Document text
Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.
Page 1
PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY ACTIVE DUTY REPORT 07w On April 15, 1957 by Paraonnal O-dar Mo. 77 I wac calltd to actlva duty affactlva May 7, 1957* Tha active duty date waa later changed to May 1, 1957 ty Pereonnel Order Mo. 90. Ao of May 1, 1957 alao I waa reappointed Senior Sclentlat (R) and ay prevloua appointment aa Sclentlat (R) waa terminated. On May 2, 1957 1 reported to BSS, OSES, Rad. Hlth. Acta., HZW Region VII, Dallaa, Texaa. 1 waa ordered to the Nevada Teat Site for dutlea aa an Off-Site Monitor In connection with the atomic boat teats which were to start aoon. 1 left at once by privately owned automobile and reported to the Officer in Charge, U.S.f.X.S. OffSite Activities, Lee Vegac Office, May 5- On tha next day I waa taken to Camp Mercury and recalved a final briefing on my duties. On Hey 7 I left Cemp Mercury in a government car for Baretow, California, where I had been assigned aa an Off-Site Monitor. My zone comprised an arc about one hundred ailee from the Nevada Teat Site, including Chine Lake and Trona to tha north^ Mojave to the seat, and Silver Lake, Mountain Paaa, and Xeeex to the west. The area did not extend south of Barstow. Because of the large area to be covered we kept to the well-traveled roads, of which there were approximately 450 allea. My co-worker wee Mr. Oerhardt C. Hass, who proved to be an agreeabla, cooperative, and laaginatlva companion. During our tour of duty together we traveled approximately 0500 miles. Although we were stationed in Baretow we went often to China Lake, Trona, Mojave, Baker, Essex, Lae Vegas, and the Teat Site In Nevada. On March jO I had requested that 1 be relieved aa an Off-Site Monitor no later than June 17. On June 16 I waa asked to report to the Nevada Test Site where I was relieved of duty with the off-elte activities group of the U.S.P.H.S. I left Lae Vegas next day by private automobile and reported on June 21 at Region VII headquarterg Upon being deactivated I left for Stillwater, Oklahoma, arriving on NATURE OP DUTIES Ac an Off-Bite Monitor In the Baretow zone my dutlea were about equally divided between two fcreaai (l) monitoring for radioactive fall-out and (2) public relations. PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY
Page 2
PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY ACTIVE DUTY REPORT 07w On April 15, 1957 by Paraonnal O-dar Mo. 77 I wac calltd to actlva duty affactlva May 7, 1957* Tha active duty data waa later changed to May 1, 1957 ty Pereonnel Order Mo. 90. Ao of May 1, 1957 alao I waa reappointed Senior Sclentlat (R) and ay prevloua appointment aa Sclentlat (R) waa terminated. On May 2, 1957 1 reported to BSS, OSES, Rad. Hlth. Acta., HZW Region VII, Dallaa, Texaa. 1 waa ordered to tha Nevada Teat Site for dutlea as an Off-Site Monitor In connection with the atomic bomb testa which were to atert aoon. 1 laft at once by privately owned automobile and reported to the Officer In Charge, U.S.P.H.S. OffSite Activities, Lee Vegac Office, May 5- On tha next day I waa taken to Camp Mercury and recalved a final briefing on my dutlea. On Hey 7 I left Camp Mercury In a government car for Baretow, California, where I had been assigned aa an Off-Site Monitor. My zone comprleed an arc about one hundred allea from the Nevada Teat Site, including Chine Lake and Trona to tha north^ Mojave to the seat, and Silver Lake, Mountain Paaa, and leeex to the west. The area did not extend south of Baretow. Because of the large area to be covered we kept to the well-traveled roads, of which there were approximately *50 miles. My co-worker wee Mr. Oerhardt C. Hats, who proved to be an agreeabla, cooperative, and laaginatlva companion. During our tour of duty together we traveled approximately 0500 miles. Although we were stationed in Baretow we went often to China Lake, Trona, Mojave, Baker, Essex, Lae Vegas, and the Teat Site In Nevada. On March jO I had requested that 1 be relieved aa an Off-Site Monitor no later than June 17. On June 16 I waa asked to report to the Nevada Test Site where I was relieved of duty with the off-elte activities group of the U.S.P.H.S. I laft Lae Vegas next day by private automobile and reported on June 21 at Region VII headquarterg Upon being deactivated I left for Stillwater, Oklahoma, arriving on NATURE OP DUTIES Ac an Off-Site Monitor In the Baretow zone my dutlea were about equally divided between two fcreaai (l) monitoring for radioactive fall-out and (2) public relations. PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY
Page 3
PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED Monitoring for radioactive fall-out. Several methods Mere available t© ue for checking radioactive fall-outi and we used all of them. We Mere furnished three meterst two Qelger counters ajnd one ionisation meter. Theee were alMaye carried In the car Mlth us, and background aeaeurtxnents Mere made and recorded before the first shot of the serlep occurredi These instruments were used for personnel monitoring in en Incident to be reported later. (b) High volume air sampler. One instrument mss placed in a filling station in BaretoMj it Mas operated for eight hours before anu three daye after an atomic blaat- The filter was changed periodically anu aent to Camp Meroury for evaluation of the duet Only one of these Mas used in our area. A sticky resin Mae placed on an aluminum sheet approximately 8 in. r 10 in- and this exposed to the air after a shot. The tray Me. sprayed to reduce ita stickiness end then sent to Camp Mercury for evaluation. These badges, somewhat similar to a dental X-ray pack, were distributed throughout our cone. One hundred and fifty of theee Mere pieced on pereonnel, school buildings, and stakes along the highway. Mo part of the sons was more than seven miles from • badge. Badges were placed inslue and outside of almost every school in the rone. These badges were exchanged at the end of a month for new ones, and the old ones were eent to Camp Mercury for Theee were worn only by the monitors. They were useful only in cases of very heevy fall-out. Although we were prepared to detect and measure any radioactive fell-out which might enter the Barstow pone, none arrived from the three shots which were fired during ny tour of duty. On PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY
Page 4
PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED om ocoaelon however, radioactivity was brought into our cone by a aan and hi a wife. Keying, California, graveled by car through yuincy, caiiiorrua and Reno. Nevada, during the day of tha flrat shot of tha aarlas. It Is krjown that these areas received mesBurabla but not dangerous amounts of radioactive fall-out. This couple proceeded to a spot near Barstow where they planned to do sons assay work on their uranium olaims. When they found their Qelger counter registering s high count they beeame alarmed and reported to tha Barstow police. We talked with the couple after they had ehowered and changed their clothes and washed their car. We found that tha total amount of radiation to which they had been subjected was considerably below an amount which would be hazardous. Fart of our duties was to lat the people of our zone know that we were nearby ana could be contacted on matters concerning radioactive fall-out. We called on editors and correspondents for papers In our zone and managers of radio stations. We received in almost avery case courteous attention to our story and full cooperation in getting it to the people. We made a habit of dropping in for a chat once a week or so with these people, often taking e news release from the Office of Test Information of the Nevada Teat Organisation. Aa a result we had very favorable publicity for the teat series in our zone. We distributed in our zone about 7,000 booklets concerning the test series in Nevada. These were aent home through the school children, particularly those in the first three gradea. These booklets were well done and helped to get our story to the people. Films were also very useful, particularly the one on "Atomic Tests in Nevada". Films on radioactivity sere shown In elementary, Junior high, and senior high schools, Service clubs were pleased to have us show a film and give a talk concerning our work. We also made a lb-minute recording for a radio broadcast. Usually we asked people prominent In the community to wear film badges fpr the duration of the teat series. This gave us a chance to tell our story to mayors, poet masters, teachers, librarians, etc. who in turn could tell it over again every tlsw some one asked about the film badge. The most important aspect of these activities to me was the training & acquired in civil defense. Thla type of duty afforde the only chance to get experience in measuring and evaluating radioactive PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY
Page 5
PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY f£ll-out «hort of an actual atonic blaat from an anany. It cava dm a ohanoa to put Into practloa Idaaa of civilian protaction acalnat tha dangara of nodarn warfara. It gava dm alao tha opportunity to contact paople in a situation quits dlffarent froai that of ny usual occupation. I hslltvs that in caaa of a national smsrgsncy I would be more capable and cartalnly more confidant in carrying out ny assigned duties. It was a real pleasure and prlvlledge to be associated with Mr. 0. ft. Placak, Officer in Charge of U.S.P.H.S- Activities, hla aaslatant Me 1 Carter, and the other fine people of the staff at tha Nevada Teat Site. PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY
Page 6
PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY * PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY
Page 7
PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED Monitoring for radioactive fall-out. Several methods Mere available t© ue for checking radioactive fall-outi and we used all of them. We Mere furnished three meterst two Qelger counters ajnd one ionisation meter. Theee were alMaye carried In the car Mlth us, and background aeaeurtxnents Mere made and recorded before the first shot of ths serlsp occurredi These instruments were used for personnel monitoring in sn Incident to be reported later. (b) High volume air sampler. One instrument mss placed in a filling station in Barsto«} it Mas operated for eight hours before anu three days after an atomic blast- The filter was changed periodically anu aent to Camp Meroury for evaluation of tha duat Only one of these Mas used In our area. A sticky resin Mae placed on an aluminum sheet approximately 8 In. r 10 In- and this exposed to the air after a shot. The tray ms- sprayed to reduce ita stickiness and then sent to Camp Mercury for evaluation. These badges, somewhat similar to a dental X-ray pack, were distributed throughout our cone. One hundred and fifty of theee Mere placed on pereonnel, school buildings, and stakes along the highway. Mo part of the sons was more than seven ml las froai a badge. Badges were placed Inslue and outside of almost avery school in the sone. These badges were exchanged at the end of a month for new ones, and the old ones were eent to Camp Mercury for These were worn only by the monitors. They were useful only In cases of very heavy fall-out. Although we were prepared to detect and meaeure any radioactive fall-out which might enter the Baretow sons, none arrived from the three shots which were fired during ay tour of duty. On PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY
Page 8
PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED om ocoaelon however, radioactivity was brought into our cone by a aan and hia wife. Keying, California, graveled by car through yuincy, caiiiorrua and Reno. Nevada, during the day of tha flrat shot of tha aarlas. It la known that these areas received measurable but not dangerous amounts of radioactive fall-out. This couple proceeded to a spot near Barstow where they planned to do sons assay work on their uranium olaima. Whan they found their Qelger counter registering a high count they beeame alarmed and reported to tha Barstow police. We talked with the couple after they had ehowered and changed their clothes and washed their car. We found that ths total amount of radiation to which they had been subjected wae considerably below an amount which would be hazardous. Fart of our duties was to let the people of our zone know that we were nearby ana could be oontected on matters concerning radioactive fall-out. We called on editors and correspondents for papers in our zone and managers of radio stations. We received in almost avery case courteous attention to our story and full cooperation in gsttlng it to the people. We made a habit of dropping in for a chat once a weak or ao with these people, often taking e news release from the Office of Teat Information of the Nevada Teat Organisation. Aa a result we had very favorable publicity for the teat earlea in our zone. We distributed in our zona about 7,000 booklets concerning the test series in Nevada. These were sent home through the school children, particularly those in tha first three gredee. These booklets ware well done and helped to get our story to the people. Films were alao very useful, particularly the one on "Atomic Tests in Nevada". Films on radioactivity were shown In elementary, Junior high, and senior high schools, Service clubs were pleased to have us show a film and give a talk concerning our work. We alao made a lb-minute recording for a radio broadcast. Usually we aaked people prominent in the community to wear film badges fpr the ouration of tha teat aeries. This gave ua a chance to tell our story to mayors, post masters, teachers, librarians, etc. who in turn could tell it over again every time some one asked about the film badge. The most important aspect of these activities to me waa the training & atMji&red in civil defense. Thla type of duty afforde the only chance to get experience in measuring and evaluating radioactive PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY
Page 9
PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY f£ll-out «hort of an actual atonic blaat from an anany. It cava dm a ohanoa to put Into practloa Idaaa of civilian protaction acalnat tha dangara of nodarn warfara. It gava dm alao tha opportunity to contact paople in a situation quite dlffarent froai that of ny usual occupation. I believe that in caaa of a national emergency I would be nore capable and cqrtalnly more confident in carrying out my assigned dutlea. It was a …
The text continues in the original scan (10 pages).