Voices from Ground Zero: Recollections and Feelings of Nuclear Test VeteransFrom the first test firing of an atomic bomb on July 16, 1945 until the adoption of the Limited Test Ban Treaty in 1963, there were 235 acknowledged atmospheric detonations of nuclear devices by the United States government. Having been eye witnesses to the awesome nature of these weapons, these quarter million American military personnel constitute a unique population. Many of these men have experienced illnesses which they attribute to radiation exposure; a number have offspring with congenital defects; others are sterile. Most seem to recognize that military service is a hazardous occupation that entails risks. Still, the feeling prevails that safety measures were inadequate and many identify themselves as 'human guinea pigs'. Their resentment, however, is not directed toward the military. They tend to blame their problems on the policymakers, the Congress and, in particular, on the Veterans Administration. This book, based on interviews and questionnaires, examines and analyzes the recollections of the American military personnel involved in these tests and the effect on their lives. |
Contents
INCOMPETENCE OR DESIGN? | 1 |
I DIDNT THINK MY GOVERNMENT | 11 |
OFFICIALLY THERE WERE | 31 |
Copyright | |
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3-Neutral Agent Orange American armed forces Association of Atomic atmospheric nuclear atomic bomb Atomic Veterans attitudes and opinions ATTNUKE Bikini cancer civilians claims confidence Defense Nuclear Agency EDUC effects of radiation Eniwetok exposed exposure to radiation felt film badges health problems Hibakusha Hiroshima Hiroshima and Nagasaki inadequate included index with potential indicate interaction interview involved Japanese cities large number Lincoln Grahlfs matrix below shows McKinley MILEXP military experience military personnel military policies military service MULT NAAV Nagasaki National Association Nevada NONMIL nuclear arms nuclear test experience nuclear weapons tests Operation Crossroads Operation Desert Storm participation in nuclear patriotism Peace positive POSMILIT question questionnaire radiation exposure radiation hazards radiation survivors radioactivity regarding responses reunion safety measures sample SEC/UNS SEC/UNSAFE secrecy shows the correlations Strongly survivors organizations task force test veterans testing of nuclear TOTAL United variables vessel Vietnam World War II Y-INTERCEPT