Human Radiation Research Review

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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY HEADQUARTERS UNI"ED STATES MARINE CORPS MEMORANDLW FOR TWE IlfRXCTOR, OPERATIONS, PLANS, AND POLITICOSubj: EMAN RADIA'TION RESEARCH REVIEW Ref: (a) ATSD (Atomic Energy) memo of 31 Jan 1994, Subj : Locating Records of DoD Human Radiation Experiments Marine C o r p s relative to the Human Radiation Research Review staff on 26 January 1994, two pcssible areas were identified which might have involved paat human 'radiationexperimentation by the Marine Corps. The first of these involved a report that in the 1950's the Marine Corps had placed radioactive material on a Marine to locate and track him from an aircraft. A check with the source of this information, a former Marine now employed at the Marine Corps A i r Station, Cterry Point, NC, revealed an entirely different r3tory. The former Marine indicated that he had been involved with Navy spoaeored NBC training at Kixtland AFB, NM in the 1970's and that radioactive material was placed inside of an anti-exposure suit and an effort made to locate it. This case does not appear to fall under the experimentation umbrella. The second case centered upon identification of the "2nd Marine Corps Provisional Atomic Exercise Brigade". This unit did in fact exist, but w a s involved only in the Nevada Proving Grounds tes-s of the ear-ly1950's which fall under the umbrella of the Nuclear Test Personnel Review (NTPR) program, which i s exempt from the current review effort. In our effo:rt to identify any existing information or recorda related to jossible human radiation experimentation by the Marine Corps, reference (a) was widely distributed to priccipal staff agenciea within Headquarters Marine Corps. With the exception of c,urHi8tOrY and Museums Division, which was coincidentally involved in a review of operational documentation submitted by Marine C o r p s field commands between the 1940's and 1960's, all other staff agenciee provided negative responsea. The History and Mu.seums Division ie continuing to review its documentation whic,hconsiats of over 300 cubic feet of records. Initial indicatior- from the researchers involved in this effort are that the documentation contains information related only t o the NTPR related t.esting and not; other information pertaining human radiation testing. of the material it holds by 23 Pebruary 1994. In the event any This memorandu3 contains a synopsis of actions taken by the a. During a review of records held by CAPT Bryant of your That 1)ivision expects to finish review

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Subj : HUMAN RADIATION RESEARCH REVIEW records are identified which contain information about non-NTPR human radiation matkers, a report to this effect will be submitted in time fix inclusion in the report prescribed by reference (a), due to the Assistant to Secretary of Defense (Atomic Energy) by 28 February 1994. specific radiation-related cases were received at Headquarters Marine Corps and axe being acted. upon. ( 3 ) One case involves a. terminally ill former Marine who participated in Operation Upshot-Knothole in the early 1950'6. In 1979, this individual's participation was verified, and we reverified his participation with the Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA) which now holds the Marine Corps,'NTPR records created betweerr 1978 and 1986. Personal discuss.ionswith interested individuals, including the spouse, were made in an effort to ensure that receipt ofall poss.ible entitlements was being pursued. The spouse, acting in h i s behalf, appeared well informed and to be taking necessary acrions with pe.st providers of medical treatment and the DVA. She was advised that her husband's records were available at Headquarters Marina Corps if needed. who reported through correflpondance to former Secretary of Defense Aspin (with a copy of his correspondence to Senator Xerry of Massachusetts) t5at he was hzving difficulty in establishing correct dates for his participation in the Nevada-based tests in the early 1950'8, aid in establishing service-connection far certain of his present disabilities. His participation was also a matter of record with the DNA, and he is being advised to communicate with thrs DNA concerning resolution of any incorrect dates. Decisions crmcerning the service-connected nature of his disabilities must, of course, be made by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and he isi being advised accordingly. This case, like the first, is exempt because of its NTPR relationship. The colonel's reccrds are also a,vailable at Headquarters Marine Corps if needed. 2. In our etaffing of reference: (a) throughout Headquarters Marine Corps, it was announced that an ALMAR would be released to Marine Corps field. commanders inviting their attention to reference (b), ALNAV 9-94 issued under your sponsorship, and inviting submission of reports i n the event any information related to human radiation experimentation was known to exist. Based upon a reassessment of the likelihood that any of our field information, we have decided that an &MAR is not necessary. To the extent that this type of act:ivity would have taken place it would have been under the auspices of the Naval medical community that supports the Marine Corps, or under direction of higher authority where pertinent documentation would have been created c. Since inceplzion of the review, communications about two 8;2) The aecond case involves a retired Marine colonel

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Subj : RADIATION RESEARCH REVIEW and retained. This likelihood, coupled with the fact that records disposal guLdeliner would have precluded long-term retention of such records by field commanders reinforces a decision not t o issue ar, ALMAR. Issuance of reference (b) served t o alert Marine Corps commanderc of the need to report and ir, the unlikely event any pertinent reciords do exist, this fact could he reported citing t h a - t ALNAV as the basis.