Human radiation studies: Remembering the early years. Oral history of John W. Healy, November 28, 1994

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May 1995 Setting: November 28, 1994; Los Alamos, NM Interviewers: Marisa Caputo (DOE Office of Human Radiation Experiments) and Darrell Fisher (Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratory) ORAL HISTORY OF JOHN W. HEALY Conducted on November 28,1994 in Los Alamos, New Mexico by Dr. Darrell Fisher, a health physicist from Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratory, and Marisa Caputo, Oral History Team Leader and Special Assistantfrom the Office John W. Healy was selectedfor the oral history project because of his participa tion in the Green Run, the 1949 intentional radioiodine release at Hanford, Washington. The oral history covers Mr. Healy’s early career at the Du Pont Company, environmental monitoring at Hanford, the Green Run, and the Hanford accidental ruthenium release in the 1950s. Mr. John Healy, more commonly known as Jack, was He graduated as a Chemical Engineer from Pennsylvania State College (now Pennsylvania State University) in May 1942. Mr. Healy first went to work spin ning and testing new fibers for the Pioneering Research Group, Rayon Division, Dn Pont Company in Bnffalo, New York. In the fall of 1944, Mr. Healy began a job in radiation protection at Hanford, Washington. Within several weeks of his arrival at Hanford, Mr. Healy found himself in the Special Studies Group, responsible for creat ing new means o f radiation measurement and environmental monitoring. Mr. Healy remained at Hanford when General Electric acquired the managing and operating contract in 1946. Later positions held by Mr. Healy include the following two: • 1960 to 1968—^Technological Hazards Consultant, General Electric, New York • 1968 to 1985—Staff Member, radiation hazards work, Los Alamos National Labo ratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico. Early Career with Du Pont (1942 to 1944) CAPUTO: Today is November 28,1994. My name is Marisa Caputo. I’m with the Office o f Human Radiation Experiments at the Department o f Energy. With me is Dr. Darreil Fisher, from Battelle, Pacific Northwest Labora tories and Dr. [George] Voelz,' fixim Los Alamos National Laboratory, and we’re interviewing Jack Healy. We’re hoping to discuss Mr. Healy’s work at Hanford and, specifically, the Green Run, and any other intentional releases he might have knowledge about. Could you give us a brief synopsis of your background and how you ended up at Hanford? HEALY: I graduated from Pennsylvania State College—now University—on, I believe. May 9, 1942 as a Chemical Engineer. This odd date was be cause the graduation was accelerated about a month so that graduates could join the new wartime effort. I went to work for the Du Pont Com pany in the Pioneering Research Group o f their Rayon Division in Buf- ' For the transcript of the interview with Dr. Voelz, see DOE/EH-0454, Human Radiation Studies: Remembering the Early Years; Oral History o f Dr. George Voelz, M.D. (May 1995)