# Nuclear Test Veterans Recall the Flash, Blast and Human Toll - Original post: https://www.twitter.com/i/status/2120003520518873469 - Source account: [@Rainmaker1973](https://x.com/Rainmaker1973) - Source language: English - Duration: 4:09 - Published: 2026-11-11 - Canonical URL: https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll ## Transcript [0:00](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll) Seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. [0:13](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=13) We were told nothing. We knew nothing. We were told very little about the day except, "Don't look at the flash." [0:30](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=30) Can you describe the day that the nuclear bomb was dropped? [0:34](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=34) And just before the sun comes up, we were marshaled in groups. [0:41](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=41) We, I went out on the aircraft carrier, the Warrior, and we was told to face the stern of the ship, the back of the ship. [0:52](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=52) We were told to cover our eyes with our hands or bury your eyes into the crook of your arm, which we did. [1:03](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=63) To say it was frightening is an understatement. [1:07](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=67) I think it shocked us all into silence. When the flash hit you, you could see the X-rays of your hands through your closed eyes. [1:18](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=78) It was just sheer brilliant light. So I'd, I've never seen anything like it. [1:24](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=84) Never had done. In the process of hands over your eyes, you saw every bone in your hand. [1:31](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=91) If I was looking at you now, I would see all your bones. [1:36](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=96) You would see all the blood vessels and everything, the bones, the lot. [1:42](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=102) Then the heat hit you, and that was just as if somebody my size had actually caught fire then walked through me. [1:51](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=111) It was an experience that was absolutely unearthing. [1:55](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=115) You c- it was so strange. Some of the lads would stand up, but about 30 odd seconds later, you'd get the blast, and the blast would knock you flying. [2:08](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=128) And there were guys with bruises and broken limbs. [2:11](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=131) We couldn't believe it. [2:15](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=135) After a while, we were told that we could now stand and look up and watch the mushroom form. [2:23](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=143) You, you caught sight of it, the sight of it at 90 degrees. [2:26](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=146) It was that huge. It wasn't there. It wasn't there. [2:30](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=150) It was there. It was practically above you. [2:41](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=161) All they saw was this rising fireball, a colossal fireball just going up, and thunder, lightning, you name it. [2:49](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=169) What I noticed most was the clouds moving away like that, you know, round and round and round. [2:57](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=177) I think it was too much for some of them, and some of them were crying, asked for their mum. [3:02](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=182) That was awful. There was no comprehension that anything like that could even exist. [3:09](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=189) It, it, it was immense. [3:13](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=193) It's a sight to see, but never wanna see it again. [3:31](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=211) Over a 10-year test period, there were 22,500 personnel. [3:38](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=218) In 2013, we estimated that 18 and a half thousand of us had died, and the reports that I'd seen, nobody had died practically of natural causes. [3:52](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=232) They had all died of, uh, leukemias and cancers, carcinomas of one sort or the other. [3:58](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=238) And for a government to do that to its own people is absolutely disgraceful. [4:05](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/ljC9fEr9l26E/en/nuclear-test-veterans-recall-the-flash-blast-and-human-toll?t=245) It's outrageous.