DeWitt C Johnson ETR 2, ’62–‘65

US Atomic Veterans

I was aboard USS Taylor (DD 468) on 9 July 1962. It was a night that I will never forget. After several aborted attempts, the rocket was again scheduled to take off. Of course we all wanted it to be successful, because then we could return to our homeport of Pearl Harbor. It was a typical calm and very clear night. Anyone who was not on watch was allowed to watch it, but we had to follow some instructions.

I was with a group on the starboard side of the 01 deck, and we were to turn away from the bomb, close our eyes, and pull our eyes into the crook of our arms as tight as we could. When the bomb went off we were not to turn around or move until the all clear was given. Some folks on the bridge that had dark glasses would be allowed to look after 20 seconds, and the all clear for everyone else was scheduled for 30 seconds after the blast.

The fantail of the ship was rigged with some antennae equipment used by a small group of civilians on board. We watched the rocket (or at least the tail) as it headed into the sky, and then when ordered we turned away, and just like the movies, we listened to a countdown broadcast over the 1mc.

When it reached “zero” I saw the bones in my arm. When I turned around, it was just like broad daylight at 11pm at night. As time went on, this huge bright ball just grew larger and larger, (and dimmer too). I came out whenever I got a chance, (I must have gone on watch at midnight – the crew was pretty much standing port and starboard watches I remember).

Before dawn the sky was just a reddish tinge but the tinges had fingers that reached out over the horizon, on both sides. I was told that part of the test was to see how the magnetic lines of the earth would affect radiation dissemination. I have had a couple of melanoma skin cancers removed from my upper back in the past several years. I have never been one to “sunbathe” but the military doctors who I have dealt with say that is the most likely reason for getting melanoma.

In my recollection of 9 July 1962, I forgot to include that after one of the aborts, the USS Taylor (DD 468), got to come in and drop anchor, and a group of us got to come ashore for a beer ball game on Johnston Island. It was a nice break from the routine of the ship, but had an unusual occurrence (to me) during the game. We had to all go hide behind the grandstands and they brought out this little missile (maybe 6 ft tall, and skinny) and set it up in the outfield. Had a countdown on the island speakers, and – poof, it was gone. They said it was a little rocket to check weather.