The Plutonium Files (84 page)

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Authors: Eileen Welsome

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19
“The reason being”: Bassett to Langham, Oct. 24, 1945, FOIA.

20
craved a hot dog: Int. Ruth Brown, May 7, 1996.

21
“So far he has cooperated”: Bassett to Langham, n.d., FOIA.

22
“This may be counting”: Bassett to Langham, Jan. 14, 1946, FOIA.

23
“We arrived after”: Bassett to Langham, May 21, 1946, FOIA.

24
“The specimens from both”: Bassett to Langham, May 7, 1946, FOIA.

25
“It begins to look now”: Bassett to Langham, date unknown, FOIA.

26
“well developed, but thin male”: Bassett, “Excretion of Plutonium,” p. 22.

27
“Her church was the thing”: Welsome, “Six More Test Victims,” p. 7.

28
“poorly nourished, weak, thin male”: Bassett, “Excretion of Plutonium,” p. 28.

29
“I hope this next part”: Bassett to Langham, Feb. 27, 1946, FOIA.

30
“We were somewhat pressed”: Bassett to Langham, Feb. 27, 1946, FOIA.

31
“This would permit”: Langham to Bassett, March 13, 1946 (ACHRE No. DOE-121294-D-4).

32
“This case did turn out”: Bassett to Langham, March 27, 1946, FOIA.

33
“thin and pale female”: Bassett, “Excretion of Plutonium,” p. 24.

34
“I had to get up”: Transcript, ACHRE meeting, Jan. 30, 1995, p. 108.

35
received 1,000 rem: LANL,
Radiation Protection,
p. 209.

36
“My mother”: Transcript, ACHRE meeting, p. 111.

37
“Man appears chronically ill”: Bassett, “Excretion of Plutonium,” p. 26.

38
“His honesty was known”: Welsome, “Plutonium Experiment,” p. 44.

39
“I would like to suggest”: Langham to Bassett, Nov. 12, 1945, ACHRE.

40
“very peculiar” diet: Bassett to Langham, Nov. 19, 1945, ACHRE.

41
“would not be taken up”: Bassett, “Excretion of Plutonium,” p. 5.

42
“The amazing feature”: Langham to Bassett, May 28, 1946 (CIC 719236).

43
“With regard to ultimate”: Bassett, “Excretion of Plutonium,” p. 29.

44
“a miscellaneous group”: Ibid., p. 1.

45
“suffering from chronic disorders”: Langham et al.,
Distribution and Excretion of Plutonium,
p. 10.

46
“hopelessly sick”: ACHRE staff, “Additional Documentation on the Plutonium Injection Experiments,” Jan. 10, 1995, p. 1.

47
“terminal”: Langham et al., “The Los Alamos Experience with Plutonium,”
Health Physics,
p. 755.

48
“We were finally successful”: Helen Van Alstine to Langham, July 10, 1946, ACHRE.

49
string of misfortunes: Welsome, “2 More Victims Discovered,”
AT,
March 8, 1994, p. 1.

50
“The second test at Bikini”: Langham to Bassett, Aug. 29, 1946 (CIC 719252).

51
“Shall we try”: Bassett to Langham, Aug. 20, 1946 (CIC 719229).

52
“I think we should”: Langham to Bassett, Aug. 29, 1946 (CIC 719252).

C
HAPTER 14

1
sat on a high stool: Admission notes, Nov. 2, 1945, Charlton m.r.

2
“Her nutrition has been poor”: Ibid.

3
“We have also taken”: Bassett to Langham, Nov. 14, 1945, ACHRE.

4
“I think she had”: Welsome, “Plutonium Experiment,” p. 34.

5
“Cover with acid”: Doctor’s orders, Charlton m.r.

6
“She feels that her ankles”: Physician notes, Ibid.

7
“The plutonium solution was injected”: Langham et al.,
Distribution and Excretion of Plutonium,
p. 15.

8
“For obvious reasons”: Langham, “Revised Plan,” p. 7.

9
dose of 880 rem: LANL,
Radiation Protection,
p. 209.

10
“Collect urine Spec.”: Doctor’s orders, Charlton m.r.

11
“I talked to Colonel Warren”: Langham to Bassett, Oct. 25, 1946 (CIC 719260).

12
“A woman aged 49”: Bassett, “Excretion of Plutonium,” p. 2.

13
“I don’t remember”: Welsome, “Plutonium Experiment,” p. 34.

14
“I am still hammering”: Bassett to Langham, Oct. 17, 1946, ACHRE.

15
“very rare”: Laboratory report, Dec. 12, 1962, Charlton m.r.

16
“Even one sample”: Langham to Howland, April 15, 1950 (CIC 709723).

17
“I never knew”: Welsome, “Plutonium Experiment,” p. 35.

18
“classified information” until 1972: Ibid., p. 33.

19
“My feeling was”: Ibid., p. 35.

20
“The X-rays seem”: Langham to Howland, Oct. 2, 1950 (ACHRE No. DOE-121294-D-11).

21
“There are some interesting”: Radiology report, April 11, 1953, Charlton m.r.

22
“The patient in question”: ACHRE,
Final Report,
p. 258.

23
“soft, rubbery mass”: Pathology report, June 6, 1953, Charlton m.r.

24
“Patient is a thin”: Admission note, Dec. 12, 1962, Charlton m.r.

25
“Because Mrs. Charlton”: Int. Joseph Guattery, July 8, 1993.

26
“She said to me one day”: Welsome, “Plutonium Experiment,” p. 36.

27
“Dr. Waterhouse gave me”: Ibid., p. 36.

28
“…   she feels that this weight increase”: Ibid., p. 38.

29
“The doctor was being very careful”: Ibid., p. 36.

30
“Patients of this character”: Ibid.

31
“Mrs. Charlton says”: Ibid., p. 38.

32
1976 [Day illegible]: Ibid., pp. 38–39.

33
“At no time”: Joseph Guattery to Gail Knasko, Dec. 6, 1984, FOIA.

34
“Do you suppose that stuff”: Welsome, “Plutonium Experiment,” p. 39.

C
HAPTER 15

1
lookout for “moribund”: JWH, “Santa Fe Conversations,” n.d., DOE-OR (1020), p. 1.

2
faint bluish tint: Pathology report, Jan. 13, 1946, Macke m.r., p. 1.

3
John Shillito Company: Ed Asher and Dennis Domrzalski, “17th Victim Died 17 Days After Injection,”
AT,
Aug. 17, 1994, p. 1.

4
“U” medication was started: Pathology report, p. 5.

5
“On the head”: Ibid., p. 1.

6
“The muscles are thin”: Ibid., p. 4.

7
“was induced by the medication”: Ibid., p. 6.

8
emitting 1,399 counts: Russell and Nickson,
Distribution and Excretion of Plutonium,
p. 32.

9
94.91 micrograms: Nickson to Stone, “Monthly Summary for Section H-III,” Jan. 19, 1946, FOIA.

10
1,700 times the radiation: LANL,
Radiation Protection,
p. 209.

11
Russell told AEC investigators: Draft memo, “Visit with Edwin Russell, Savannah River Plant, April 23, 1974,” FOIA.

12
“knew very little”: Draft memo, “Interview with Dr. Leon Jacobson, Mr. Kupferberg, his administrative assistant, Dr. John Rust, and Dr. George V. LeRoy in Dr. Jacobsen’s office at the University of Chicago medical school by Marks at Miazga at about 1:30
P.M.
on 4/16/74,” FOIA.

13
drank a plutonium solution: “Studies Conducted Without ANL Involvement But for Which ANL Has Records,” DOE search records, n.d.

14
tasted like “lemonade”: Int. Robert Carr Milham, May 2, 1995.

C
HAPTER 16

1
“That’s been my work”: Int. Christine Alan, April 17, 1995.

2
“The next human subject”: Hamilton, “Technical Progress Report on the Metabolic Properties of Plutonium and Allied Materials,” September 1945, UCSF,
World War II Human Radiation Experiments,
Appendix 27.

3
Around January 6: Admittance note, n.d., Shaw m.r.

4
“There is a whole blank”: Int. Joshua Shaw, March 17, 1994.

5
An Australian doctor: British Medical Association House to Dr. J. Hoets, April 1, 1946, FOIA.

6
“Major Davis through the Red Cross”: Admission note, Shaw m.r.

7
American troops headed home: “Plane Flies Sick Boy to U.S.A.,” undated newspaper clipping (ca. April 16, 1946), Shaw family records.

8
prepared a fresh bed: Harry J. White to Samuel Shaw, April 16, 1946, Shaw family records.

9
“Inside of one hour”: “Australian Boy Is Flown Here for Treatment at U.C.,” undated newspaper clipping (ca. April 16, 1946), Shaw family records.

10
“They say if I go”: Telephone transcript, April 26, 1946, Shaw family records.

11
injected with three radioisotopes: “Report on [name deleted], n.d., FOIA.

12
“oblong section”: Operation Note, May 3, 1946, Shaw m.r.

13
“responsible individuals”: LeRoy C. Abbott to Whom It May Concern, “Re Simeon Shaw U 127513,” June 11, 1946, Shaw family records.

14
“If I had any contact”: Int. Earl Miller, May 3, 1995.

15
Russian-born father: Int. Joshua Shaw.

16
“They have given him”: Telephone transcript, April 26, 1946, Shaw family records.

17
“This afternoon they said”: Telephone transcript, May 9, 1946, Shaw family records.

18
tumor actually was increasing: “X-Ray Consultation Request,” June 5, 1946, Shaw m.r.

19
“At last I have”: Mrs. O. S. Adams to Mrs. Sam Shaw, n.d., Shaw family records.

20
“The last time I went”: Int. Joshua Shaw, March 17, 1994.

21
“From Simeon’s death onward”: The Nine Network of Australia,
60 Minutes,
“Betrayal of Simeon,” March 20, 1994.

22
“We realize you may have”: A. Jorgenson to Mrs. [name deleted], Feb. 11, 1949, FOIA.

23
pleading with the Manhattan: Hamilton to Area Engineer, “Request for Radioactive Isotopes,” Nov. 15, 1946, Carton 5, Folder 11, JGH.

24
“An injection has been given”: Sidney Marks, “Summary description of medical records of Albert Stevens and Hanford Jang,” April 29, 1974, FOIA.

25
“make arrangements”: K. S. S. to Joe, n.d., in UCSF,
World War II Human Radiation Experiments,
Appendix 25.

26
the americium measured: DOE,
Human Radiation Experiments Associated with the U.S. Department of Energy,
p. 53.

27
“no evidence of disclosure”: Welsome, “Plutonium Experiment,” p. 9.

28
“I don’t think Dr. Hamilton”: Durbin OH, DOE/OHRE, p. 49.

29
“We were optimistic”: Int. Fredna Allen, July 1992.

30
“The principal picture”: Lloyd Fisher to Dr. Cappellar, June 13, 1947, Allen m.r.

31
Rent was $35: Application Record, June 20, 1947, Allen m.r.

32
“but the probability”: R. S. Sherman, Jr., “X-ray consultation request,” June 25, 1947, Allen m.r.

33
“This is probably”: Ibid., July 3, 1947, Allen m.r.

34
microscopic examination: James Rinehart, “Pathological Report,” July 14, 1947, Allen m.r.

35
“postponed until Monday”: Doctor’s orders, Allen m.r.

36
“The experimental nature”: Ibid.

37
“If they told my father”: Int. Elmerine Allen Whitfield, July 8, 1992.

38
“No blood appeared”: Doctor’s orders, July 18, 1947, Allen m.r.

39
“no pain or discomfort”: Ibid.

40
“to pathology and radiological study”: Ibid.

41
“Feeling much better”: Ibid.

42
“It just takes big beakers”: Int. Patricia Durbin, Sept. 3, 1992.

43
“For large, grossly contaminated”: Nickson,
Report of Conference on Plutonium,
p. 57.

44
Hempelmann had begun excising: Langham et al., “Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory’s Experience with Plutonium,”
Health Physics,
p. 758.

45
“He wanted to make”: Int. Fredna Allen, July 1992.

46
“He was disgusted”: Int. Fredna Allen, Jan. 26, 1993.

47
“He could do anything”: Welsome, “Plutonium Experiment,” p. 12.

48
“He would chew the spoon”: Int. Elmerine Allen Whitfield, July 8, 1992.

49
David Williams, a doctor: Welsome, “Plutonium Experiment,” p. 12. 161 “I wondered”: Ibid.

50
“passionately dedicated”: Int. Anne De Gruchy Low-Beer, May 29, 1995.

51
“He became sad”: Earl Miller OH, DOE/OHRE, p. 37.

52
“He was very sad”: Int. Grace Walpole, June 1, 1995.

53
“You know”: Durbin OH, DOE/OHRE, p. 31.

C
HAPTER
17

1
“the most important federal bureau”: Lang,
Hiroshima to the Moon,
p.

2
“God Almighty”: Cong. Record, U. S. Senate, 79th Cong., 1st sess., Nov. 28, 1945, pp. 11085–11087.

3
Should the bomb: Weisgall,
Operation Crossroads,
p. 12.

4
The Navy was the first: Ibid., pp. 13–14. 166 “If such a test”: Ibid.

5
The May-Johnson bill: Hewlett and Anderson,
New World,
pp. 428–445.

6
“reluctant lobby”: Ibid., p. 445.

7
“The question is”: Lang,
Hiroshima to the Moon,
p. 56.

8
“The scientists quickly discovered”: Ibid., p. 58.

9
“His nibs (G.G.)”: Hewlett and Anderson,
New World,
p. 487.

10
birth of Jesus Christ: Ibid., p. 436.

11
“They felt that an army”: Lang,
Hiroshima to the Moon,
p. 61.

12
“The study was a peculiar one”: Ibid., p. 67.

13
Under the terms: Glenn Seaborg, foreward to Weisgall,
Operation Crossroads,
pp. ix–xii.

14
“special attributes of the atom bomb”: Stafford Warren OH, p. 861.

15
“Mark III” lead jockstrap: Ibid., p. 878.

16
“I had to practically browbeat”: Ibid., p. 890.

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