TV News LIES

Wednesday, Oct 22nd

Last update07:51:54 AM GMT

You are here News Military Veteran: Risks In 1950s Bomb Test 'A Disgrace'

Veteran: Risks In 1950s Bomb Test 'A Disgrace'

E-mail Print PDF

A test disgraceIn 1957, Joel Healy witnessed one of the largest nuclear tests ever conducted on U.S. soil. Healy was in the U.S. Army, stationed in the Nevada desert north of Las Vegas at Camp Desert Rock. He was 17 years old and a private first class at the time.

Healy drove dump trucks, moved materials, and built structures, like houses, that would be destroyed by the explosions so the Army could study the effects of a nuclear blast. He also helped build the towers where many of the bombs were detonated.

At the age of 74, Healy joined his daughter, Kelli Healy Salazar, at StoryCorps in Atlanta to tell her about witnessing the Operation Plumbbob nuclear tests in 1957.

"I thought to myself, if there is a hell on Earth, it's gotta be that," Healy told his daughter. "You felt the shock wave of the thing going off and then the heat. And the biggest one that was set off in the desert when I was there was a 74 kiloton — almost twice the amount what was used in Hiroshima and Nagasaki."

In one of the explosions, Healy says, he could see the bones in his hands.

"The Army had their own film teams out there to show these are our boys whistlin' Dixie going into a nuclear device," Healy says.

More...


Most Recent Related Stories...


Lawmakers slam Ice after US military veterans are arrested, injured

Ice attacks US veteransSome of the most decorated military veterans in Congress say they are outraged after a report...

Highway shuts down as Marines’ show sparks clash with Newsom

Marine show in CAA major southern California highway was shut down for a U.S. Marine Corps demonstration on Oct....

Artillery shell exploded prematurely over California freeway during marines celebration

Artillery shell explodes iver Ca. highwayA live artillery shell exploded prematurely during a marines live-fire demonstration that launched over a southern...

US admiral to retire amid military strikes in Caribbean and tensions with Venezuela

Admirl resignsAmid escalating tensions with Venezuela and US military strikes on suspected drug smugglers in the Caribbean,...
 
America's # 1 Enemy
Tee Shirt
& Help Support TvNewsLIES.org!
TVNL Tee Shirt
 
TVNL TOTE BAG
Conserve our Planet
& Help Support TvNewsLIES.org!
 
Get your 9/11 & Media
Deception Dollars
& Help Support TvNewsLIES.org!
 
The Loaded Deck
The First & the Best!
The Media & Bush Admin Exposed!