Glimmer of Lights: Atomic Veteran Barry Baity
Glimmer of Lights: Atomic Veteran Barry Baity's Story of Duty, Risk, and the Call for Recognition
Barry Baity's personal narrative offers a deeply moving account of the veterans and contractors who participated in the Enewetak Atoll Atomic Debris Cleanup Mission in the late 1970s. His story shines a light on the trials they faced, the uncertainties they navigated, and the enduring struggle for recognition and support they deserve.
Baity's journey begins with a sense of unfamiliarity and apprehension. He had only heard of the Marshall Islands in passing, particularly Bikini Atoll, famous for its atomic tests. Enewetak Atoll, however, was a mystery to him until he was assigned to the mission. The assurances given to Baity and his fellow servicemen that radiation exposure would be minimal, no more harmful than the sun’s rays, set the tone for what would become a long-standing battle with misinformation and health risks.
Tasked with demolition work on various islands, Baity describes the absence of protective gear, recalling the belief that radiation was only a concern when dealing with plutonium dust. The lack of proper safety measures, combined with explosions from munitions, raised deep concerns about the potential hazards they faced daily. A chilling moment came when an unidentified individual casually informed them about the presence of plutonium—without fully explaining the dangers, leaving Baity and his comrades to grapple with the true risks of their environment.
As time passed, Baity began to experience hearing loss and other health issues, prompting him to seek help from the VA. His wife’s concerns about ionizing radiation led him to investigate the long-term impacts of his service on his health. However, like many veterans, Baity encountered numerous obstacles in obtaining his medical records and service documentation—an ongoing theme in his struggle to secure the benefits and recognition he deserved.
The lack of transparency, the misinformation about radiation exposure, and the challenges in accessing critical records underscore the hardships faced by veterans of the Enewetak Atoll mission. Baity’s account serves as a reminder that these veterans, who were exposed to similar hazards as the original Atomic Veterans, deserve the same level of recognition and support for the health problems they now endure.
Barry Baity’s story is a testament to the resilience and perseverance of those who served in one of the most dangerous cleanup missions in history. His call for justice echoes the voices of many forgotten heroes, reminding us that these veterans deserve acknowledgment, not just for their service, but for the sacrifices they continue to make as a result of their time on Enewetak Atoll.
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