Other Columns by Thomas D. Segel
Thomas D. Segel Bio

Printer-Friendly Version

What Should We Call It... Slow Death By Coverup?
By Thomas D. Segel
September 29, 2003

When the blast erupted, his back was turned away from the explosion. He was crouched down in a trench, his head down between his legs, eyes closed and his hands covering his eyes. The blinding light was so intense, he could see the bones of his hands, as outlines through his transparent flesh. This is how Marine Corporal Theo Bennett describes his initial exposure to an atomic test. "The flash held me in rapt suspense for several seconds, " he says, "then I heard the voice from the loudspeakers tell all personnel to stand and observe the fireball. The fireball, a great reddish, expanding orb of fire came out of the explosion, then a gray pillar of steam, smoke, and dust particles rushed skyward, to form the stalk of the bomb, remaining suspended against the blue sky for several minutes.

The loudspeaker voice next instructed the Marines to prepare to experience the shock wave, which would spread outward from ground zero. It was followed by another shock wave, which returned toward the direction of the blast. Winds from these waves were so fierce; they were almost blown off their feet. Said one Marine, "It was like a freight train going by."

It should be noted these servicemen had been placed in open trenches just 3.97 miles from ground zero. For all tests held previously, military personnel had been 7 miles from the blast. They were in reality, placed in position as test subjects, because nobody knew what would happen once the bomb exploded. Marines and soldiers alike were there were no protective clothing, no gas masks, no dosimeters. no protection at all, except a trench dug in the desert sand.

Military personnel, including Corporal Bennett, were next loaded into open trucks and driven closer to the target center. At one display site they observed the charred remains of various animals that had been staked out to assess their possibility of survival. None remained alive. At the next display site, they viewed the aftermath of what an atomic blast could do to trucks, jeeps, vans and tanks. They were now 900 yards from ground zero and all that could be observed were twisted metal remains. Everything had been tossed along with the force of the explosion, or vaporized on the spot.

The atomic bomb test was called Tumbler-Snapper Shot IV. It became a reality when the explosive devise was dropped from a bomb bay of a B45 aircraft flying at 23,050 feet over Nevada. It detonated at 0930 Pacific Daylight Savings Time at a height of 1,040 feet above Area #7, Target 3 of Yucca Flat, and Nevada on May 1, 1952. This fiery blast was only the opening act for a scenario of health problems, which would follow Theo Bennett though his life.

One month after the atomic test, Bennett was sent to the hospital with a raging temperature of 105 degrees and showing difficulty breathing. November of 1954 he was found to be 100% sterile and unable to father children. In March 1955 he developed a bloodstream infection and a severe case of boils. June 1957, he was disabled with Pneumonia for three weeks. Minor problems continued until May 1971 when he was diagnosed with Hypoglycemia. By 1977 he had developed a leukemia type ailment, a low-grade fever, swollen glands and suffered a 30-pound weight loss. He was treated with bed rest and immune system therapy. He was also treated for toxic pneumonitis and his lungs were found to be cloudy like those of a heavy smoker, even though he had not smoked. The respiratory difficulties have continued throughout the years, with shortness of breath, cough and chest pain. The only event in his life Theo Bennett can mark which could have bought on these unusual ailments was that atomic blast in the Nevada desert.

According to the National Association of Atomic Veterans (NAAV), 225,000 United States service personnel were ordered to participate in the atomic testing program between 1945 and 1962. It is true there were those who volunteered to be part of the program. It is also true many were there because they had been drafted into service by the government. Refusal to participate could have resulted in court martial, dishonorable discharge, charges of mutiny, treason, prison or even execution.

No protection of any kind was provided for these human subjects and when problems started to develop, our government did everything possible to cover-up its failed programs. The Atomic Energy Commission in collusion with the Departments of Defense and Energy and the Nuclear Power Industry has constantly lied to the former test participants, claims the NAAV. These agencies, according to the veterans group, have initiated an elaborate cover-up to convince the public that there was no danger from radiation. The cover-up continues today

As part of this fraud, the government has developed what it calls "reconstructed radiation dosage levels". The idea itself is ridiculous because there were no radiation measurements taken at the tests to "reconstruct". Added to this, the so-called "reconstructions" were made purposely low as a device to deny claims of veterans and widows.

Twenty years ago the New York Times had an important piece of investigative journalism that supported the cover-up claims of atomic veterans. The newspaper concluded there was no longer any doubt that radiation dosages during the tests were much higher than those which were "reconstructed" and used by the VA and DoD to deny legitimate claims.

Today, many of those test victim veterans have died. Thousands are sick and all they have asked is that the United States of America take care of them as it promised. For Theo Bennett and most of his fellow comrades-in-arms, there has been no resolution to the matter in more than 50 years.