David Bryan Roach
Nickname: —
Employer during Enewetak Atoll Atomic Cleanup Mission: Air Force
Rank: E-2
Job Title: Environmental Health Specialist
Unit: FRST
Enewetak Atoll TDY Tour: 8/17/1978 – 11/25/1978
Island Lived on at Enewetak Atoll: Lojwa
Islands Worked on at Enewetak Atoll: Runit
Description of Work Performed: Monitoring of personnel and equipment as it crossed the “Hot Line”. I also had to monitor and tag debris to be removed on the island and in the waters around Runit.
Health Challenges which may be related to Radiation Exposure: Yes
Comments about Health Challenges: My health problems are often labeled as “some type” of autoimmune issues yet to be understood. My daughter also has some of the same type of gynecological problems experienced by the female children of other Atomic Veterans as well as the islanders themselves.
Veterans Administration Health Assistance: Still trying. (5/19/2014)
Experiences with the Veterans Administration: I always get a new reason why I don’t qualify for benefits and/or treatment. I am currently disabled but my LTD Company, The Hartford, stopped my pay on 2-5-2014. So I went back to the VA and told them “OK, I didn’t qualify before because I made too much money now I make ZERO. They said I made too much last year so I still DO NOT QUALIFY!!! (5/19/2014)
Current Residence: Moreno Valley, California
Contributions towards accomplishing Our Current Mission:
- Atomic Cleanup Veteran – David Roach – Article Post at AtomicCleanupVets.com
- Comment on Article Post at AtomicCleanupVets.com
- Atomic Cleanup Veterans – Facebook Page Fan
- Enewetak Atoll Clean-up Project Vets. – Facebook Group Member
- Military & Dependent Environmental Hazard Group – Facebook Group Member
- National Association of Atomic Veterans – Facebook Group Member
Enewetak Atoll Photos:
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I have so many slides of when I was there . I remember when we set up our tents before we built our huts. Remember when the typhoon hit us and we went to Guam for R&R.
Dave and I went through 907 school at Brooks AFB in 77. Great guy!
I was stationed on Lowja from Jun 1978 to Nov 1978, I was a SSGT with USAF. I was at Aomen for about a month, then to Enjebi for a few months, I then rode the Navy craft from Enjebi to Runit hauling the trucks (6 ea) filled with soil and debris for Runit to put into the Cactus Crater there. I pulled duty once a month picking up and placing film badges and dosimeters on the upper islands along with a Navy Seaman who knew how to get there by Whaler and back. I pulled the duty of taking a University of Hawaii group to a Northern Island and researching the currents that flowed around the Atoll. I pulled a few trips to the area in the middle of the lagoon where we dropped debris into the deepest part of the lagoon, I only done that twice as far as I can recollect, but it was an all day thing. As far as health issues, I’m a type 2 diabetic, high blood pressure, arthritis (in the hands, back and knees), and some eye problems. But the VA is checking this out as being due to Agent Orange exposure while in Thailand, every time I ask about Enewetak, I’m being told that if I come down with cancer I can then apply. But that I can do a package if I think I have a problem due to Radiation exposure. This is now my next course of action, I’ve sent letters and a copy of this package to the Kansas Congress (Congressman Moran, and also Senator Jenkins, along with a copy to the White House for the President). I figured why not I’ve sent this to everyone else. Now I’m thinking I should send one to Morley Safer of 60 Minutes being he done a segment on Enewetak in 1980, maybe he can put this on a new segment and bring the problems up to date. When I get a chance I’ll send in some of the pictures from my time there, I’ve got to get them scanned into the computer, and not being good at that without help, it’s going to take me a little bit.