Podcast Interview Seth Brees Podcast Interview Seth Brees

LIFE ON JOHNSTON ISLAND DURING THE COLD WAR

Stationed on Sand Island, a tiny islet near the main atoll, Frank worked in a satellite tracking station built atop debris from the 1964 Thor rocket explosion. He described a stark, isolated life: no women were present, and recreation was limited to weightlifting, softball on a coral field, and rain-soaked outdoor movies. The mess hall, run by Holmes & Narver, offered gourmet meals like filet mignon—a rare luxury on an island steeped in danger.

One vivid memory was a 1967 Thor rocket launch targeting an orbiting object. The night sky erupted in yellow, orange, and green as a nuclear explosion lit up the horizon, confirming the mission’s success. Unbeknownst to him, the island’s radioactive past, including two Thor rocket explosions in 1962 and 1964, violated a nuclear test ban treaty, explaining the secrecy surrounding his work.

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