Frank F. Karasti
Frank Frederick Karasti | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 5, 1922 Winton, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | January 5, 1984 Ely, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1942–1948 |
| Awards | World War II Victory Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal |
Frank Fredrick Karasti (April 5, 1922 - January 5, 1984) was an atomic veteran who worked as a carpenter's mate in the US Navy from March 1942 to 1948. He played a key role in assisting the National Association of Atomic Veterans (NAAV) and the National Association of Radiation Survivors (NARS) pursue compensation from the US Government for the cancers and other illnesses that many of them received as a result of the radiation from the testing of nuclear weapons. He was born to Frank Oscar Karasti and Hilma Sofia Honkola, along with 8 siblings: Kalevi, Irja, Vilma, Allan, Aira, Eino, Nancy, and Dale, all Karastis.
Early life[edit]
Born April 15, 1922, Frank Karasti attended the public school in Winton, MN and at age 17 tried to join the U.S. Navy. His father finally signed the papers in 1942, and at age 20 he joined. His father had been a logger until the lumber mills in Winton closed, then went to work in the mines.
Military service[edit]
He enlisted to become a carpenter for the US Navy in March 1942 and the first ship he was assigned to was the USS Clamp in March 1946. His first 4 years was spent in Minneapolis learning how to be a carpenter. He was ranked at a Carpenters Mate 2nd class for the first 4 years and then was promoted in 1948. His second ship he was assigned to was the USS Benevolence from July 4 to July 12. He then was assigned to the USS Clamp again from July 14 to October 25 in 1946. He was then transferred to the USS Natachaug until June 4, 1947. On June 5 of the same year he was sent to the USS Ard, where he remained until September 2, 1948. Which he was then promoted to a Carpenters Mate 1st class.
Atomic experience[edit]
Frank participated in Operation Crossroads, clearing ships that nuclear weapon tests were conducted on. He would be sent with 3 other men to make sure the ships didn't sink and to make sure there wasn't any fires on the ship. He was part of Joint Task Force 1 for the atomic bombs testing to test the effects of the atomic bomb, in Bikini Atoll within the Marshall Islands. The baker underwater test was where he first started to realize the major effects of the radiation on his body. A day after the test Frank and 3 other seamen were sent aboard the USS Hughes to make sure it wouldn't sink. Upon entering the ship the men had realized animals had mutated from the radiation, just 1 day after the blast. Karasti recalled: "Out of the four hours we spent on her, two were spent vomiting and retching as we all became violently ill." Lesions appeared on his lungs about a month later and serious breathing problems evolved. Since 1948 he suffered from uncontrollable hypertension. As with many veterans, Karasti's skin developed frequent severe disturbances. "My skin is deteriorating on my whole body and it is possible to wash off parts of it while bathing... I have been aging ahead of my time and should I use any physical effort, I get ill for three days after." The day after the Able blast, Karasti was assigned to putting out fires on several of the target vessels, including the bull's-eye ship, the USS Nevada, which had been painted orange. Approximately two weeks later, a Navy crew of about 60 men boarded the Nevada where they ate and slept. Among this crew was seaman Michael W. Stanco. He said: "We became deathly ill after eating. I remember being so ill along with the others." Studies from his autopsy demonstrated that if he continued to have children, they would all be male, as his DNA was directly affected from the radiation.
Later life[edit]
After discharge from the service, Frank worked in the mines, then in construction. He was an excellent carpenter and cabinet maker like his father and his brother Alan. When he retired he went to work as a chauffeur for a mining company in Ely, MN. He died on January 5, 1984 of blood cancer, likely caused by the radiation he was exposed to from the USS Hughes.
Activism[edit]
This began his research into the atomic tests, a matter which had been classified and buried under numerous layers of government bureaucracy. Along with other men who suffered disabilities and believed them to be service connected, he researched people involved along with old records. He claimed to have been threatened by federal officers for revealing classified information. Eventually, the story came out and the veterans began getting Congressional support. Rep. Jim Oberstar was particularly active, using Frank as a first hand source of information on the issue. Frank Karasti died recognizing he would never benefit from the information he and the NAAV uncovered and made public. He felt it might help others so afflicted and might also make the general public aware of the terrible results of atomic testing and atomic weapons.
References[edit]
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1984-pt1/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1984-pt1-7-3.pdf
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