick Booten
Branch: US Army, MOS: 51B, Charlie carpenter, mason, Location: Lojwa Basecamp, Year: 1977, Quote: “Our government needs to know that we are still here and will be for a very long time, continuing the fight for what we feel is right.. ” – Ken Brownell
Branch: Army, MOS: 12B10, Location: Lowja, Year: 1979, Quote: “As bad as I wanted to leave the islands, I wanted to go back almost immediately…” - Craig Cassel
Branch: Army, MOS: 63B/Mechanic, Location: Lojwa, Year: 1979, Quote: “I had no reason to think my own government was going to intentionally put me in harm’s way.” – Mike Chumley
Branch: Army, MOS: 100B (Huey Pilot), Location: Enewetak, Year: 78-79, Quote: “I have buddies I served with that are sick and dying.” – Jimmy Clem
Branch: Army, MOS: 75B-Personal Administrative Specialist, Location: Enewetak, Lowja, Year: 79-80, Quote: “We need to be compensated for the things that we’ve suffered...I think that somebody really needs to go and take a look at that, and stop this madness of denial.” – Ernest Davis
Branch: US Army, MOS: 61B20, Watercraft Operator, Location: Lojwa, Year:1978, Quote: “The enemy was invisible so we didn’t realize what was going on…” – Jeffery Dean
Branch: US Army, A-Co., 84th Engineers, MOS: 62G Quarry Machine, Heavy Equipment Operator, Location: Lojwa Basecamp, Year: 1978, Quote: “We were used. The cost of lives wasn’t worth the efforts to ‘clean’ that place. We didn’t change a thing, except shorten our lives.” – Johnny Dearorff
Branch: Navy, Rating: Boatswains Mate 1st Class, Location: Lowja, Year: 1978-79, Quote: “The government lied, they will always lie, but they need to take care of us so we don’t have to bear the burden from our own pockets” – James Diemer
Branch: Equipment Operator/Transportation, MOS: 64C10/20, Location: Lojwa, Year: 1979, Quote: “As a nation, we take in people from other countries, give them full rides, scholarships, and housing…we have people from our own country who serve in the military and this is all they get? – Aaron Ducote
Branch: US Army, MOS: 61B/LARC 360’s, Location: Lowja, Year: 1978, Quote:“We need advocacy -keep us on top of the rug instead of getting swept underneath it…” – Ken Ebert
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.” – Carl Fleenor
Branch: Army, MOS: 62B Equip Repairman, Location: Lowja, Year: 1978-79, Quote: “We were sent to those islands not knowing what we were getting into. We were told to go, we went and we did what we had to do with-out knowing what the long-term consequences were going to be.” – Michael Foster
Branch: Civilian Contractor, Job: Environmental Engineer with Radioactivity Lab, Location: Marshall Islands, Year: 1978, Quote: “This is not only a story about being abandoned by our government. It’s a piece…and we can paint a picture with all of the pieces.” – Paul Griego
Branch: Army, MOS: 64C10, Location: Lowja, Year: 1978, Quote: “We deserve the respect of a job well done. We don’t want the money so much as the healthcare we were sup-posed to get no matter what the situation we were in. That goes for every veteran there is…not just us.” – Ray Hampton
Branch: Air Force, MOS: Telecomm, Location: Enewetak, Year: 1978-79, Quote:“I’d like to see the VA do something for us now and not wait until it’s a disaster situation…” – Terry Hamrick
Branch: US Army, MOS: 12B10, Location: Lojwa, Year: 1978-79, Quote: “We were naive, young and in our youth. We were warriors without a war, but we still gave our all.” – Steve Harrison
Branch: Army, MOS: 12B10, Location: Runit, Year: 1978, Quote: “We did our job and now we’re fighting a losing battle…” – Matt Hawkins
Branch: US Army, MOS: Communications Specialist (Held initial MOS of 11B, qualified in multiple MOS’s), Location: Lojwa, (305 Days in the Marshall Islands), Quote: “I’m proud to have served my country and would do so again. I just wish they had been up front with us from the beginning…” – John Hodge
Branch: Army, MOS: 12B, Location: Lojwa, Year: 1979, Quote: “Nobody ever questioned me about my health or anything. There was none of that.” – Mike Irwin
Branch: Army, MOS: 62E20, Location: Lojwa, Year: 79-80, Quote: “It was interesting doing what I was doing, nice not having to live in a tight military aspect every day of your life…” – William Keller
Branch: US Army, MOS: 62E, Location: Lojwa, Year: 1977, Quote: “It’s time for our government to step up to the plate and admit what they did to us and everybody involved.” – Paul Laird
Branch: Army, MOS: 62H10, Location: Runit, Glow-By-Nighter, Year: 1977-1978, Quote: “I want the world to know we were there.We must get HR 3870 passed. This is the only thing that will help us.” – Allan Leeman
Branch: Army, MOS: 12B10, Location: Lowja, Year: 1978, Quote: “You can’t send me to live on an island for nine months that people were forcibly relocated off from and is still uninhabited to this very day, and tell me there was nothing to worry about.” – Michael Legge
Branch: US Army, MOS 91B20 Corpsman, Location: Lojwa Basecamp, Marshall Islands, Year: 1977, Quote: “Live today like it’s your last, because it may very well be. The future is now…” – Sam Marler
Branch: US Army, Ret., MOS: 12B Combat Engineer, Location: Enewetak, Medren, Lojwa, other islands as needed, Year: 1978-79 (Two tours), Quote:“There are people dying because we went there and did what we were asked to do…” – Kirk McCann
Branch: Navy, Rating: Weather Technician, Location: Enewetak, Year: 1977, Quote: “We need to recognize what our government has done, what we have forced people to endure and challenge this country to do better for them…” – Pete Moreno
Branch: US Army, MOS: 64C/91B, “Truck driving medic”, Location: Lojwa, Year: 1978-79, Quote: “There is definitely a cover-up. They need to acknowledge us.” – Oliver Morgan
Branch: Army, MOS: 62E10, Location: Lojwa, Year: 1979, Quote: “We did what we were asked to do…” – Brian Mummert
Branch: Navy, Rating: Engineman, Location: Lojwa, Year: 1978, Quote: “They (our government) do things, make the rest of the world do things that they have no business doing.” – Joseph Parrish
Branch: Army, MOS: 51B/Carpenter Masonry Specialist, Location: Enewetak, Year: 1978, Quote: “The Government needs to take care of its veterans instead of turning their back and forgetting like they don’t even exist.” – Thomas Parrish
Branch: Army, MOS: 62B20 Heavy Equipment Mechanic, Location: Lojwa, Year: 1979, Quote: “I think that I’d like the world to know that this gov’t doesn’t care too much for its veterans. We’re all expendable. “ – James Patterson
Branch: US Navy, MOS: EN3, Location: Enjebi, Year: 1977, Quote: “Who was the wizard behind the curtain that made the decision to send us to harm’s way?” – Rick Phillps
Branch: US Army, MOS: 62E Heavy Equipment Operator, Location: Enewetak to Lojwa, Year: 1979, Quote: “I would tell EVERYONE to contact their Congressional members, and keep contacting them, imploring them to change the official definition of Atomic Veterans to include this group who cleaned the Marshall Islands...” – Gary Pulis
Branch: US Army, MOS: 61B10 LARC, Location: Lojwa, Year: 1978, Quote:“We’re always going to need nuclear weapons as a deterrent but it’s just not worth it…” – Patrick Reedy
Branch: Air Force, AFSC: 90750 Environmental Health Specialist, Location: Lowja, Year: 1978, Quote:“I should have paid more attention to the magazine articles I’d read about Enewetak and Paradise Lost. It’s still lost.” – David Roach
Branch: Army, MOS: 12B, Location: Lowja, Year: 1977-78, Quote: “For myself and for all of my brothers, we need to be taken care of.” - Blair E. Rockefeller
Branch: Army, MOS: 12B Rock/Rebar Crew, Location: Enjebi, Year: 1978-79, Quote: “I want the government to say they’re sorry,” – Daniel Rose
Branch: Army, MOS: 61B20 Watercraft Operator, Location: Ft. Story, VA, Year:76-80, Quote: “I don’t under-stand how our country can turn its back on these men who gave everything they had for their country…” – Debi Ruberto
Branch: Air Force (Regular Officer), Specialty: U.S. Air Force Element Commander, Location: Enewetak, Year: 1977-78, Quote:“Freedom has been provided to the American public by our Veterans. Despite this, we who sacrificed during the Cleanup of Enewetak Atoll are considered to be unimportant by those Agencies who sent us! Has our welfare and health been sacrificed in vain?” – Harold Rumzek
Branch: US Army, MOS: 12B10 Combat Engineer, Location: Lojwa Basecamp, Year: 1979, Quote: “We did what we were asked. We’re not asking for anything more, not for anything we didn’t earn.” – Mark Sargent
Branch: Army, Retired, MOS: 62E, Location: Lojwa, Year: 1977-78, Quote:“The facts about Enewetak will remain closed until just about everybody’s dead.” – Jack Showers
Branch: Army, MOS: 12B, Location: Lowja, Year: 1979, Quote: “How can they say that we’re not Atomic Vets? That we were only a cleanup crew? We deserve to be recognized as Atomic Vets and be taken care of.” – Bill Skarupa
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.” – Tim Snider
Branch: Army, MOS: 12B1P Paratrooper, Location: Lowja, Year: 1978-79, Quote: “Men have lost their lives and nobody seems to care. Things need to change and people need to know about us, learn about what we did and why. The problem though, is that the government doesn’t want anybody to know.” – Norman Sova
Branch: Army, MOS: 62N3, Location: Lowja, Year: 1978, Quote: “We did for Uncle Sam what he wanted; now he should take care of the ones who are left.” - Bernard A. Stearos
Branch: US Army, MOS: 11B, Infantryman, Location: Lojwa Basecamp, Year:1978, Quote: “We were trying to save the world for other people but we were the ones getting screwed...” – Carlos Vela
Branch: Army, MOS: 63F, Location: Lojwa, Year: 1978-79, Quote: “Concerned about how Sea level rise is going to affect our great collection of nuclear waste out there. And it would be a tragic waste of us risking our health and time to have that occur” – Skip Weytham
Branch: Air Force, AFSC: APO Postmaster, Location: Enewetak, Year: 1978-79, Quote: “The days after typhoon Alice at Enewetak served as a baseline for the definition of what a bad day could be.” – Allan White
Branch: US Navy, Rating: ABF3, 2 Aviation Fueler/Aircraft Handler, Location: Lojwa, Runit, Cactus Crater, Year:1978, 1979: 3 visits Quote: “When we went, we were just a bunch of young men without a clue. Now we’re old men who’ve had decades to think about the situation we were all put into...” – John Wills
Branch: USAF, AFSC: 60571 Air Passenger Specialist / Backup Cargo Specialist, Location: Enewetak, Year: 1978-79 (Two Tours), Quote:“What an exciting experience for a 20-Yr Old, first time outside the USA. Super assignment, great food, beer, and friends. I miss them all” – Jeff Fortin
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.
