18 July, 1946
William Day minus one
Dearest Ones,
This will be only a short note while I wait for chow. For the past two days I have been working with Dr. Dessauer helping Mr. Rovina put films aboard the target ships for measurement of the various types of radiation. We have been aboard several transports, several submarines, the battleship Arkansas, the Jap battleship Nagato, and the Saratoga. The bets are that both the Arkansas and the Saratoga will be sunk since the bomb is to be exploded between them.
Today is the day before rehearsal day (William Day minus one). The bomb is to be exploded on Baker Day. Today I have arranged to go with a landing party. We leave the Haven, sleep aboard the Henrico and tomorrow go out in small boats, LCPL's. Following the explosion of the bomb it is the duty of this group to land as soon as the radioactivity permits on Enyu island. That is the reason for my choosing this group. Enyu island is smaller than Bikini and there have been few people on it. I should be able to find a nicer collection of shells there.
This is a stupendous undertaking -- there are now 60,000 people aboard the ships and on Bikini. Naturally, Bikini has been pretty well picked over so far as shells are concerned. I can't possibly write in a few letters all the things that are going on. We were told last night at a lecture by Col. Warren that Abel Day (the first bomb explosion) was really just a rehearsal for Baker. Much more damage is expected and if so it will be something to see. I have been aboard several ships that were damaged in the first test and I can assure you it was amazing. It is also expected that there will be much more radioactivity in the lagoon water than before.
Anyone here can do just as much or as little as he likes. No one really bothers to check up on you. However, I have been busy every minute. Have met many interesting people. In short I'm enjoying the show.
I miss you, dear. I wish you could have been on the rail with me and enjoy the gorgeous sunsets. The weather is fine. Not hot although, of course the humidity is high. Kiss our little girl for me.
Lots of Love
Carl
Friday Evening -- 9:00
Dearest,
Your welcome note from Kwajalein came today. We had been wondering just where it was you would lose your day. The time you
have consumed in travel, and by plane too, makes me more conscious of the miles between us. Gives me a bit of a queer feeling So
many times the thought has gone through my head -- "Carl will fix that" -- Then I come to with a jerk and realize it will be some little
time before our "Mr. Fix-It" is here.
My last letter to you was returned today -- I forgot the San Francisco! Still up to my old tricks -- Hope you are getting some mail by
now.
Dr. Morgan wrote asking you to calibrate their X-ray machine * this month.
I'll reply for you -- to the effect that you will contact them in September.
The insulation came yesterday by freight -- Cost $10.50 to have it brought out and stacked -- mostly on back porch. ** However some sacks were badly torn and considerable filling spilled. Have verbal
recognition from man at Santa Fe office and his word that they will be made good.
Today sunned and brushed your suits and put them away -- all but the light summer suit which I'll take to cleaners tomorrow -- Also
canned 3 quarts of our tomatoes -- and Alice froze a quart of ice cream for us. ***
Winifred gets sweeter daily -- She is so responsive and so eager to learn. Is beginning to feel satisfaction from accomplishment and
come for aprobation -- when she puts lids on correctly or almost gets her own shoe on. Now gets the paper every nite.
We love you dearly
*Calibrating X-ray machines for doctors and hospitals was one of several sidelines my father pursued in addition to his teaching
career. My earliest memories include waiting for him to return from calibration circuits throughout Kansas and nearby midwestern
states. There was a consistent pattern to these trips -- he arranged the itinerary so as to do the work on his way outward from
Lawrence, and planned a leisurely drive back home. He almost always returned a day earlier than expected, having driven longer
and farther than planned -- in order to get home earlier.
** The back porch was a small area between the kitchen and the outdoors -- enclosed but not insulated. It was little more than a wide
hallway about 8 feet long between the two doors, with two small storage alcoves, each about 10 square feet, to either side.
*** Freezing ice cream at home, in those days, meant mixing up the milk and cream and eggs and sugar and fruit or whatever
flavoring was wanted, and pouring it into a metal cannister which was sunk into a wooden bucket filled with ice. There was a hand
crank that one turned, constantly, which kept a dasher moving inside the cylinder, so that the ice cream froze smoothly. As the ice
cream got colder, it got harder and harder to turn the crank. By the 1950's my father had hooked an electric motor up to the
ice-cream freezer, but as I remember it, the last few minutes still had to be done by hand -- the almost-ready ice-cream was too stiff
for the motor.
Aboard the U.S.S. Haven
My Dear Girls,
One of the most difficult things out here is to keep track of the passage of time. It's easy to know when it's time to get up, and when
it's time to eat, but to know what day it is, is very difficult. I guess I haven't written you since William Day minus one. Yesterday
was William Day + one, so I'll try to catch up.
My regular assignment which I believe I mentioned was with Dr. Dessauer, is concerned with the measurement of X-ray and neutron
intensities by means of various types of films. Consequently we must put packets of films aboard many of the ships of the target
fleet. This is a grand opportunity to see the ships in detail. We have been aboard the Nevada, the Arkansas, the Nagato (Jap
battleship), the Pensacola, the Saratoga and the submarines Skate, Pilotfish, Dentuna and two or three others whose names I've
forgotten just now.
On William Day -1 we went aboard the Henrico (this was a different group I wanted to go with because the photometry group could
not work while the ships were out of the lagoon). We stayed on the Henrico that night and went out in a LCPL -- a big motor boat --
immediately after the explosion of the simulated bomb. During the night all ships not in the target fleet left the lagoon and cruised
around about 15 miles outside the entrance. Since the water outside the lagoon is 12,000 feet to 25,000 feet deep it is impossible to
anchor so they must keep moving. In morning the big ships such as the Henrico came in just far enough to anchor and drop the
LCPLs into the water. Our launch went to Enyu Island and landed. We were there 2 hours with nothing to do but go swimming, or
gather shells * on the beach. I did the latter.
The newspapers have published pictures of the Atoll or maps but just to show you what I'm talking about here is a rough sketch. The
atoll consists of a huge peak extending from the ocean floor almost to the surface like this:
This huge
25,000 feet
ocean floor
Looking at this from above it looks like this:
It was very interesting to land on Enyu because no one lives there now and there are several native huts still standing. Their
construction is very interesting and I'll tell you more about it when I get home. They are of course constructed entirely of palm trees
but surprisingly well constructed. There are palm trees everywhere and the ground is covered with coconuts. There is nothing that
looks like soil -- only broken coral, shells, and sand bound together with fibrous decayed vegetation. Lots of little lizards. Sadly I
must record that along the beach the beauty has been completely destroyed by our so-called higher civilization. The beach and for
many yards back is almost covered with broken boxes, packing cases, beer bottles and cans, brokendown jeeps and all kinds of parts
of planes, boats, gasoline and oil drums. In fact, name anything and you will find it here, rotting. You can imagine what this does to
my frugal nature. And I can assure you that the waste and destruction of material, food and manufactured things isn't confined to the
islands. It is aboard every ship, every small boat in this huge fleet. Now I don't have to wonder whether the newspaper articles are
true. I have seen it. I simply can't help having the feeling constantly of an impending huge disaster awaiting a nation which has so
little regard for the necessities of life. We seem to be riding for a fall.
But if a person can forget what goes on below the surface -- if he just watches the surface it is a grand and tremendous show. There
is no way to stop it and it is an unforgettable experience to see it and be a part of it.
Every day I watch for a letter -- so far I haven't had any but I hope one will come along soon. I'd like to know what all you are doing
and how you are. Tell Alice hello and kiss our little girl. I'll be so glad to get home to you.
Love
* He brought (or mailed) back a box about a cubic foot in size, filled with many different kinds and sizes of seashells.
Sunday 9:00 P.M.
Carl Dear,
Alice has just gone to bed after a day with the Shanahan's at Lone Star Lake. *
Winifred and I went to Sunday school and then home with the Smith's ** for
dinner and the afternoon. Since putting Winifred to bed I've been to the garden to see about cutting a path through the weeds, but
they are nearly shoulder high. Nothing but a scythe can touch them. I'll call K.U. tomorrow and see if I can get help from there. My
colored gal*** was peaved at being postponed and wouldn't come so if I get a
boy I'll try him on the floor waxing job too.
Took a dozen beautiful tomatoes to the Smith's today.
So glad you had such a satisfying stop in Honolulu -- Berry as much fun as ever?
The whole of your trip seems to be all that you could have hoped for. It would have been terrible to have missed it. In a few years I
think it might be possible to induce me to pack a suit case for such a trip.
Sorry you missed the Columbia men -- but maybe you'll make more new acquaintances --
The insulation loss is taken care of -- Santa Fe R.R. payed $2.02 for the loss -- They had weighed the sacks which were minus 45
lbs. total.
How wonderful to think we can look for you home in August! I'll have my ear on the radio on Wednesday -- and relax after I get a
letter mailed after that.
We love you, Dear, and miss you terribly
there is a second page, which appears to have been an afterthought:
Already I've disposed of $50 +++ Paid a $37 grocery bill -- bought Winifred shoes at 4.25. Paid Raymond $3 for yard and purchased
groceries -- ! Have written checks for curtains $44 -- Dr. Baker **** $6, Rug
storage $4 -- Still owe $10 milk bill. Balance now stands at $565.05 -- . Also paid for N.Y. Times.
If you have a chance John Surrey would appreciate a card. He remembered our birthdays again. (You're saved! Winifred has made
away with his address -- )
Dr. Dann will be 50 years old on August 3rd and we have been asked to his birthday party at 7:30 at Oakwood Country Club. I'll
send our regrets and a birthday card on the right date -----
G.
* Lone Star Lake is a man-made lake near Lawrence, which was the place for picnics until the much more recent (and
closer) Clinton Lake was dammed.
** The Smith's were members of my mother's church, and friends from Independence. Mrs. Smith was a bit older than my mother,
but they had known each other for many years.
*** "my colored gal" -- As with my father's references to "Jap" ships, I shudder at this term but record it as written. Neither of them
was actively racist, but I must admit that both suffered from the pervading racism of their time and culture.
****Dr. Baker was my pediatrician. When I was a somewhat older child, she still made house calls.
Aboard the U.S.S. Haven
Dearest,
Today was a very extra special day -- three letters from you. The two you sent c/o Capt. Bed+ arrived with the one you wrote July
16. That means six days from you to me. It is a deeply comforting feeling to get sweet letters from you again. Strange isn't it how
things happen -- it certainly never occurred to me that sometime we would be writing each other 7000 miles apart.
I enjoy so much your telling me about Winifred -- what she does and what she says. Tell her that her da-da still loves her and would
certainly like to give her a big hug + kiss.
It seems such a long time since I left you and it seems longer until I will see you again. It seems pretty well determined now that we
will be coming back aboard the Haven. It is planned that the Haven will sail from here Aug 14. That would get us to S.F. about
Sept. 1. This is all contingent on the outcome of the bomb explosion. If a great mass of the radioactive material of the bomb
remains in the lagoon water it may prevent our getting back into the lagoon for several days. We can't leave for home until the
necessary work is done in the lagoon after the explosion.
I'm glad you are saving the newspaper clippings I don't see any out here except an occasional Honolulu paper. Just don't take
seriously anything you see in the papers.
I had a long talk with Capt. Buettner yesterday after dinner. He told me of the run around the reporters get. You know they are on
the Apalacian. On the way out here for the first test, Admal. Blandy arranged that their ship should call at every island on the way so
that they arrived just the day before Abel. They were put in a boat and taken for a quick trip through the target area, then aboard on
ship. After the explosion they were brought back, taken aboard one ship. They are not allowed below decks at all. They are then
taken for an extended cruise of the islands and will not get back here until the day before Baker. As I said before they aren't allowed
to see much and they certainly get no chance to appraise the real damage. You remember we got the impression the bomb didn't do
much to the ship that wasn't sunk. Well it did. I cannot, however, write anything about it -- that is top secret + no foolin!
Yesterday I went ashore on Bikini. Dr. Hursh and I set out to work the beach around the island for shells. About halfway -- to one
end -- he gave up on account of sun burn -- I continued -- went the entire distance around the south end, then back across the center.
The officers club is in the center and I was just about all in from heat and thirst. I kept picturing three or four glasses of ice water
and a bottle of beer. What a disappointment I was in for. The place was jammed -- I waited half an hour trying to crowd in to the
bar. In the first place there was no water -- and when I finally got to the bar there was no beer. There was gingerale but absolutely
none to be bought. It could be obtained only when mixed half and half with scotch or borboun. I finally got one of the dishwashers
behind the bar to give me two paper cups of water, then I bought a drink half scotch and half gingerale. It was too much for me. I
drank part of it and came back to the boat. There was absolutely nothing else to buy in the officers club -- no candy, no ice cream --
cigarettes * are given away by the package. I'm afraid the place is a total loss as
far as I'm concerned.
Spent the entire day today going aboard battleships of the target fleet. Time now for a lecture from Col. Warren -- time is 19:00.
I'm afraid I'll be more lonely tonight, Dear.
* Neither of my parents ever smoked.
Aboard the U.S.S. Haven
My Dear Sweethearts,
This will be only a short note because I must mail it in a few minutes in order that it will leave the ship before we leave the lagoon.
It may be several days before we get back in and no mail will go in or out in that time. Tomorrow is the big day.
I have had little to do the last few days but we will really have work to do when the films start coming in on Baker day and for
several days thereafter.
I went ashore on Bikini again yesterday just because it was the last liberty party before Baker and the island may be a mess
afterward. Just sat around talking with the crew of the plane which brought us to Kwajelein.
My chief amusement was staying sober and watching most of the rest get royally stewed. Naturally everything had to be consumed
before the test and they certainly tried. I was able to buy pure ginger ale strangely enough and no one knew the difference.
The beach is so picked over I didn't even try to find more shells. I have enough to give every one a few souvenirs and still make a
necklace for Winifred. If one could spend enough time he could find shells to make a beautiful string but I haven't been here long
enough.
It seems so long since I have left you dear. As I stand at the rail at night watching the stars and the sparkling lights of the other ships
I feel only partly here. It seems unreal and I am lonely. I'll be so glad to squeeze you and Winifred in my arms again.
All my love, your
written along the side margin
Give Alice a love for me and tell her to be good to my pet rooster. I'll bring her a pretty shell, if she takes good care of him.
This letter was written in two parts, the first part is dated Baker Day Minus one -- the second part is dated Baker Day Plus one. The
first part is included here... the second part opens the next page of this site -- "After the Bomb."
Aboard the U.S.S. Haven
My Dearest Ones,
A great suspense pervades the ship this morning as we await the event for which such extensive preparations have been made. There
is a great babel of voices over the loud speaker system as testing of circuits proceeds. The Haven is lying to about 10 miles from the
target fleet beyond the reefs of the atoll. We can just make out the outlines of the superstructures of the ships so we should be able
to see the great explosion and the expected huge column of water to be projected into the air.
I hope you are listening to the radio and I do hope the noise background is not so bad as on Abel day. The day has dawned quite clear
with only small bits of clouds.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
letter to be continued After the Bomb
Wednesday 8:00 P.M.
A-Bomb Day
Dearest,
All day you were on my mind. We wondered if you had a special job for today, how much you would see, etc. etc. I'll try to hold
my questions until you get home. We kept the radio on constantly for fear we would miss some comment. The broadcast of the
explosion and the following comments was clear -- we thrilled with you and were both surprised and relieved that the waves were so
small. Hope you will not be away from mailing possibilities long -- A letter would be most welcome.
You have us guessing when and where you lost time -- On Saturday (20th) your letter written on the U.S.S. Haven dated July 15 and
postmarked the 16th arrived. Then Monday (22nd) a letter from Kwajalein dated July 16th and post marked the 17th written on Red
Cross paper came -- Was that a second stop at Kwajalein?
Today the frozen cherries came. Mrs. Shanahan took part of them -- we have 14 pints sealed and ready to go to the basement.
* We made a pie and a cold drink with some. Now I have two quarts of
tomatoes heating to be canned. That makes seven quarts of those. Unless we have some rain though we're not going to get many
more. Perhaps next week we'll tackle a bushel of peaches.
Sunday (last) Alice spent the day at Lone Star lake with the Shanahan's and the Hanna's -- Alice thinks Mrs. S. is terrible to Ellen S.
Poor child -- but she says Dr. S. is swell. They, the Shanahan's plan to go to Colorado when school is out -- to Denver to see Fern --
much to Mrs. Shanahann's displeasure.
Winifred and I went to Sunday School and then home with the Don Smith's for dinner.
Dr. Ward was out last night and gave me $10 for pasture rent.
The Earl Jones's ** are leaving town, he is to have a similar job at Graceland
*** and Julia will teach piano. We have invited them for supper Saturday.
This morning we three went to the library -- no card trouble -- Lawrence residents are given cards -- Winifred gathered the library
force around her and entertained them royally. Had no hesitancy about speaking with enthusiasm in loud tones. She does better and
better with her vocabulary -- is tackling her own name now. Her chief love continues to be her books. Alice found some new just
right ones at the dime store -- we've read them so many times we recite them backwards with ease, but each reading is a new thrill
for Winifred.
We love you, Carl, and will be a happy family when our Daddy gets home.
* At the far end of the basement there was a small room with shelves, where home-canned jars were stored.
** Julia and Earl Jones were also friends from her church, and from Independence.
*** Graceland was (and still is as far as I know) the college sponsored by her church, in Lamoni, Iowa.
The Journey -- how he got from Lawrence, Kansas to Bikini in only 6 days
letter written July 19
Grace
letter written in pen on plain onionskin paper
Bikini
Sunday, July 21, 1946
Water surface
only about 160 feet
above floor of lagoon
lagoon
protrusion may be
a volcanic cone
extinct of course
now
water surface
Enyu entrance
This is the only place where
ships may enter the lagoon
Elsewhere between the islands
the reefs extend almost to the surface.
Carl
letter written July 21
Grace
letter written in pen on plain onionskin paper
July 22, 1946
"Baker Day minus 3"
Love to my girls
Carl
letter written in pen on plain onionskin paper
at Bikini
"Baker Day minus One"
Carl
letter written in pen on plain onionskin paper
at Bikini
30 minutes before How hour
Baker Day minus One
letter written July 24
Grace
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