We are but a few of the Survivors of the 1977-1980 Enewetak Atoll Atomic Debris Cleanup Mission in the Marshall Islands.

Our main focus is to help each other with information and moral support during challenging times of our declining health.

Our secondary focus is to urge Congress to change the current laws and recognize soldiers of the cleanup mission as “veterans who participated in radiation-risk activities during active service.”

I was surprised to find a small package in my post office box earlier this month.

Alan Leeman, a Runit Glow By Nighter, mailed 350 photographs and a couple of documents he asked me to post on our website.

Here is what he wrote in his note:

Girard Bolton,

My name is Alan Leeman and I am a Runit Glow By Nighter.

I was in Eniwetok 84th ENG Company A. I worked on the island of Runit every day for six months. We set up the rock crusher, blasted the reef for rock, set up the decontamination station, built the cement storage, and so on.

I am sending 350 pictures of Lojwa and Runit. I went through the Typoon and had X-mas there.

In my pictures, you will find we were not protected from the radiation. They said half of Runit was safe and the other half was not?

Please use my pictures in any way you like. I am also sending some articles from newspapers.

In June, I fell from a standing fall and broke my hip. I am 56 and this should not of happened. After a lot of testing, I found out that my bones are of an 80 year old man.

Went to VA and they put me on a Radiation Registry and said nothing wrong with me at his time. I say bull!

Please feel free to contact me at any time and thank you for a great website!

Alan Leeman

Thank You Alan Leeman for your contribution to our website and for your military service.

I hope you enjoy these photographs. I know I did. By the way, if you were one of the guys who got an all expense paid by our U.S. Government trip to Enewetak Atoll and think some of the views don’t look the way you remember, you just proved you have a good memory, because some of the photos are flipped.

If you are like me, these photos brought back some memories. Please take a moment to leave your memories in the comments section (below) if you can shed any light about any of those photographs.

Who do you recognize?

What descriptions can you provide on what is happening in any of the photographs?

We urge our supporters to encourage their politicians to create legislation which will include Enewetak Atoll Atomic Cleanup Participants in the U.S. Government’s definition of a veteran “who participated in radiation-risk activities during active service.”

Article written by Girard Frank Bolton, III. 1977-1979 Atomic Debris Cleanup Participant with C Company and HHC S-3 (Operations) of the 84th Engineer Battalion (Combat Heavy) (Fwd) Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands.