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National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

Roger Rasmussen

Electrical EngineerLos Alamos, NM

Trinity Site
Manhattan Project VeteranMilitary VeteranSpecial Engineer DetachmentSpouse to Manhattan Project WorkerTrinity Test Eyewitness
Roger Rasmussen. Photo courtesy of Mary Kavanagh. Listen to Roger Rasmussen’s Oral History on Voices of the Manhattan Project

Roger Rasmussen was an electrical engineer and member of the Special Engineer Detachment at Los Alamos.

Born in Mason City, Iowa, Rasmussen enlisted in the Army during World War II and was assigned to the Special Engineer Detachment at Los Alamos. He witnessed the Trinity test, which he vividly recalled in his 2015 interview with AHF.

After the war, Rasmussen had a long career at the Los Alamos laboratory. He was married to Manhattan Project staff member Jane Rasmussen; they met at Los Alamos during the war.

Rasmussen died in Los Alamos in 2017. For more information about his life, see this obituary and AHF’s in memoriam.

Photo courtesy of Mary Kavanagh.

Roger Rasmussen’s Timeline
1920 Nov 13th Born in Mason City, Iowa.

1942 Enlisted in the Army.

1945 Jan Assigned to the Special Engineer Detachment at Los Alamos.

1945 Jul 16th Witnessed the Trinity test.

19461982 Worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

2017 May 4th Passed away in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

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