<Japan A-Bomb Never Happened, Says Packwood By Rick Mitchell Ralph Sheridan Clapp of Hood River, Oregon, was sent into Nagasaki, Japan, along with about 1,000 other U.S. Marines six weeks after the Japanese surrender in WW II. The men were told to clean up the mess left by the explosion of the “Fat Boy” plutonium-fueled bomb that killed or injured 80,000 Japanese people. They were not told about the radioactive after-effects of nuclear weapons, or given any special protective equipment or clothing. At least 50 of the men have since filed for compensation benefits with the Veterans Administration for illnesses they claim were caused by exposure to residual,radiation. The illnesses include bone-marrow cancer, leukemia, chronic lung, stomach and testicle problems, and burning, running sores on the skin. The VA has denied all the claims, insisting that tests by a U.S. Army Intelligence learn indicated “that the rapid decay of radiation from the atomic bomb detonation.. .generally eliminated all hazards by the time U.S. forces arrived.” Some of the veterans have accused the government of covering up the radiation issue for fear of damaging the credibility of the nuclear power industry when they assure the public that there is no danger from low-level radioactivity emitted by nuclear power plants. Clapp first filed for health cost benefits four years ago. He had been suffering from chronic pulmonary obstruction, causing shortness of breath and coughing, since returning from Japan in 1946. When his claim and two subsequent appeals were rejected, Clapp sought to enlist politicians to help him in his cause. In March, 1978, he received this reply from Oregon Senator Robert “Bob” Packwood. When asked about this almost unbelievable bit of misinformation comRUUELL ■ . LONG, LA., CHAIRMAN HERMAN E. TALMADGE, OA. VANCE HARTKE, INO. ABRAHAM RIB1COFF, CONN. HARRY F. BYRD, JR., VA. GAYLORD NELSON, WIB. WALTER F. MONDALK, MINN. MIKE GRAVEL, ALASKA LLOYD BENTSEN, TEX. WILLIAM D. HATHAWAY, MAINE FLOYD K. HASKELL. COLO. CARL T. CURTIS, NEBR. FAUL J. FANNIN, ARIZ. CLIFFORD F. HANSEN, WYO. ROBERT J. DOLE, KANS. BOB FACKWOOD. OREG. WILLIAM V. ROTH, JR., DEL. BILL BROCK, TENN. MICHAEL STERN. STAFF DIRECTOR DONALD V. MOOREHEAD, CHIEF MINORITY COUNSEL Sheridan Clapp 3410 Avalon Drive Hood River, Oregon 97031 Dear Mr. Clapp: Thank you for your letter in reference to your breathing problems encountered in WWII in 1945, and your efforts to obtain assistance in the matter. F Unfortunately, no Atom bombs were used at that time in the Pacific area, or any other areas overseas. It is my understanding that there was no radiation caused by the bombs used at that time. I am sorry you have encountered problems with the toll free number 1-800-638-8300, which is in operation 24 hours a day. That telephone number is only for those individuals involved with the Nevada Blast through the Atomic Energy Commission, and would not be of any' bearing in your case. Sorry that I cannot be of assistance in this matter, but you fail to qualify due to the time element involving your service. Thanks for writing. Cordially, Bob Packwood ing from a U.S. Senator, a spokesperson for Packwood’s office admitted, “We made a boo-boo. We took the VA’s word on t h a t . . . . ” In December, 1978, doctors discovered that Clapp had a non-inherited lack of the blood coagulant “ factor 8 ,” a condition so rare that no more than P la t e a S e n a t e C O M M IT T E E O N F INANCE W A SH IN G TO N . D .C . 2 0 5 1 0 March 24, 1978 100 cases have been reported worldwide in the past three decades, according to hematologist Dr. Scott Goodnight at the Oregon Health Sciences. Center. Four months later, on May 28, 1979, Clapp died. He told reporter Norman Solomon from his hospital bed shortly before his death, “ It’s kind of ironic to go through a war like that, hell in a half-acre, and then wind up like this." Clapp’s widow, Delores, plans to continue to try and justify her husband's claim. “ It's the principle of the matter.” she says. “ I'm so bitter that they could send somebody in to do a job and then not stand by the consequences of their decision. These claims would have been settled long ago were it not for the issue of radiation, but they can't go on denying it with as much proof as we have." There is a growing nation-wide call by the surviving vets and their families, newspaper editorialists, politicians such as Colorado’s Rep. Pat Schroeder and concerned citizens for the government to mount a special investigation into the conditions that existed at Nagasaki and Hiroshima, and to study health histories of all the men who served there. In Portland, a Committee for U.S. Veterans of Hiroshima and Nagasaki has been formed to help the veterans contact each other and to help press their claims for compensation. The committee, funded by a grant from the Eugene-based McKenzie River Foundation, has an office at 834 SE Ash St. and also can be reached at P.O. Box 14424. Portland 97214. Who's sorry now, Bob? Ralph Clapp [r] and war buddies. | ORGANIC GRILL i HAMBURGERMARY’S AHO S.W. PARK 223*0900 Wilde Oscar's 318 SW Third Avenue , Po rtland, O regon 97204 223-8620 English Pork Pies Cornish Beef Pasties M e llow and Earnest Happy Hour 5-7 p.m Monday - Friday 7
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