Josh Garner, MSC, USN, Ret

Vietnam Veteran
Atomic Veteran

I have read enough of the stories of other Atomic Veterans to know what they mean when they are trying to deal with the Veterans Administration concerning the exposure to nuclear radiation. I was onboard the USS Taylor (DD 468) and at first I was given an exposure rating of 3.0 Rems (one of the highest given during the detonation I witnessed). I have health problems, but can prove no relation to the exposure I received, but the mere mention of being exposed to nuclear radiation during the testing of weapons, raises eyebrows and disbelief. By the way, the Defense Nuclear Radiation agency sent me updated letter last year claiming I was not exposed to any radiation and that the dosimeters worn during that test were inaccurate and unreadable due to the length of time they sat in some warehouse in Hawaii.

On July 9, 1962, a Thor Rocket carrying a nuclear warhead was launched into space from Johnston Island in the South Pacific Ocean. As a crew member onboard the USS Taylor (DDE 468) operating as part of Joint Task Force 8, I was a witness to this event.

This event, scheduled for an earlier date, was delayed because of weather and technical problems. One such delay, I learned many years later, was due to a malfunctioning Thor Rocket with nuclear warhead that exploded on launch pad. This event named Bluegill Prime was a part of several nuclear detonations in the Fishbowl series.

After numerous false countdowns, the day finally arrived and the crew of the Taylor proceeded to the maindeck to witness this event. Told to shield our eyes and face the main structure of the ship I remember very vividly seeing the bones in my arm as the nuclear warhead exploded some 200 miles above Earth’s atmosphere.

This event occurring at 11pm lit up the skies with a spectacular display seen as far away as Australia. Hawaii, 850 miles North of Johnston Island, was bathed in an eerie glow for six minutes following detonation. Power in some areas was disrupted and radio transmissions were silent for a brief period.

Due to the high altitude of this explosion, there was no mushroom cloud but the sky above us was brighter than the sun. An experience I won’t soon forget.