Bob Sands

That's Linda Silkwood Vincent, Karen's youngest sister.

That's Linda Silkwood Vincent, Karen's youngest sister.

So she had dreams.

So she had dreams.

We met Linda and Karen's other sister, Rosemary Silkwood Smith, at Rosemary's home, 30 minutes east of Houston. We wanted to get a better picture of who Karen was as a young woman before she turned into the fearless whistleblower we know.

We met Linda and Karen's other sister, Rosemary Silkwood Smith, at Rosemary's home, 30 minutes east of Houston. We wanted to get a better picture of who Karen was as a young woman before she turned into the fearless whistleblower we know.

Karen took care of people. She would help friends with their schoolwork and volunteered as a candy striper at the hospital. But Karen also liked living on the edge a little bit. She was gutsy.

Karen took care of people. She would help friends with their schoolwork and volunteered as a candy striper at the hospital. But Karen also liked living on the edge a little bit. She was gutsy.

And she taught you how to drive?

And she taught you how to drive?

Well, Mary isn't quite right. With her being 19 and Bill only 18, no one would legally marry them without their parents' permission.

Well, Mary isn't quite right. With her being 19 and Bill only 18, no one would legally marry them without their parents' permission.

Karen's son, Michael, says his mom was stubborn, for better or worse. She'd get into heated debates with her father-in-law. Michael says other people would have been intimidated to challenge this big, accomplished, headstrong Navy vet. Not Karen.

Karen's son, Michael, says his mom was stubborn, for better or worse. She'd get into heated debates with her father-in-law. Michael says other people would have been intimidated to challenge this big, accomplished, headstrong Navy vet. Not Karen.

In the early days, life with Bill was exciting. Bill Meadows talked about those early days in an A&E documentary from 2001 called Karen Silkwood, A Life on the Line.

In the early days, life with Bill was exciting. Bill Meadows talked about those early days in an A&E documentary from 2001 called Karen Silkwood, A Life on the Line.

Bill Meadows told us that in his marriage to Karen, when things were good, they were very good. And when they were bad, they were very bad.

Bill Meadows told us that in his marriage to Karen, when things were good, they were very good. And when they were bad, they were very bad.

To her sisters, Karen seemed resigned to stay in the marriage, but then she found out about something else.

To her sisters, Karen seemed resigned to stay in the marriage, but then she found out about something else.