1950s sci fi novel about a uranium asteroid and space Marines?

[Esme]

The space Marines were trying to keep the pure uranium asteroid out of the hands of the Russians. They fashion a bomb (for propulsion, I think?) out of asteroid chunks. One of the Marines was the last full blooded Hawaiian. This was one of my Dad's favorite books, I'd love to reread it.

 

[senlac]

Rip Foster Rides the Grey Planet

 

[Esme]

Rip Foster Rides the Grey Planet

Thanks for replying, but I don't think that's the right one.

 

[BAYLOR]

Could it be na Algis Budrys novel or something written but Hal Clement ?

 

[Geron Kees]

The space Marines were trying to keep the pure uranium asteroid out of the hands of the Russians. They fashion a bomb (for propulsion, I think?) out of asteroid chunks. One of the Marines was the last full blooded Hawaiian. This was one of my Dad's favorite books, I'd love to reread it.

This does sound like the plot of the Rip Foster novel. It was also known as Assignment in Space. The author was Harold Goodwin writing as Blake Savage. It was a thorium asteroid and the Russian contingent were called ConSops. The book was written in 1952 and echoes the power struggle politics of those times.