Christmas Island nuclear test veteran presented with service medal after almost 70 years

Caerphilly: So, guess what? Johnny Oates, a veteran from the UK, just got a medal for his service during those nuclear tests on Christmas Island. Can you believe it took almost 70 years?

He was just a teenager back in 1957 when he was sent to the island. Johnny wanted to escape the mines back home, so he joined the Royal Air Force. After some training, he found himself in the middle of the Pacific, overseeing nuclear tests.

The whole experience was wild. He remembers the heat hitting him like a wall when he landed. They had to sleep in tents, and there were crabs the size of dinner plates crawling around! It was a tough gig, but he felt a real bond with his fellow servicemen.

When the first bomb went off, it was surreal. They had to turn away and cover their eyes, thinking it was just a drill. But then, boom! The explosion was massive, and it scared the daylights out of them.

Johnny was part of a big group of about 22,000 people involved in these tests. While many veterans faced health issues from radiation, he considers himself lucky. Still, he’s been vocal about the need for compensation for those affected.

Recently, he received the Nuclear Test Medal, which is a long-overdue recognition for him and others who served. His daughter made sure he got it at a special ceremony, and it’s great to see him finally honored for his service.