Evening star., 1953-03-25
By w. n. ShipDen

The nine Army, Navy and Air
Force officers who volunteered
tor role in yesterdays atomic
explosion in Nevada and dug in
half mile nearer than any vol
unteers before them had a lot
Of faith in their mathematics.
In fact, the equations worked
out so well under actual test that
Comdr. Frank B. Voris-one of
the nine volunteerS-would be
willing to take his wife and chill
dren into a trench $500 yards
from an atomic explosion under
similar circumstances.
THE explosion might frighten
thenn." Comdr. Voris said here
today, "but not badly enough to
upset their nervous systems"
The commanders wife smiled
q bit doubtfully.
She never had any hint her
husband had volunteered until
reporters telephoned him today
Immediately after his return
from Nevada.
Perhaps that was just as
WE'LL" Mrs. VoriS said. One radio
announcer got a bit mixed in
his mathematics, in contrast to
the accuracy of the volunteers,
and said the men were installed
in a trench only $50 yards from
the detonation point.
Evaluated Reactions.
Comdr. Voris, a Navy flight
surgeon on duty here, was the
only medical officer in the trench.
He said his primary concern was
to evaluate the mental and phys
ical reactions of the men in his
trench.
He found no harmful effects.
The others appeared physically
and mentally alert Immediately
after the explosion and the ply
sician is certain there will be
no damaging after effects.
Its my guess it won't be long
until men will be volunteering
to be much closer to an explo-
sion," he said.
"'One of the reasons we moved
up close was to prove to our
selves and the families of the
test troops that the experiments
are quite safe when performed
under controlled conditions.
Each of the volunteers was
a graduate of military schools
dealing with nucleur explosions.
The safety officer required that
each of them work out his own
figures on just how much radia-
ton, heat, blast and shock they
would be exposed to from the
indicated position.
Comdr. Voris said that after
he worked out his formulas he
was convinced there was no
danger. There was some ten
sion, of course, in the final mo-
ments, and a great anticipation.
but no real anxiety. The men
kidded each other while they
waited"
The volunteers wore various
types of regulation field equip
ment. They also were equipped
with the latest meters for
measuring radiation dosage,
along with film badges to record
the rays.
Knew What to Expect.
1--WE knew at all times what to
expect in the way of radiation,
and the amount we were receiv-
ing after the blast"
The men in the trench were
instructed not to look up for at
least Is seconds after the ex-
plosion. This was to protect the
eyes from the terrific flash.
I'VE took protective, pre-
arranged positions before the
blast" the commander said. He
declined to describe the positions
other than to say they were ade-
quate. All of the men. although
they had their faces covered,
were aware of the fish which
broke over them in the half
dawn.
Il don't know how we saw the
flash because our eyes were well
covered, but we certainly knew
there was a fash"
The heat came as if some one
had momentarily opened a giant
furnace door.
Comdr. Voris would say little
about the dust cloud that rolled
toward them. The volunteers
were equipped with gas masks
in case it came too close with
radiation in dangerous amounts.
The nine volunteers found
they could take their time
0artardou about Voo0uIVor ho oly