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Atomic worker profile
Daughter peels layers of secrecy from Mound worker's death
Monday, November 13, 2006
YELLOW SPRINGS — Deb Jerison is getting to know her father. He died in 1960.
Jerison was only 10 then. She remembers a loving father with a good sense of humor.
Extras
"He liked music," she said. "When he was really too sick to do anything else, we'd tape musicals off the radio and we'd listen to them."
But much of what Jerison knows about physicist James Mackeroness Goode, she has learned since 2002, when she started helping her mother seek $150,000 in federal compensation for Goode's long-ago death.
Jerison has been trying to peel back the layers of secrecy surrounding Goode's work at Miamisburg's Mound Laboratory, track down Eisenhower-era documents and navigate the federal bureaucracy in hopes of proving that her father's work led to his death at 36. Goode's death certificate lists "Hodgkin's disease, pulmonary extension" as the cause, but an autopsy report that might provide more information is missing.
Goode started working at Mound in 1949. The plant made polonium triggers for nuclear weapons during the Cold War arms race. In an old photo, he is wearing a big fedora as a sign of his admiration for J. Robert Oppenheimer, father of the atomic bomb.
"He didn't talk about his work," said Janet Goode, his widow and Jerison's mother. "There was no pillow talk about Mound Laboratory."
Mrs. Goode knows this much: "They were a bunch of cowboys. They wanted to find out first (before the Soviets). They were really devoted scientists. There was pressure on them, because nobody knew what was happening on the other side of the world."
She also now knows her husband worked with extremely hazardous substances, including highly radioactive polonium, radium and the toxic metal beryllium.
She recalls a 1950s dinner party with other Mound workers and their wives. When one woman asked for a cup of the coffee substitute Postum, the women were puzzled when the men laughed uproariously. Mrs. Goode learned a couple of years ago that Postum was the code name for polonium.
Goode was present during several accidents at Mound, Mrs. Goode said. In one case, in 1950, he was sent home for three days after a container broke and he was exposed to radioactivity. "They tested everything that came out of his body — urine and feces."
By late 1955, Goode would grow short of breath, his wife noticed. The following spring, he developed "a large swelling on the side of his neck." Doctors diagnosed Hodgkin's disease, and treatment succeeded in putting the disease into remission.
Goode left Mound for a job at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in April 1957. But the cancer returned in mid-1959, while Mrs. Goode was pregnant with the couple's fourth child. Goode was repeatedly hospitalized in 1960 as his condition worsened.
When a doctor showed Mrs. Goode her husband's chest X-ray, she saw why he was so short of breath: "His lungs were difficult to distinguish — the branches were almost obscured with fuzzy filaments that looked like strings of cotton wool."
Jim Goode died under an oxygen tent at Dayton's St. Elizabeth Hospital on July 28, 1960.
"Basically, I had two childhoods," said Jerison, the Goodes' oldest child. "The one where my father was alive and the other one, which was much more complicated — and depressed."
Jerison said she didn't know her dad worked with radiation until she was 20. She became convinced his death was caused by workplace exposures. "I was getting mad about it" in the 1970s, but there was no compensation program for atomic workers until 2000.
In recent years, Jerison has traveled the state and fired off letters and Freedom of Information Act requests in hopes of securing records. She located some documents at the new Mound museum in Miamisburg, but key records such as the autopsy report and chest X-rays remain missing.
"My dad died when I was 10 and I didn't know him as an adult," Jerison said. "This (research) has been a way to connect with that."
Program officials have performed two "dose reconstructions" to see if Goode's cancer was "as least as likely as not" caused by workplace exposures. The first one came back at about 18 percent probability, the second about 45 percent, still below the 50 percent required to qualify for compensation.
But Jerison hasn't given up.
"I started with a notebook (of research)," she said. "Now there's a file cabinet and a computer full. It's ridiculous, but I'd really like to get my mom paid."
Comments
By M.J.Kraft
November 20, 2006 06:28 PM | Link to this
I hired on at Mound 1980 entry level ,{labor gang].Assignments ranging from ,office moves,,assisting skilled trades in and out of contaminated areas, yards and grounds,and digging lots of holes.In 1986 I moved up to Firefighter classification. Fire prevention was top priority.For the 13 years myself, and 8 other firefighters perforfmed ispections over every inch of every building. Hot or cold. In 1990 I was diagnosed with COPD,1994Moderate Emphysema,Lung Cancer 2006.Do yourself A favor
By Trish Quinn
November 20, 2006 11:49 AM | Link to this
Very well reported article. I work on a similar program as the WHHP but its for the construction and building trades workers that worked at Mound, Fernald and other various DOE sites. We offer an in-depth work history questionnaire and a free medical screening exam. If you worked construction at a DOE site, please call us at 1-888-464-0009. Or check us out on-line at www.btmed.org.
By Mary M.
November 19, 2006 08:27 PM | Link to this
I’ve just reread the entire series. Why does it begin with Mound in 1948? What happened at Bonebrake and the Runnymede Playhouse long before 1948 was even more dangerous and secretive.
By Mary M.
November 19, 2006 08:14 PM | Link to this
Investigative reporting at it finest (and most expensive) so it isn’t often seen in daily newspapers. I am a Mound widow and also a Mound survivor as I worked on the “cool” side. At age 81 I consider myself very, very lucky.
By nukeboy
November 16, 2006 10:23 AM | Link to this
Thanks for reporting a story which has been reported about a zillion times already. This is old news.
By Paige Gibson
November 16, 2006 08:24 AM | Link to this
I also wanted to thank DDN for continually keeping this story in the news. Good article. As part of Mound/WHPP we are starting a database to help people with their claims. Because of the cloak of secrecy we worked under and records that are missing we rely on workers for their stories and information. Anything that you can offer may help a fellow Mound worker and thanks to everyone who has already contributed. We have information that spans the decades!!!
By Paige Gibson
November 16, 2006 08:19 AM | Link to this
I worked at Mound as did my father. I became aware of the occpational exposure and got involved. I now work for Mound Workers Health Protection Program. We offer Mound workers a free medical screening. Since July we have diagnosed 6 people with lung cancer or asbestosis. We are also helping people with their claims. What a mess! So Mound people if you have questions or comments call us at 937-866-6802.
By Paige Gibson
November 16, 2006 08:12 AM | Link to this
I worked at Mound as did my father. I became aware of the occupational exposures and got involved. i am now one of three people who work at Mound Workers Health Protection Program. We offer free medical screenings to people who worked at Mound. We are also helping people with the ridiculous amount of paperwork in the compensation program.Since we started in July 6 people have been diagnosed with lung cancer& asbestosis.Questions call 937-866-6802
By Carolyn
November 14, 2006 09:39 PM | Link to this
Excellent series. Your series and others in papers near other sites where atomic workers worked and became ill should be circulated in each community so readers know the situation in the local plant was repeated over and over all over the country.
These plants, not to mention the bombs they helped create, were the American weapons of mass destruction of several generations of workers.
By WALT
November 14, 2006 09:15 PM | Link to this
I WORKED AT MOUND FOR 36 YEARS IN SOME OF THE MOST HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS. I AM NOW PAYING THE PRICE WITH CHRONIC INCURABLE LUNG DISEASE. I AM TRYING TO WORK MY WAY THRU THE PAPER WORKMILL WHICH STARTED OVER 2 YEARS AGO.
By Sam Elliott
November 14, 2006 04:49 PM | Link to this
I worked at this site in 1982 and this is the first of heard of any type of health risk. Who do I contact?????
Sicerely,
Sam Elliott
By Carrie
November 14, 2006 03:33 PM | Link to this
The Dayton Daily News(paper) just did a huge 3-part story on this, Ohio’s Nuclear Legacy. Very good. Dates Nov. 12, 13, 14. Check it out online at www.daytondailynews.com
By Bill
November 14, 2006 12:54 PM | Link to this
I worked at the infamous “bomb” plant for 31 years and am still healthy except for an unrelated heart problem. Don’t blame the plant for the bad stuff that happened and ignore the fact that most people never have had a health problem from working there. Help the ones that have!
By Bill
November 14, 2006 12:51 PM | Link to this
Having worked at the Piketon plant from 1967 until 1998, I believe I know a little about the conditions of the plant. Many mistakes were made by plant workers and management. Many ex-workers have died because of working at the plant. I’m fortunate to be healthy except for a unrelated heart problem. Don’t condemn the plant because times were different then, help those today that need help!
By Bill Bankes
November 14, 2006 12:17 PM | Link to this
I worked at Mound and my Grandfather worked at Fernald, Waverly, and GE Evendale. He died in 1963 of Cancer caused by exposure.
His claim was denied because they would not accept his time at GE and a site to be included although there were large amounts of radioactive materials there.
By Deb
November 14, 2006 07:40 AM | Link to this
Thank you for publishing this extremely important and well written series. People need to know what is and was happening in Ohio’s nuclear industry as well as the problems people struggle with trying navigate the complicated EEOICPA compensation program.
By Jodi Hingtgen
November 13, 2006 09:48 PM | Link to this
Is anyone keeping a central repository or database of people who worked at the Mound and have since died of unnatural causes? Anyone other than the government? My mother (Doris Hill) worked there between 1956 and 1963 and died of various cancers when she was only 42 and I was 16. NIOSH has so far denied my claims. Any information on people who worked there in the late 50’s and early 60’s would be be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Jodi
By Charles Driver
November 13, 2006 06:21 PM | Link to this
Just a note to say thanks for publishing the articles concerning the conditions of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. I have corresponded with Vina Colley for years and can verify, as a former worker in the Paduch Gaseous Diffusion plant and a victim of Heavy Metals Poisoning resulting in total disability, that all her information is correct and accurate. We were told the same lies in different plants for years, resulting in hard to diagnose illnesses that have destroyed our health.
By J
November 13, 2006 05:19 PM | Link to this
My dad worked at Y-12 in Oakridge. I say was because he contracted lung cancer and died. His work/medical records say he was exposed to uranium and radiation. It has been 4 years on the claim. It got to the final adjudication and the person in charge told my siblings and me that he was going to approve the claim. Five days later we received notice that it was going back to NIOSH reconstruction when the govt had already said that dose reconstruction could not be done. Go figure!
By Nelson
November 13, 2006 04:51 PM | Link to this
Having worked at the plant for over 40 years, I believe while there were problems, chain smoking and failure to use provided safety equipment caused many problems.
By Cindy
November 13, 2006 03:58 PM | Link to this
…and We The People pay for all of this.
By Terri Robson
November 13, 2006 01:32 PM | Link to this
The Piketon Site sounds like where The cartoon show the Simpsons got their idea from. As long as the American Government does not recognize the degree which it has poisoned not only the planet but, it’s own citizens and as long as the world leaders do not push for an accounting and retribution of these CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY as that is the only way to describe the actions nothing will ever get done or be resolved.
By Katelyn
November 13, 2006 11:55 AM | Link to this
As an EnvironmentalHealthNews.org regular, I read this excellent article right after this Washington Post piece on the legacy of Agent Orange in Vietnam: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/12/AR2006111201065.html.
It impresses me how we have caused great environmental (and thus HUMAN HEALTH) destruction at home and abroad, indiscriminately.
How can my generation ensure America stops repeating these mistakes?
By Greg
November 13, 2006 09:17 AM | Link to this
A very well reported story. It underlines the need for safe energy alternatives - most notably solar energy. Another interesting question would be - how is Utah or Nevada better managed? and what is the long term disposal plan? store it forever until it decays?
By Stephanie
November 13, 2006 07:37 AM | Link to this
Thank you for bringing these important issues to light!