This is an IHeart podcast.

This is Lee Habib, and this is Our American Stories, the show where America is the star and the American people.

And to search for The Our American Stories podcast, go to the Iheart radio app or wherever you get your podcast.

From 1945 to 1992, the United States conducted 1,054 nuclear tests as a part of the nuclear arms race with Soviet Russia.

Many of these tests were conducted in Nevada, where soldiers were sent to be tested on by

military scientists and upper brass trying to figure out the psychological and health effects

brought on by the use of nuclear weapons.

One of those soldiers was Toby Madrid.

Here's listener Richard Munoz, who worked with Toby,

with the story of this atomic Marine.

The only two people I know of that ever heard this story

is myself and his son, JR.

As far as JR knows, he never told his story to anyone else.

Toby was in the Marines.

And in 1951 to 1957, out to Nevada Proving Grounds,

it was a small camp.

It was called Camp Desert Rock.

And it was barracks and mess halls and things like that, but it had one mission, one purpose.

It was to support military personnel while tests involving the atomic bomb were conducted.

I remember Sheriff Toby to Madrid, we were in his office. If you can call a broom closet with a light on a desk in an office.

He had a cup of coffee in his hands and he had feet up on the desk.

I mean, it was totally laid-back attitude.

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