A Legacy of Service and Support

Charlie and his hunting retriever, Cold War Patriot Betsy

My name is Charlie, and I was born and raised in Los Alamos, New Mexico. While attending college, I spent three summers working at Los Alamos National Laboratory from 1966 to 1968 as part of a survey crew. My work involved mapping, taking measurements, and supporting infrastructure projects for scientists and engineers.

In 1969, I accepted a position with Reynolds Electrical & Engineering Company (REECO) at the Nevada Test Site, where I supported underground nuclear testing operations. As a college student, I lived onsite in Mercury, Nevada, a small community about 60 miles northwest of Las Vegas. Four of us shared a small trailer, and we paid just $5 a week to live there. During the summer months, temperatures regularly exceeded 100 degrees, and we had no air conditioning. Most of our work was outdoors, surveying roads, drainage systems, and other infrastructure across the test site. The heat could be relentless, but we were young, eager to work, and proud to contribute to an important national mission during the Cold War.

Looking back, I consider myself part of a larger effort. Although I wasn’t directly involved in the testing itself, my work helped support operations that were critical to national defense. Years later, I developed health conditions related to my work history and qualified under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). I became a Professional Case Management (PCM) client and Cold War Patriots (CWP) member in 2018. With the approval of PCM and CWP, I named my retriever, who competes in duck hunting tests, Cold War Patriot Betsy.

PCM has been an invaluable resource throughout my healthcare journey. Their team has helped me navigate program requirements, coordinate medical appointments, obtain equipment such as a walker and power chair, and connect me with knowledgeable physicians. They were especially supportive during my breast cancer diagnosis and radiation treatment. One of the greatest benefits has been having my wife serve as my Relative Personal Care Attendant (RPCA) for the past seven years. Her support, combined with PCM’s guidance and advocacy, has helped me maintain my independence and quality of life. I am grateful for PCM’s dedication, expertise, and compassion.