I witnessed a one megaton thermonuclear weapons test set off as part of "Operation Dominic" close to Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean on June 8, 1962. I was there as directed by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and the Director of Task Force 8.0, Lt. General Alfred Starbird, to test the Air Force Nuclear Detection and Reporting System 477L (NUDETS), The detonation occurred at about nine thousand feet above the ocean several miles south of the Island at 6:02AM local time. I was standing in an open field with three U. S. airmen about 35 miles from the burst. Thirty seconds before the detonation, the public announcing system told us to turn our backs to the test and to be sure we had on two sets of dark glasses over our eyes. The initial output of the weapon was an incredibly intense pulse of light which we felt and saw even through our dark glasses. Turning to face the source I was frightened by the fireball blazing white-hot as it grew rapidly in size. It rose as it grew, forming a condensation mushroom-like stem underneath, with its color slowly cooling to yellow, to orange, and eventually to red. I wondered if it would ever stop or just grow until it engulfed us. Just as I realized I was safe from the fireball, the three airmen suddenly put their hands over their ears and the blast wave hit us with the loudest BANG! I have ever heard. They then left to go about their duties while I stood thinking about the consequences of the test. One megaton is a "city-buster" which would leave millions dead and dying if it ever were used on a city. I watched the fireball become surrounded with clouds as it drifted off towards South America and then on around the world, distributing its radioactivity to contaminate everything and everybody on the planet. The test I witnessed was just one of 26 set off near Christmas Island with another six detonated in the stratosphere above Johnston Island. Of course, the Soviets had set off a similar number the previous August and September, 1961.
I just wish the politicians in every country on earth could have witnessed such a blast and would be as frightened and impressed as I was. Perhaps we would hear fewer calls to bomb other nations, and perhaps the "summit" meeting this week in South Korea will take steps to limit and eventually get rid of all nuclear weapons.

This guy brought to life some of the most unforgettable characters in film. Srgnt Elias of course - but who can forget the guy (Bobby Peru) in 'Wild at Heart' (jump all around that hole? or his interpretation of Jesus? He re-defined the vampire in 'Nosferatu'. He established equilibrium in 'Mississippi Burning'. Thanks Willem for all your good work. jk

Thanks so much for airing the interview with Willem Dafoe. I think he's arguably one of the best actors of the 20th and 21st centuries. I was pleasantly surprised this morning! Thank you!