Nice Pictures. Good to hear my old friend Larry LaRiviere singing "Island Boy." I was there in 90s for over half a decade. Did not recognize any of the people here, but I was long gone by the time of the destruction of plant and support bldgs. I do not miss the heat, the insane repetitiveness of life there, or the isolation from family. But the people, I do miss. Notice how happy people are in photos. That was the rule, not the exception.
@manualramirez2973
3 жыл бұрын
Worked on the closing team with Nupercon, I was the tools and equipment boss and wrote up alot cargo manifests. Nov 2003 to June 2004. One of the highlights of my career. Big thanks for this amazing video.
@timkerwin6886
4 жыл бұрын
wow some great pics. Loved the chow hall and fishing for sharks. Was TDY there in mid 70's ps. great music
@richardgriesemer3864
Жыл бұрын
Agree USCG 1976
@hckyplyr9285
4 жыл бұрын
I find it insane all those billions om infrastructure were torn down out of some myopic post-Cold War view that war and major power competition were over. With a rising China and lack of Pacific bases our too small forces have to be dangerously concentrated in the few remaining installations. Midway, Shemya, Clark, Wake, and, yes Johnston, among others, need to be reactivated and returned to operation.
@user-wl6bw3jl4n
2 жыл бұрын
😆
@Foldisfitch
Жыл бұрын
I know...it's a real pisser offer
@lwriderjr
7 жыл бұрын
Yeah believe it or not I think anyone that is a Johnston Island Vet (Civilian or Military )wouldn't mind going back for reunions or just a blast from the past. I'd go back for a week.
@ajaxmaintenance3894
3 жыл бұрын
It’s all gone now... levelled except for the JOC building. Roads basically overgrown bicycle paths. No functioning runway. Broken sea walls. I bet that the US Military would love to have it operational especially when tensions with China are steadily rising. (Hopefully they aren’t getting any bright ideas about grabbing it. Would Biden risk war over 2.6 sq. km of coral? Likely not.) Congress apparently thought that the hundreds of millions spent on JI were all wasted and what the people really needed was another bird sanctuary; not to say that those are a waste, they have their place as well. But politicians always seem to be a chronically shortsighted lot.
@dannelson8556
2 жыл бұрын
@@ajaxmaintenance3894 do you have any idea how contaminated that island is, the mortality rate of people who worked on that island is over 4K percent greater than the median, they were exposed to some pretty nasty chemical and radiological agents. The only people who suffered a higher mortality rate than those who worked on the Johnston atoll where the cleanup crews who tried to clean up the radiological mess created by all the nuclear testing at the marshall islands
@Foldisfitch
Жыл бұрын
@@dannelson8556 Did tearing down the buildings that didn't house any of the radioactive material help the radiation go away or would it have eventually gone away anyway? Or were all the buildings permanently contaminated?
@georgecurtis6463
4 жыл бұрын
I was just a passenger landing there on the way to majuro and final destination of chuuk(truk) in the 60s. Last visit was in 72 or 73. Back then, everything was still secret and no pictures allowed. Yea, the airline was air mic.
@stephendorey7349
9 ай бұрын
Some of this man's recollections conflict with what I know. Operation Dominic was in 1962. Within the past week I have seen at least one video was on the internet describing that operation including film of the rocket blowing up on the launch pad in July of that year. It did contaminate that part of the island. I was there between June and Aug 1963 on a project for the AEC to measure the ocean currents over the reef while other members of our group were on a ship outside the reef measuring currents there. There did not appear to be much going on, A small contingent of Navy personnel was there and several hundred contractors working for Holmes and Narver. My quarters were a deserted multi unit apartment building,. We each had our own. There were several to choose from. It was just a place to sleep and bathe. When we first arrived, I had no what they did on the island or of the accident or just why we were measuring currents on this remote atoll. When I learned of the accident I did wonder how they dealt with the radioactive contamination. Someone had said they disposed of it by bulldozing it into the ocean. Why we were there was starting to make sense. Where would that radiation go if it was in the water? Two of jxus would spend 30 hours at each location on a very primitive pontoon boat made from 55 gallon barrels welded together measuring currents at various locations in the atoll. While off duty it was common to go swimming so I swam in a number of locations over the reef. No one suggested that might not be a good idea. In hindsight, I wondered if I had become exposed to radiation. We were informed that there was an area of the island we were not allowed to go but there was no mention about the water. At the time I only had a secret clearance and determined 'I did 'not have a need to know'. The area where the explosion occurred was clearly marked off limits and special permission was needed to go there. A senior member of our group and a good friend was asked to go into that area for a reason unknown to me.(Didn't have proper clearance) About 15 years later we had gone our separate ways but I would learn he had died of cancer in his early 40s and his son was born in 1966 with a minor birth defect. I wondered if there was a connection to his entering into that area. I never experienced any problems, until perhaps now. I have CLL. Probaby totally unrelated. Maybe not. In exploring what is now available on the internet I saw just recently that after 25 years, 30 people who had been tasked to deal with the contamination had died of cancer. I don't know if my friend was included in that group. Maybe he should have been. He had no direct role in that: Just gone into the area , on two occasions, if I remember correctly. We were in Honolulu in August writing a report on our work for the AEC when the nuclear air test ban treaty was signed. Was there another launchpad explosion in 1964? I have no idea. I do know. To me it seems unlikely. Wouldn't rule it out either. In 1964 dredging expanded the island to more than double the size when I was there to it's present size. Would they be doing atmospheric testing while that was going on? Or perhaps another explosion is why they dredged more 'soil' to bury contaminated debris. The only launchpad explosion I am aware of was prior to the test ban treaty. I would not be surprised if the total investment over 80 years in that Atoll exceeds a trillion dollars. Until I discovered recent videos I was mostly unaware of Johnston since my time there. I did see Walter Cronkite standing in front of rows and rows of stack barrels of agent orange on the evening news one time. I never expected I would see a reporter doing a story from there. I smiled when someone mentioned Wednesday was still Prime Rib night years after my time there. We planned that after being out on the raft for 30 hours, we would be back ashore for that. Sure beat cold cuts and a can of pineapple juice we might have on the raft.
@robertlambert1440
4 жыл бұрын
I was stationed there from January 1997 to December 1997 as the Detachment Sergeant; such a unique place; remember being the first HR person to complete the "Red Hat" course.
@timothymcclaire3276
9 ай бұрын
Small world man. You replaced me in the S1 and apparently Elwood as Det Sgt.
@robertlambert1440
8 ай бұрын
@@timothymcclaire3276Hey Tim, man what a small world! You are right… you left me that bike and TV and that was awesome! I did the same thing when I left.
@timothymcclaire3276
8 ай бұрын
Wow! I never expected you'd reply!! I'm glad you enjoyed the bike and TV! That was a unique assignment and I'd love to go back for 2 days just to see how nature reclaimed the island.@@robertlambert1440
@PHILDRU911
4 жыл бұрын
Chris and his bud (can't remember his name) greeted us when we flew out to JI (1987 -1990 for me) in the C-12 and G-159. LTC Cole, B. Baskett, J. Ware, D. Houston, S. Felix, M. Thomas, and others. We really appreciated the support!
@Z3CHYD
8 жыл бұрын
It's a shame they torn everything down that was there, it could've been converted into an island resort/something useful, such a waste
@landanmorgan257
7 жыл бұрын
Z3CHYD I Think It Should Be A Retirement. Center. What A Life And A Great Place To Live An d In Die In Peace....Lol
@luciusvorenus9445
4 жыл бұрын
Except for the launch area where a Thor rocket with a nuclear warhead exploded on the pad. Radiation escaped during the resulting fire
@Foldisfitch
Жыл бұрын
@@luciusvorenus9445 Did that permanently contaminate all the buildings on the island?
@luciusvorenus9445
Жыл бұрын
@@Foldisfitch Weapons Grade Plutonium contamination remains an issue to this day.
@marionroark8237
3 жыл бұрын
I would go, hard to believe it's not there, remember the tiki bar?
@joeblow3934
3 жыл бұрын
The reason they tore it all down, and abandoned JI is the place is contaminated with radiation from a couple of failed nuclear missile launches in the early '60s. The onboard self detonation devices were activated over the pad. They had navy all hand working party clean ups; they just dozed the contaminated debri into the ocean (channel reef). The sailors were from nearby ships. Dillingham Co., and their Hawaiian Dredging & Construction company were the civilian contractors. The island is man made; it was less than 40 acres initially. Now JI s over 600 acres with concrete seawalls in places. After the failed launches the contaminated materials were dredged, and thrown back on the island having spread contamination. The ground is contaminated; it will be for centuries. The situation is like a very "dirty bomb" scenario in real life. They left the main building which is basically a museum of a real SAC missile ground control; it contains the original equipment still in place on the upper floors.The only other untouched structure is a small monument for remembrance of a popular nurse that drowned in the reef. Anyway they couldn't allow people to repopulate, or recreate in a place with such a history, and deadly contamination. I mean aside from the nuclear contamination from weapon grade plutonium, the place was used to store & disintegrate old WMDs; weapons of mass destruction from world war era. I mean old leaking nerve & blister agents ... mustard & chlorine gas ordinance. Furthermore, a lot of nuclear detonations took place above, and near JI back in the '50s, and early '60s. In fact all of the US air & atmospheric burst testing took place on the island; they occurred up to the first SALT. Moreover, tactical launch testing also took place on the atoll. JI is now just another bird sanctuary.
@Foldisfitch
Жыл бұрын
Thank you. The first satisfactory explanation I've heard that explained why they had to tear down such an amazing place. I didn't know the actual land would be contaminated for centuries...
@user-fy8ps2dn7i
2 ай бұрын
Sadly, that's it, and much more. For one year, I ran around the island 4.9 miles) passing the destroyed launch facility (fenced off and - they said - sprayed yearly (?) with lead paint/ whatever and we weren't supposed to worry about it😮I I often wonder about the health issues, ESPECIALLY, for the hundreds and hundreds of Holmes and Narver employees who worked for many, many years there...,some longer than 20 years? Who, if anyone, followed up on there health issues? Me, I'm 78 now and have 28 doctors so can't really pin down any specific diseases that can be tied in to anything ....other than Prostrate Cancer but just about any guy can come down with that.
@joeblow3934
7 жыл бұрын
Thanks. Now if we can all survive the exposure we received while there. Look at the money wasted over the last 80 years on that small group of islands of a few acres each.
@ajaxmaintenance3894
3 жыл бұрын
Well you can see it as money wasted or money invested in a future strategic installation. Johnston Island would have cost peanuts to maintain when you consider the hundreds of billions of dollars that the US government casts into the wind without batting an eye. Somebody really didn’t want it there.
@joeblow3934
3 жыл бұрын
@@ajaxmaintenance3894 Were you there?
@molokaibro
Жыл бұрын
Just visited. Never would hv guessed. Nature has taken over . Birds every square foot
@Bantalope
Жыл бұрын
How did you visit might I ask? Would love to tour some of these islands at some point and Johstone has fascinated me for quite a while now.
@ace404108
5 ай бұрын
Ty mark I work in mess hall 92 93 raython
@tberd1649
4 ай бұрын
MP 1991-92 at JI. Best duty ever!!!
@robertlambert1440
4 жыл бұрын
There was a black gentlemen by the name "TC" who I played racquetball with, he was really good; wonder if anyone knows his whereabouts.
@user-fy8ps2dn7i
2 ай бұрын
Hi all: just want to let you know there are some great "history" comments (not just mine😂) if you click on all the comments made to other comments. In 26 years on active duty, I never once ran across someone who was also stationed there. Before all the "old heads" pass on, perhaps someone can start a new thread in chronological order so we can all " track" what happened and when? For example, I was there from Jun 1970 to Jun 1971. While there, I worked in JOC and part time unloading the first barge that arrived with supplies to build the storage bunkers for the chemical munitions, worked the asphalt crew, worked a month or so as a night watchman on the dredging rig leased (I think) through Dillingham Corp, sold popcorn and beer at the outdoor theater, and - briefly - helped the club NCO keep his files and books straight. And YES, I did get some work done at my Air Force job🤗👍
@jerrymorrison6110
3 жыл бұрын
I spent a year there from Nov. 74 to Nov. 75 while in the Air Force. A lot of good memories from there. It would of been nice though if the powers to be would of told us about the Island being radioactive [still is today]. Sure was a wake up call when upon landing there the first time you were issued a gas mask and two suicide injectors in case of chemical spill!!!
@melheinrich5438
2 жыл бұрын
Is any buildings still standing after leaving the islands? Is there still high levels of radiation is why they abandoned the base?
@Andrew-sv6zq
10 ай бұрын
I tried to get out their on a contract job back in the early 1990's, but I ended up getting married and that ended that opportunity.
@greacen
2 жыл бұрын
Is that the Corwith Cramer at 6:40?
@sandratessem9980
5 жыл бұрын
WORKED ON JI 1991
@melheinrich5438
Жыл бұрын
I would really think that DOD would leaving certain bunch of buildings up for any future needs. Such waste of tax dollars.
@ajaxmaintenance3894
3 жыл бұрын
What a tragic waste of a beautiful facility.
@wilsonle61
11 ай бұрын
What a colossal waste of resources. Everything on that Island is now gone.
@marvincadden8569
7 жыл бұрын
I been Johnston is. twice in 1964. this is incomplete story of Johnston is. it was mostly eyes only at that time right after the explosion on the pad. also this is. has been implicated as an alien visited place. I want not privy to the high level meeting concerning this. only I know what I saw underground there in 1964. every thing was mostly underground really! there is a real story here to be written. maybe someone will one day. I have been waiting for yrs. I see a lot about area # 51. But this history could be more interesting???
@johnnygustafsson5174
5 жыл бұрын
Hello Marvin, i was a young sailor on that white cargo ship on the picture "Dock View 1964"
@sharongrant1863
4 жыл бұрын
Marvin Cadden, thanks for your comment, I saw something interesting when I worked on JI in the 1990's. Would like a conversation partner if you are up for it. Be well.
@samseptemberbiker6248
4 жыл бұрын
like the rockets come out of ground right next to barracks ..i was there in 1969..saw Nixon..good food
@richardgriesemer3864
Жыл бұрын
USCG 1976 I also wonder of the underground complex. The farthest I ever got was the hospital. Verrrry interesting!
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