Larry E. Shambaugh, EM2

USS Taylor DD/DDE 468 (‘60-‘64)

I have been trying to do some research on the USS Taylor’s involvement in Dominic I.

I have copies of the Deck Log that records the Starfish Prime Shot at 2300hr on the 8th of July. I also have the Deck Logs during Blue Gill Prime on the 25th of July. No mention of Blue Gill Prime which was blown up on the launch pad.

But…. on Thursday July 26, 1962, the log states at: “1711hr Anchored Johnston Island in 7 1/2 fathoms of water, sand and coral bottom, with 60 fathoms of chain to starboard anchor, on the following bearing: Control tower 315, Loran tower 350, Distant to ALEA 4200 yds. Ships present: USNS RANGE TRACKER, USS POLK COUNTY, and this ship. SOFA is CTU 8.3.6 in RANGE TRACKER. 1720 stopped all engines. 1726 secured the Special Sea and Anchor Detail, set the in-port watch and anchor watch.
Signed R.E PEDIGO, LT, USN”

Whether the fresh water evaporator and fire and flushing pumps were secured to prevent radiation from being taken into the Ships’ systems I have found no records. But we were anchored at Johnston Island 24 hours after Blue Gill Prime was destroyed on the launch pad.

Sometime after StarFish Prime we had a picnic above decks. I have no date for it yet. We also played ball on Johnston Island after StarFish on June 8, which was 10 miles high when it was destroyed. Rocket parts rained down on the Johnston Island as per one report that I read. I have memories of being on watch on the #1 Switchboard and having the ship go into a “WASH SHIP DOWN” exercise. I have not been able to prove that yet.

I had a Petty Officer tell me while I was amidships on the starboard side a few days after StarFish Prime that I had received 3.1R’s.

The OPERATION DOMINIC I, Report of DOD Participation 1962 on page 240 reports radiation as high as 25,000 CPM on the launch pad.

Other reports say that the Island was decontaminated by removing 2 inches of top soil and dumping it into the lagoon.

I got an email from Tom Madison, BT3, in 2004 that he got his claim approved by the VA for colon cancer.

I myself have had thyroid nauduler disease and a compromised immune system.

I suspect a lot of the men aboard the Taylor had afflictions caused by the low level radiation but they will never get a Purple Heart from their service in the “COLD WAR”. That seems to be something the government wants to sweep under the rug instead of giving them credit for what they have been through and done. Some are still suffering from it.

In the Life Magazine July 20, 1962 issue (VoI 53, NO. 3) they give some good pictures of the StarFish Prime shot as seen from Hawaii.

This is not in format for publication but it gives you an idea as to what happened in 1962.

Larry E. Shambaugh EM2 USS Taylor DDE-DD-468 (60-64)