OFFS. He was in the Navy. From the advantage of my declining years, he was just a kid. I don’t think he could even vote. Sometimes stuff had to be done in the water, and a lot of the sailors couldn’t swim. The weather at Bikini Atol was warm, and the public was not present. The Navy didn’t use to be any more frightened by nakedness than the rest of society was. See High schools, YMCAs, and nude swimming - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board .