Girard Frank Bolton, III.
Nickname: —
Employer during Enewetak Atoll Atomic Cleanup Mission: Army
Rank: E-4 Spec-4
Job Title: 81B20 Combat Draftsman
Unit: S-3 Operations, HHC, 84th Engineer Battalion
1st Enewetak Atoll TDY Tour: 6/15/1977 – 11/8/1977
2nd Enewetak Atoll TDY Tour: 8/15/1978 ~ 5/18/1979
Island Lived on at Enewetak Atoll: Enewetak
Islands Worked on at Enewetak Atoll: Enewetak
Description of Work Performed: Prepared construction documents for Lojwa Base Camp Buildings and Infrastructure. Prepared construction documents for the Atomic Debris Containment Structure known as Cactus Dome on Runit Island. Prepared charts, graphs and critical path method schedules for construction and cleanup operations. Updated the Joint Task Group’s Operations Board after collecting man-hours, equipment-hours and contaminated materials transportation reports from Lojwa and Runit Executive Officers. Scheduled helicopter flights between Enewetak, Lojwa and other islands. Provided mail clerk duties for the 84th Engineer Battalion on Enewetak Island and Lojwa Island.
Health Challenges which may be related to Radiation Exposure: Yes
Comments about Health Challenges: I served 14 months of Enewetak Atoll TDY Service from 1977-1979 before my ETS in 1980. In 1979, Enewetak Atoll’s Dr Means wanted me to have an operation to remove calcium buildup I developed at Enewetak Atoll but I refused the neck operation. My dentist in 1981 claimed my teeth suffered from a lack of calcium, even though I drank milk on a daily basis. Diagnosed with three Ulcers and Rheumatoid Arthritis within four years of leaving Enewetak Atoll. In the 1990’s my leg and foot cramps were diagnosed as Fibromyalgia and was told I have Degenerative Disc Disease. I developed High Blood Pressure, Neuropathy, an Enlarged Prostate and Diverticular Disease in the early 2000’s. I had Hemorrhoids removed in 2013. I recently selected a new doctor to determine exactly what my current health issues are and am looking forward to resolving those health challenges. She already has me scheduled for lab tests and appointments with a Neurologist and an Gastroenterologist. Many of the dates and timeframes are educated guesses. I will update this information soon after receiving a copy of my medical records. (2/15/2015)
Veterans Administration Health Assistance: No assistance currently requested.
Experiences with the Veterans Administration: None
Current Residence: Mobile, Alabama
Contributions towards accomplishing Our Current Mission:
- AtomicCleanupVets.com – Website Owner Administrator
- Atomic Cleanup Veterans – Facebook Fan Page Administrator
- ColdWarSurvivors.org – Website Owner Administrator
- Enewetak Atoll Clean-up Project Vets. – Facebook Group Administrator
- Military & Dependent Environmental Hazard Group – Facebook Group Member
- National Association of Atomic Veterans – Facebook Group Administrator
Enewetak Atoll Photos:
Our main focus is to help each other with information and moral support during challenging times.
Our secondary focus is to urge Congress to change the current laws and recognize soldiers of the atomic cleanup mission as “veterans who participated in radiation-risk activities during active service.”
Do you know Girard Frank Bolton, III.? Do you know an Atomic Cleanup Veteran? Are you an Atomic Cleanup Veteran? Are you willing to help us accomplish our mission? Share your comments below!
Dear Sirs:
I was stationed on Enewetak (Eniwetok) from August 1964 thru November 1964. I’ve filled a claim with the VA for prostate and skin cancer related to radiation exposure while on Enewetak. I need the radiation levels measured for the time period mentioned above. Do you know where I can find this information?
Thank you,
Gary Craig
Chugiak, Alaska
Thank you for your service Gary Craig. The NAAV should be able to help you at http://naav.com/
I was the in tech supply Aco then Sp5 Curtis watley,remember Sullivan. Served Nov 1977 for 179 days on Enewetok Atoll at the Swamp. Found 50 cal machine gun, evacuated to guam during typhoon,
I did atomic cleanup in 1979 on Lojwa, working on Runit. I am very interested in being added to your roster. Please email me directly at berrigandonald@yahoo.com . Don Berrigan
Please add your info on the form near the bottom of the page at https://www.atomiccleanupvets.com/roster-of-known-survivors/
Just got done talking with the Wild Irishman Richard Doherty a class act who has been fighting for years, and it was and is a honor to make contact with him after 40 plus years, hell it brought tears to my eyes, truely a class act, we will be talking a lot I hope for the next 40 years the gods willing, keep fighting my Brother I am with you!
IF YOU WERE STATIONED AT SCHOFIELD THE DRINKING WATER WAS CONTAMINATED. WILL CAUSE NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS, DIABETES. THE LIST GOES ON. GOOGLE CONTAMINATED DRINKING WATER SCHOFIELD BARRACKS. OPEN A DISABILITY CLAIM. DON’T LET THE ARMY GET AWAY WITH IT. FTA AND THE HORSE THEY RODE IN ON.do you guys remember THEM busting your balls saying we did not ask you to join I DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gents, I am currently active duty Army and watched a documentary on the testing and clean up of the area. It was disgusting to say the least. In a recent class i had to write a persuasive essay on a military related topic and i chose to do mine on the testing in the Marshal Islands. I would like to share that essay with your community. As an American and fellow service member I feel it is our duty to uphold the honorable service of our lost ones who served before us. Not to mention the folks who were put into harms way without them even knowing. Please email me directly: 1337kasadar@gmail.com and i will share my essay with your community. As i have counted 37 men ultimately paid the price for the testing and clean up that went on during that time. Their families deserve to have them remembered even if it is in a small way. Thanks for the read and the time.
I could use your/others feedback. I follow this site as a fellow survivor of two tours of 5 months each working as a mechanic on Runit, living on Lojwa. Like everybody else I lived under the threat of health issues ever since, I chose not to have children because of this. Unlike everybody else, I’ve suffered no documented ill effects over the years, I did have a tripple bypass but I have to admit that is most likely due to my lifestyle choices. When I hear one you list what you’ve gone through, I feel a touch guilty about my “luck” so far. My question should be obvious, if i were to speak up, I could be pointed to as the exception to the rule that all of the survivors were affected. I stay silent so that cannot happen. I noticed that on page 66 no mechanics were mentioned living and working on Runit & Lojwa. A little directions from the group would be useful.
I was there long before you. I was in the Marine Corps and we conducted a radiological survey. We took 2 CH-53s from HMH-462 from Futema, Okinawa and flew many hours over Eniwetok in 1972 before you were ever thought of. It was a survey mission with the AEC,
I was in the Navy before the Army. I went in the Navy in1973-1976. Then got out and couldn’t get a good job (except shit work). So after about 5 months I joined the Army. 1976-1980. I never knew anyone with the name Arland beside my Dad.
My father was airborne in WWII. Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia corridor. Country folk. I was named after him. Born in 1949. He hit France, moved to Patton and kept going. Battle of the Bulge, etc.I enlisted in the Marines 69-79.
How can I get one of those patches?
I served on the USCG Cutter KUKUI in 1962. Our job was to sail the South Pacific Philippine Island that had LORAN stations destroyed. Our job was to bring such supplies and aid in the rebuilding of these stations. Enewetak was one of the islands we visited. This could have been the primary cleanup of the island& maybe radioactive testing. It was around the time the US HAD PUT THE BLOCKADE AROUND CUBA. All hands from the Capt. on down left the ship
and worked on the island of Enewetak. . I remember it being very dark & dismal while digging brown sand & dirt along with other crew members. To have fun shipmates played in and threw sand at each other. At that time the rumor was Atomic Bomb testing had been done on the island. We were never informed of possible health hazards.
Today I’m a surviver of 2 bouts of Lymphoma while being treated with a third in my neck for the past few yrs. In 2013 after many yrs. of being treated for Heart disease I had 2 arteries replaced in my heart. GOD has looked after me to allow me to live through these and many other diseases.
Girard Frank Bolton-did you ever come to Lojwa and Sally to take photographs and and make movies of the operations? You look familiar.
I took a lot of personal photos, but no movies. You may remember me delivering mail to Lojwa. I worked in S3 Operations as a Draftsman during both my tours. Inbetween my tours, I worked in the 84th’s mailroom at K Quad at Schofield and drove a red 64-1/2 Mustang.
I sent a copy of my VA paperwork (putting in a claim for agent orange, and also paperwork on Enewetak along with copies of articles on the Atomic Veteran website, and pictures) to Kansas Senator Moran and Jenkins. I received a phone call from Senator Moran’s assistant on Friday 20 Mar 2015. She said he was impressed with this paperwork and didn’t know the extent of the problems in Enewetak. He has read the package from front to back and has contacted Senators, Jenkins and a Senator from NY and Montana. They are going to bring this up at the next legislative board on Veterans Affairs and also the Military Board of which he is a participating member. I will be receiving e-mails and paperwork keeping me updated on what is being done. What I receive I’ll share with the rest of you. I’ve got a former VA Rep assisting me with all of this, she worked as a VA Rep for over 20 years and has been helping with this for the last year on getting this written up and who to send it to. I’ve got to give her a lot of the credit for getting this done in a professional manner, and for all of the assistance she has been giving us on this. She has really been into helping us get something done and to at least be recognized as this being a serious problem.