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For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Roland Pronovost Collection Subject The topic of the resource Nuclear weapons testing victims; Nevada National Security Site (Nev.); Veterans--Chicopee, Mass. Description An account of the resource This digital collection contains images, a letter, and other material related to Chicopee resident Roland Pronovost's military service, and most specifically his experience at a nuclear test site in Nevada in 1955. Roland A. Pronovost (1930-1995), a lifelong Chicopee resident, was a veteran of the Korean War, though he was primarily stationed in Alaska and Nevada. He trained first as a radio operator, then as an MP. He survived a helicopter crash in Alaska, and later witnessed two atomic bomb tests in Nevada as part of Operation Teapot. The second test, called Apple 1, occurred in March 29, 1955. Pronovost captured photographs of the test, and wrote home to his fiancee about the experience. He describes being in a trench a 2 miles from the detonation, and the trench beginning to collapse on him and others when the bomb detonated. He also describes the aftermath of the test, which involved the effect of atomic bombs on various vehicles, including tanks and jeeps. In 1955, the U.S. Army conducted a series of 14 nuclear bomb tests in southeastern Nevada, collectively known as Operation Teapot. ~2,500 soldiers from multiple Army posts were stationed at Camp Desert Rock, near the Nevada Test Site (approx. 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas). The tests were intended to measure the effects of bomb blasts on a variety of scenarios and objects, such as buildings, radio equipment, vehicles, water, pavement, and so on. There were also mannequins and test dummies meant as stand-ins for people. Actual soldiers were stationed at varying distances from the detonation sites, and often marched through ground zero in the immediate aftermath of the tests. A study from the 1990s showed that people who witnessed testing at the Nevada site were more likely to be diagnosed with cancer, and that the mortality rates among those people were significantly higher. Civilians who were in the region or downwind of the tests were also impacted, though there is no official count for impacted civilians. After returning home from service, he married Anita M. Gendron, and they had two sons. Roland worked as a Linotype operator and lithographer at the National Blank Book Company in Holyoke, MA for 42 years. Roland Pronovost died of prostate cancer in 1995. The cancer was described by his oncologist as "like nothing I've ever seen before," and did not respond to treatments that would typically work. He was 65. ~195,000 veterans were exposed to radiation from 1945-1962 as part of their service, which the armed forces now recognizes as a major factor in causing over 21 different kinds of cancer. Abstract A summary of the resource. This digital collection contains images, a letter, and other material related to Chicopee resident Roland Pronovost's military service, and most specifically his experience at a nuclear test site in Nevada in 1955. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Roland A. Pronovost Digitized by Kate Ouimette, CPL Archivist Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1953-1955 Relation A related resource "Operation Teapot: Military Effects Studies" video created by the Department of Energy regarding Operation Teapot. The video runtime is 31 mins, 31 seconds. <a href="https://archive.org/details/gov.doe.0800017">https://archive.org/details/gov.doe.0800017</a> Language A language of the resource English Provenance A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation. The statement may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to the resource. Loaned by Edward Pronovost, to be digitized by CPL and temporarily exhibited in 2024-2025. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context CPL-RolandPronovost Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Digital content made available in the Chicopee Archives Online is intended for personal research and educational purposes; commercial use or distribution of this content is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder. The Chicopee Public Library holds copyright to select content in the Chicopee Archives Online. Copyright to other content may be held by authors or their heirs, or may be in the public domain. Requests to reproduce, distribute, or publish content in the Chicopee Archives Online should be sent to cpl@chicopeepubliclibrary.org. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context CPL-RolandPronovost_letter Title A name given to the resource Roland Pronovost Letter to Anita Gendron, March 29th, 1955 Description An account of the resource A letter written to Anita Gendron, Roland Pronovost's fiancee, following his second time witnessing an atomic bomb test in Nevada during his army service. The letter reads: 29-Mar-55 Dear Nita, How’s my very own Nita tonight? Your Roland is just fine as always. Right now it’s 9:30 PM + a guy just handed me your fudge. I didn’t get any letters, so now I’m sure of some tomorrow. Last night I got 3 letters, 2 from you + one from Jean Cote. Your fudge is very good as always, I wish you could have put yourself in the box too. That would really be something. Thanks for the fudge + remind me once again to give you a big kiss for that, HA as if I’d forget HA. I just got out of bed about a half hour ago, to write this letter, + then I’m hitting the sack again when I finish. That’s really being lazy isn’t it? But I’m tired as usual, I always have some excuse HA. I got the night off tonight be- [2] cause I didn’t get any sleep at all last night. Remember I told you not to worry about me being near another blast, well well honest, I wasn’t lieing (sic) to you. I never lie to you + I never intend to either. But the way this happened, I couldn’t tell you about it any sooner because I didn’t know it myself. First of all, you remember me saying that Lt. Northrop was suppose (sic) to go back to Desert Rock Mon. + then they changed it to Thursday. Well last night we were in the Las Vegas Police Station pulling our regular duty, + the Lt got a phone call. It was from our CO at Desert Rock + he said that another bomb was going off, + that some Col. in charge wanted Lt. Northrop to witness it. That’s why they wanted him back there Monday in the first place + our CO changed it to Thursday. It was 11 PM + he was given a [3] direct order to go out there. Normally he needed a driver so he asked me. He said I didn’t have to go if I didn’t want to, but he did want me along. I told him I didn’t care to be anywhere near another one of them but I’d take him there anyway. When we got to Desert Rock I intended to stay there + wait for the Lt to come back, but they weren’t sure of what this bomb would do so the [sic] got all the guys up ready for evacuation. When I saw that I said to myself, here’s my chance to prove to myself I’m not a coward. I called the Lt over + said I’d go out there with him. They put us in a trench 3500 yards from ground zero. All the time out there, we weren’t sure if it would go off or not. Then one hour before the scheduled time, they set off a charge of TNT to test their instruments, then we were sure it [4] was going off. We were instructed what to do + every 15 minutes they announced the time over a P.A. system they have set up. The trench is 6 ft deep + about 2 ft wide. They said for me to get down on one knee + not to look up. I got plenty scared as usual + said my prayers. The last 2 minutes they counted off the time second by second. When it went off I was looking at the ground + even in that hole, it blinded me. Some guys had their hands over their eyes + still saw the flash through their palms. The next thing I felt was the heat + I was afraid to move. Then the worst part came. That shock wave hit us. Honest, I thought the world was at an end. It bounced me from side to side of that trench just like a rubber ball + the side of the trench was falling in on us. [5] It only lasted a few seconds, but it was like a lifetime. Afterwards we jumped out of the trench + looked at the mushroom. Its quite a spectacle. Fifteen minutes after the shot we walked out to ground zero to observe the damage. At different distances, they had set up buildings, jeeps, trucks, + tanks, to see what would happen to them. The tires + seat coverings were all burnt to a crisp. A little closer the vehicles were turned over, + on fire. There was nothing left to the building except tooth picks. They had one tank, 500 ft from ground zero, + that was pushed over 100 ft + it looked like a smashed up stock can instead of a tank. Afterwards, we were all checked for radiation + none of us had too much. We got back to Desert Rock about 8 AM + they [6] scheduled an air drop at 10 AM. The Lt had to go see that one too but this time he stayed about 10 miles from it. I decided I had enough for one day so I stayed back + waited for him. Well, now at least I think I could face combat, but I still wouldn’t be brave about it. In fact I know I’d be just as scared. That definitely should be my last blast, + I hope it is. But honest, I didn’t know I was going to be out there until 11 PM last night + I didn’t know I’d be that close until about 3 AM, if I had known, I would have told you, believe me. You know, its amazing to think of how powerful the hand of God is, if humans can do as much with as little as they have. Yet, they say this bomb wasn’t very big, they say it was a smaller one than I witnessed at 15 miles. Now I have something to tell my children HA. [7] Well that was really a long story + I even had to change paper HA. It was 1:30 this afternoon when the Lt + I got back so we both took the night off. When I got up a little while ago ago I was hungry, so your fudge really hit the spot. Man, am I getting a good cook. How can you have so many wonderful virtues + still be marrying me? Your just the “Greatest” thats all. Regards to your folks + take good care of yourself. Love + xxx Roland P.S. I hope you’ll be as happy after we’re married as I want you to be. I’ll try my best, the rest of my life. I’m really lucky getting you + I’ll never be able to thank God enough. How I wish I were with you right now. I love you with all my heart. Good-nite. DIDAHDIDIT [This is the letter “L” in Morse code] XXXXX THANKS AGAIN FOR THE FUDGE XXXXX Subject The topic of the resource Nuclear weapons testing victims--Correspondence; Veterans--Chicopee, Mass.; Nevada National Security Site (Nev.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 29, 1955 Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Roland Pronovost Collection Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Correspondence Spatial Coverage Spatial characteristics of the resource. 7pp (each 5 x 8") Extent The size or duration of the resource. 7 pages Nevada National Security Site (Nev.) Nuclear weapons testing victims--Correspondence Veterans--Chicopee, Mass.