Swimming in the atomic lagoon

Participants in the nuclear tests of the 1940s and 50s were the last generation of Americans with implicit trust in the government. Today, many are dying from radiation exposure. The author describes how 42,000 sailors took part in Operation Crossroads in the South Pacific. Despite warnings of temporary sterility, the men displayed an innocent lack of awareness of the dangers of radiation. Public relations during and after the tests minimized the possibility of injury and assigned only calculated levels of exposure. Later reviews of documents show that radiation badges were not given to everyone, that there were daily lists of men who were overexposed, and that the military did not understand or believe in the potential hazard enough to keep accurate records. Health-related problems and cancer deaths have left many with a sense of betrayal.