Notes for: Coy Virgil Cumberledge

Article in "West Union Herald," Thursday, Dec 12 1946, in its entirety:

INJURED SAILOR TO BE PUT IN HOSPITAL IN STATES SOON
Mr. and Mrs. Pete Cumberledge of West Union have received a letter from their son Virgil Cumberledge, MMM 2c, USN, stating that he is a very happy and anxious son, as he has been promised that by Christmas he will be in a hospital in the United States.
Seaman Cumberledge was injured while on a minesweeper on duty at Balkins Island (sic) during the Atom Bomb test period. He was removed from that Island hospital to Pearl Harbor hospital where he is at the present time. Few facts have been learned concerning his illness.
He enlisted in October 1942, serving in the Pacific action. Later he reenlisted. His wife resides in Kearney, Nebraska.

NOTE: "Balkins Island" was likely intended to be Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands, where the United States conducted nuclear nesting from 1946 to 1953.