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Table of Contents
Survivors and Descendants
My Trip to the Marshall Islands
When I began the Bikini Project in 2018, I knew immediately that I wanted to visit the Marshall Islands. The pandemic, however, made travel to the Marshall Islands impossible. Travel restrictions were finally lifted, and I resumed my travel plans. I was in the Marshall Islands February 29-March 16, 2024. It was a wonderful trip that focused on locating and meeting the survivors of Operation Crossroads. I also learned more about the nuclear legacy of the Marshall Islands and the culture and way of life of the Marshallese people.
I made the images below during my trip. I hope they will convey a sense of the people and their humanity. If we can recognize our common humanity, I believe we can pause, contemplate and prevent the use of nuclear weapons in tests and in war.
Bikini Survivors of Operation Crossroads 1946
Nine survivors of Operation Crossroads are alive today. Four live in Majuro and one on Kili Island in the Marshall Islands. Two live in Hilo in Hawaii, and the remaining two live in Oregon and Washington. I wanted to meet the survivors to personally acknowledge the sacrifice of their homeland and to apologize for my father’s participation in Operation Crossroads. I located and met with four survivors during my visit. I presented them with plaques inscribed “Bikini Survivor, in recognition of your kindness, generosity and the sacrifice of your homeland.” They appreciated the plaques and welcomed me.
Castle Bravo Survivors
Two survivors of the Castle Bravo test participated in Nuclear Victims Remembrance Day events in Majuro, March 1, 2024. The United States detonated Castle Bravo, a thermonuclear bomb, in Bikini Atoll March 1, 1954.
Descendants of United States Nuclear Testing 1946-1958
Between 1946 and 1958 the United States tested 67 nuclear weapons in the Marshall Islands. The first tests occurred at Bikini during Operation Crossroads July 1 and 25, 1946. My father, Will Whitmore, was a participant in this program.
The United States’s nuclear testing program resulted in extreme health and environmental damage to the Marshallese people and their culture. Nevertheless, they have been resilient. The survivors and descendants are proud of their resilience. However, “resilience” should never be used to rationalize the dehumanization of members of any culture or to justify the violation of human rights and crimes against humanity.
Nuclear Victims Remembrance Day: March 1, 2024
To hear directly from the leaders of the Marshall Islands regarding their nuclear legacy, please listen to the speeches delivered during the Nuclear Victims Remembrance Day events March 1, 2024. I was in attendance and was moved by the words and the emotions.