[buccaneer81]

*
o
From USS Ronald Reagan Commanding Officer:

Family & Friends of USS Ronald Reagan:
...
I want to take this opportunity to personally assure you that first
and foremost all personnel aboard the USS Ronald Reagan are safe and
healthy.

During our mission to assist our close allies of Japan, we were
operating near the radioactive plume from Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear
Power Plant. As you may have already heard, radioactivity was detected
on 17 personnel from our ship, however, we promptly took the proper
precautions and the radioactivity was easily removed by using soap and
water. The levels that were detected were very low levels.
To put this into perspective, the maximum radiation dose received was
equal to the amount of natural background radiation one would receive in
one month from sources such as rocks, soil and the sun.

Ronald Reagan has since repositioned away from the Fukushima Dai-Ichi
Nuclear Power Plant.

As a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, we have extensive technical
expertise onboard to properly monitor such types of risks, and if
necessary, rapidly resolve the situation.

We have taken all the necessary precautions to ensure that everyone is
safe. We have closely monitored spaces, evaluated everyone who has flown
or worked on the flight deck and cleaned the aircraft.

I have not seen any levels of radiation or contamination that would
cause me to have any significant concerns at all.

As we continue to assist Japan in this terrible catastrophe, our
Sailor’s-and your loved ones’-safety will remain at the top of my
priority list.

Capt. Thom Burke
See More
28 minutes ago

[DoughtyOne]

Thank you. I appreciate the post.

Are there times when you feel like an idiot for wondering why in the sam hell anyone would do something, when they should know a lot better than you, but it seems obvious to you that common sense had no part in the decision?

Why would we possibly want to take even the the most minimal chance of contaminating the USS Ronald Reagan?

Wouldn’t you have positioned the ship down wind? Am I being unfair here?

I obviously don’t get it.

[newzjunkey]

Very informative.

[SE Mom]

This is important for anyone inclined to panic:

As you may have already heard, radioactivity was detected on 17 personnel from our ship, however, we promptly took the proper precautions and the radioactivity was easily removed by using soap and water. The levels that were detected were very low levels.

[1010RD]

As you may have already heard, radioactivity was detected on 17 personnel from our ship, however, we promptly took the proper precautions and the radioactivity was easily removed by using soap and water. The levels that were detected were very low levels. To put this into perspective, the maximum radiation dose received was equal to the amount of natural background radiation one would receive in one month from sources such as rocks, soil and the sun.

The headline needs to be changed. It isn't the original headline and is utterly misleading in light of this new information.

The actual headline reads: "USS Carrier Ronald Reagan Passes Through Radioactive Plume Off Japan Coast"

[fred2008]

God Bless the US Navy for having a cool hand at the helm of the RR.

Perspective is a wonderful thing.

[Pan_Yan]

... we promptly took the proper precautions and the radioactivity was easily removed by using soap and water.

I know the Captain is most likely a pilot shoved through NNPS, but surely he knows the difference between contamination and radiation?

[TxDas]

The radiation exposure of 144 millierem is the equivalent health risk of smoking about 100 cigarettes (5 packs) in your life time if you are a non-smoker.

AND, as we have learned here on FreeRepublic, cigarettes are good for you.

[agrace]

To put this into perspective, the maximum radiation dose received was equal to the amount of natural background radiation one would receive in one month from sources such as rocks, soil and the sun.

Oh my goodness, thanks for posting. There's nothing like proper context. At the top of the hour, Fox News had this alarmist headline about the Reagan pullback - "crew receives one month's radiation."