Volume 7 , Issue 4

Trinity Site, New Mexico...

"While I was not a resident of the area when the atomic bomb was detonated at Trinity Site, before her death, my mother-in-law talked about being jarred from sleep here in Las Cruces. From her telling, many people went outside in their nightwear and were trying to figure out just what had happened. I think from what she and others I have heard speak of it, the conclusion was finally that there had been ammunition bunkers at Holloman, which had exploded. My wife was about 4 years old, but there is no doubt in my mind that she slept thru it.

As you mentioned, the site is open to the public twice each year, and it can be accessed from the Stallion Gate on the north and the Oscura Gate on the south.  Shortly after I arrived here in '69, while we were not yet married, my wife and I made the trek. At that time the only access was by military escort thru the Missile Range . I think now access from the Stallion Gate on the north is unescorted, but the military still provides escorts from the south.

It was an experience which I do not regret having made the trip, it very much reminds me what I heard Japanese say about climbing Mount Fuji , everyone should make the trip once, but only a fool makes it twice. I think the trip was in the fall of '69, and the weather was, as it usually is, very warm. The only shade was UNDER our vehicles. Another thing I recall was the lines at the porta-potties. I'm not really certain as to just what my expectations were, but had there been no fence, marker or any other indication as to just what had happened there approximately a quarter-century earlier, it looked very normal.

I am attaching three pictures, which are scanned slides. One shows a portion of the chain link fence which surrounded what was the crater, another is the basalt monument at ground zero, and the third is lunchtime." -- Marvin   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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