The Plutonium Files (89 page)

1
“It is clear that”: Lando Haddock to Commanding General, Air Material Command, “Negotiation of Cost Reimbursement Contract,” Oct. 19, 1950 (ACHRE No. DOD-062194-B-3), p. 3.

2
In 1953, a year after: Minutes, “The Organizational Meeting of the ANP Medical Advisory Group,” Aero Medical Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, May 25–26, 1953 (CIC 727115).

3
A stocky physiologist: RG 319, Records of the U.S. Army Staff, G-2 “Paperclip” personnel files, Box 100, Herbert Gerstner file, NA.

4
not a party member: Int. Helga Gerstner, March 4, 1995.

5
became a party member: Linda Hunt, “Nazi Braceros: Hitler’s Doctors in Texas Hospitals,”
Texas Observer,
Feb. 28, 1997, p. 14.

6
Drafted into the German: “Basic Personnel Record for Paperclip Specialist,” Gerstner file.

7
Central Intelligence Agency: Int. Helga Gerstner.

8
thirty-four Paperclip: Armstrong OH, p. 69.

9
1,600 German specialists: ACHRE staff, “Post—World War II Recruitment of German Scientists,” April 6, 1995.

10
opposed the importation: Groves to Major General S. J. Chamberlin, “Exploitation of Foreign Scientists,” Nov. 27, 1946, ACHRE.

11
“To continue to treat”: Bosquet Wev to Hamilton Robinson, March 17, 1948, ACHRE.

12
“contrasting but harmonious”: “Pink Palace of Healing,”
Time,
Dec. 13, 1954, pp. 44–47.

13
“small doses unproductive”: Minutes, SAM Research Council Meeting, Jan. 14, 1954 (ACHRE No. DOD-092894-A-1).

14
Three psychomotor tests: DOD,
Search for Human Radiation Experiment Records,
p. 27.

15
Thirteen of the thirty: Miller et al., “Systemic and Clinical Effects Induced in 263 Cancer Patients,” pp. 15–16.

16
“Close similarity seems”: Ibid., p. 19.

17
public was overly frightened: Gerstner, “Acute Radiation Syndrome in Man,”
Armed Forces Medical Journal,
pp. 313–354.

18
“Obviously, nuclear disasters”: Levin et al., “Initial Clinical Reaction to Therapeutic Whole-Body X-Radiation,” pp. 14–15.

1
barium enemas: Saenger OH, Sept. 15, 1994, pp. 3–4.

2
“how to pipette”: Ibid., p. 9.

3
“Listen, I’d like to”: Ibid., p. 5.

4
“I was treated”: Ibid.

5
“you get all this crud”: Ibid., p. 15.

6
“His small expertise”: Saenger to Langham, Sept. 8, 1969, LANL.

7
“That really upset”: Saenger OH, p. 31.

8
“We were on a boat”: Ibid., pp. 11–12.

9
In 1958, Saenger: Cong. hearing,
Experiments Conducted by the University of Cincinnati,
1994, p. 36.

10
well-nourished adult: Ibid., p. 333.

11
“There are so few”: James Hartgering to A. D. Sullivan, Nov. 7, 1958, ACHRE.

12
“augment” the TBI: Sullivan to Colonel Hullinghorst, Nov. 12, 1958, ACHRE.

13
“Any correlation”: Cong. hearing,
Experiments Conducted by University of Cincinnati,
p. 222.

14
The first patient: UC College of Medicine, “Metabolic Changes in Humans Following Total Body Irradiation,” Report for Feb. 1960—Oct. 1961 (DASA 1422 Supplement), p. 27. DOD reports and other documents related to Saenger’s study can be found at UC under the following citation:
Unpublished work. Eugene
Saenger et al., Whole Body Radiation Study,
Cincinnati Medical Heritage Center, University of Cincinnati. Documents from this collection hereafter noted as “ES.”

15
“These studies”: Ibid., p. 1.

16
“This information is necessary”: Report for Nov. 1, 1961—April 30, 1963 (DASA 1422), ES, p. 1.

17
Saenger has said: Cong. hearing,
Experiments Conducted by University of Cincinnati,
p. 278.

18
“beneficial effects”: Saenger et al., “Whole Body and Partial Body Radio therapy of Advanced Cancer,”
American Journal of Roentgenology,
p. 683.

19
“Fatalities may begin”: Saenger,
Medical Aspects of Radiation Accidents,
p. 66.

20
“Once patients”: Cong. hearing,
Experiments Conducted by University of Cincinnati,
p. 361.

21
$671,000 … $483,000: Ibid., p. 174.

22
“Radioresistant tumors”: Shields Warren, “Ionizing Radiation and Medicine,”
Scientific American,
p. 170.

23
“Our patients of course”: Report for Feb. 1960—Oct. 1961 (DASA 1422 supplement), ES, p. 20.

24
“relatively good health”: Report for May 1, 1968—April 30, 1969 (DASA 2428), ES, p. i.

25
“clinically stable”: Report for May 1, 1969—April 30, 1970 (DASA 2599), ES, p. 1.

26
and able to “perform”: Report for May 1, 1970—April 30, 1971 (DNA 2751T), ES, p. 4.

27
placed in a sitting: Report for Nov. 1, 1961—April 30, 1963 (DASA 1422) ES, pp. 4–6.

28
“Whenever possible unidirectional”: Saenger to Ralph E. Ballinger, July 29, 1969, attachment, ES, p. 6.

29
acute radiation syndrome: Saenger et al., “Whole Body and Partial Body Radiotherapy,” p. 676.

30
viral infection: Saenger,
Medical Aspects of Radiation Accidents,
p. 63.

31
death of eight patients: Saenger et al., “Whole Body and Partial Body Radiotherapy,” p. 677.

32
nineteen patients died: The Ad Hoc Review Committee of the University of Cincinnati (“Suskind Report”), Jan. 1972, ES, p. 65.

33
One of the first patients: Report for Feb. 1960—April 30, 1966 (DASA 1844), ES, p. 105.

34
“My mother was extremely”: Cong. hearing,
Experiments Conducted by University of Cincinnati,
p. 389.

35
“His course was progressively”: Report for Feb. 1960—April 30, 1966 (DASA 1844), ES, p. 105.

36
“She went out”: Int. Lillian Pagano, June 16, 1994.

37
Jacobs had a normal: Report for Feb. 1960—April 30, 1966 (DASA 1844), ES, pp. 133–134.

38
working and walking: Martha Stephens, “An Annotated Record of Certain Short Survivors,” Sept. 7, 1994, p. 2.

39
“His condition continued”: Report for May 1, 1967—April 30, 1968 (DASA 2168), ES, pp. 45–46.

40
doctors never told: Tim Bonfield, “Widow: Man Believed Radiation Would Help,”
CE,
Feb. 5, 1994, p. 1.

41
“We kept being”: Saenger OH, p. 94.

42
“you fall down”: Ibid., p. 66.

43
“The patient is told”: Report for Feb. 1960—Oct. 1961 (DASA 1422 Supplement), ES, p. 3.

44
Saenger told a congressional: Cong. hearing,
Experiments Conducted by University of Cincinnati,
pp. 284–285.

45
“there are no other patients”: Report for Feb. 1960—Oct. 1961 (DASA 1422 Supplement) ES, p. 4.

46
“I tell them”: Int. Herb Varin, June 16, 1994.

47
“Following exposure”: Saenger to Ballinger, attachment, July 29, 1969, ES, p. 12.

48
“We have had”: Saenger and Ben I. Friedman, “An Appraisal of Human Studies in Radiobiological Aspects of Weapons Effects,” Nov. 14, 1962, ES, pp. 2–3.

49
“severe hematologic depression”: Report for Feb. 1960—April 30, 1966 (DASA 1844), ES, p. 17.

50
“Several of the patients”: Ibid., p. 9.

51
“marked hematological depression”: Friedman and Susan J. Toler, “The Effects of Filtration on Stored Human Bone Marrow,” attachment to Report for May 1, 1966—April 30, 1967 (DASA 2179), ES.

52
“would have been classified”: Report for May 1, 1968—April 30, 1969 (DASA 2428), ES, p. 6.

53
“In view of the life threatening”: Saenger to Ballinger, attachment, July 29, 1969, p. 10.

54
suffered a stroke: Stephens, “Annotated Record,” pp. 2–3.

55
Members of Saenger’s team: Cong. hearing,
Experiments Conducted by University of Cincinnati,
pp. 223–228.

56
“The nature and purpose”: Ibid., p. 223.

57
“This work”: Friedman and Saenger, “The Therapeutic Effect of Total Body Irradiation Followed by Infusion of Stored Autologous Marrow in Humans,” 1967, ES, p. 13.

58
“The radiation proposed”: George Shields to Edward Gall, “Protection of Humans with Stored Autologous Marrow,” March 13, 1967, ES.

59
“considerable morbidity”: Thomas Gaffney to Gall, April 17, 1967, ES.

60
“We hadn’t thought”: Keith Schneider, “Cold War Radiation Test on Humans to Undergo a Congressional Review,”
NYT,
April 11, 1994, p. 12.

61
“which may result”: Cong. hearing,
Experiments Conducted by University of Cincinnati,
p. 225.

62
“…   if you receive”: Ibid., p. 227.

63
Saenger was a consultant: Ibid., p. 188.

64
“ethical grounds”: Chairman, Faculty Committee on Research, to Members of Faculty Committee on Research, April 18, 1969, ES.

65
“a significant addition”: Cong. hearing,
Experiments Conducted by University of Cincinnati,
p. 266.

1
Litton felt perfectly healthy: All details and quotes on Litton case taken from medical records. Some specific sources listed below.

2
“Physical examination reveals”: Gerstner, “History and Physical,” May 10, 1961, Litton m.r.

3
“Mr. Litton seemed”: D. A. White, “Outpatient Note,” May 1, 1962, Litton m.r.

4
“experiment”: “Low Dose Total Body Irradiation,” Litton m.r.

5
“I told him”: D. A. White, “Outpatient Note,” Nov. 17, 1964, Litton m.r.

6
“I think he knew”: Int. Gary Litton, Sept. 18, 1995.

7
“His last 25”: “Final Summary,” Litton m.r.

8
ORINS scientists published: Andrews et al., “Hematologic and Therapeutic Effects of Total-Body Irradiation,” pp. 1–2.

9
“unreliable indicators”: Cong. hearing,
Total Body Irradiation at Oak Ridge,
p. 132.

10
two-part study: Ibid., pp. 159–163.

11
“cantankerous bastard”: Int. Clarence Lushbaugh, March 3, 1995.

12
“I wanted to go”: Ibid. 357 “People don’t like”: Ibid.

13
“I liked working”: Lushbaugh OH, pp. 25–26.

14
“In Los Alamos, I only had”: Int. Clarence Lushbaugh.

15
“In such typical slums”: Lushbaugh OH, p. 19.

16
ORINS proposed: Cong. hearing,
Total Body Irradiation at Oak Ridge,
p. 134.

17
“real time”: Ibid., p. 198.

18
LETBI cost $26 million: Ibid., p. 157.

19
irradiate four patients: Hubner OH, pp. 12–13.

20
developed acute leukemia: Vodopick OH, pp. 18–19.

21
“increasingly more relevant”: Cong. hearing,
Total Body Irradiation at Oak Ridge,
p. 390.

22
“like that which could occur:” Ibid., p. 379.

23
“without additional costs”: Ibid., p. 366.

24
merely interested in the data: Ibid., p. 158.

25
“We never considered them”: Howard Rosenberg, “Informed Consent: How Much Radiation Can an Astronaut Withstand? NASA Used Dwayne Sexton to Find Out,”
Mother Jones,
Sept./Oct. 1981, p. 37.

26
“The suggestion is”: Cong. hearing,
Human Total Body Irradiation at Oak Ridge,
p. 252.

27
“In the Cincinnati program”: Ibid., p. 115.

28
“The person who was going”: Lushbaugh OH, p. 28.

29
“substandard”: Charles E. Carter to James Liverman, “Program Review of the Medical Division of Oak Ridge Associated Universities,” attachment, April 16, 1974.

1
The convicts always knew: Description compiled from interviews with the following prisoners who were still incarcerated in 1994 in the Oregon State Penitentiary: Paul Tyrrell, Canyon Easton, Russell Obremski, Dwain Little, John Atkinson, and Charles Evans.

2
ideal test subjects: Heller et al., “Effects of Progesterone,”
Federation Proceedings,
p. 1057.

3
“our most unique”: PNRF, “Effects of Ionizing Radiation on the Testicular Function of Man,” renewal proposal, Aug. 1, 1970, Harold Bibeau personal papers, p. 41.

4
“the woman’s involvement”: William Boly, “The Heller Experiments,”
Oregon Times Magazine,
November 1977, p. 45.

5
“highly dangerous”: William Hutchinson, “Your Tomorrow,” May 1961, Harold Bibeau personal papers. (Hereafter records obtained from Bibeau will be identified as “HB.”)

6
“finally focused”: Rowley and Heller joint dep., July 19, 1976, p. 18.

7
distinguished-looking man: Int. Meta Heller, Sept. 30, 1996.

8
“Happily enough, nobody”: Austin Moore Brues, “The Chrysanthemum and the Feather Merchant,” Speech to Chicago Literary Club, Feb. 13, 1961, John Z. Bowers Papers, p. 3.

9
“As early as the fourth”: Howland and Stafford Warren, “Effects of the Atomic Bomb Irradiation on the Japanese,” Jan. 13, 1948, Department of Special Collections, UCLA Research Library, Stafford Warren Papers, MED Papers, Box 68, Folder 8, Item 13, p. 23.

10
“We propose to apply”: PNRF, “Effects of Ionizing Radiation on the Testicular Function of Man,” Proposal for U.S. AEC, February 1963, HB, p. 1.

11
“And how shall I”: Paulsen OH, p. 8.

12
“In our atomic age”: Paulsen, “Preliminary Research Proposal for the Study of Irradiation Effects on the Human Testis,” April 21, 1963, UW, p. 1.

13
“Because of the uniqueness”: Lauriston S. Taylor to Paul Henshaw, Dec. 9, 1965, HB.