Atomic Soldiers

by Howard L. Rosenberg

Examines the grim statistics concerning the 300,000 American soldiers who, between 1948 and 1963, were deliberately exposed to high-level radiation during Pentagon-sponsored nuclear tests

Genres: History, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published June 1, 1981

Reviews

[Zeke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows the story of Russell Jack Dann (Russ), a paratrooper who was sent from North Carolina to Nevada along with thousands of other soldiers to view atomic weapons tests in the 1950s. More specifically he was involved in Smoky, a large nuclear device that was detonated in 1957. The book goes into more details of Operation Plumbbob and the other tests that were done in the Pacific, but focuses primarily on those at the Nevada Test Site. A TV movie was made in 1989, based on this book called "Nightbreaker" but I have not seen it. It seems like it is hard to find. I looked up Russ online and was sad to hear that he passed away in 1999. There is an article about him that you can still find online from the Albert Lea Tribune that mentions more things about his life.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

You think a government could never do something like that... and then you read some history where it happened. Of course, the entire world was still figuring out the capability and dangers of nuclear power. Thankfully our predecessors did this "research" so we don't have to do this today. It also made me appreciate some of the NBC drills I read about and performed in my early Army days.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative on things rarely spoken of in the American Public.