Glimmer of Lights: Atomic Veteran Jo Parrish
Atomic Veteran Jo Parrish: A Navy Veteran's Call for Change After the Enewetak Cleanup
Jo Parrish, a Navy veteran, found himself on the remote Enewetak Atoll in 1978 as part of the Atomic Debris Cleanup Mission. He was among the survivors tasked with cleaning up the aftermath of nuclear testing that took place in the Marshall Islands.
Before receiving his orders, Jo knew nothing about Enewetak. He accepted the mission as an engineer, processed in, and got to work. The conditions were brutal—scorching temperatures and minimal safety gear were the norms. Jo's attire typically consisted of shorts, a boonie hat, and only a shirt if it got chilly below 100°F. He and his fellow servicemen worked long hours, six days a week, with little regard for typical military regulations, such as keeping regulation haircuts.
Reflecting on his time post-Vietnam, Jo noted how he eventually served as the chief engineer on an old Navy vessel turned research ship, and he felt things were "pretty good" after that assignment. However, his service in Enewetak came back into focus after stumbling upon a Facebook page dedicated to Enewetak veterans. It was there he learned about the severe health issues affecting those who served in the cleanup effort, prompting Jo to reconsider the potential impact his time on the island might have had on his health.
Jo had always been aware of family health problems, especially as some of his relatives had been to Ground Zero in Japan, and his kids and grandkids experienced medical issues from an early age. He reflected on the blowing sand, asbestos, and other hazards on Enewetak, questioning whether these elements contributed to health problems for him and others.
Despite all this, Jo remained grateful for his relatively good health, especially compared to the struggles of many other veterans. However, his dissatisfaction with the government was palpable. He believed in the need for a complete reset of the government, from Washington to the local levels, to properly address the injustices faced by many Americans, especially veterans. He harshly criticized government overreach and inefficiencies.
Jo's message to the nation was clear: America needs a political overhaul, moving away from the entrenched two-party system. His story, like so many other Enewetak veterans, highlights the sacrifices made by those who served and the lingering concerns over the consequences of their service.
In closing, Jo Parrish's narrative is not just one of survival but a call for transformation. He believed in the importance of governmental reform and voiced the frustrations of many veterans who feel their sacrifices have been ignored. His story, like those of his fellow Atomic Cleanup Veterans, reflects a spirit of determination, resilience, and the belief that the nation must do better by those who served.
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