Marshall Islands Chronology: 1944-1981

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, KARSHALL ISLANDS CHRONOLOGY - ERRATUM SHEET Page 12. column 1 and 2. “1955 - March 9 United Xations. . .‘I

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Weapons Testim--even numbered left hand pages 4-34; destruction of island homeLands and radioactive wntamination of people, land and food sources. Resettlement of People--odd numbered right hand pages 5-39; the struggle to survive in exile. There is some necessary overlap for clarity; a list of sources used concludes the Chronology on pages 36 and 38. BIKINI ATOLL IN 1946, PRIOR TO THE START OF THE NUCLEAR TESTS. 2nd edition published August 1981

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Marshall Islands people have borne the brunt of U.S. military activity in Micronesia, from nuclear weapons experiments and missile testing to relocations of people and radioactive contamination of people and their environment. All, as an American military commder said of the Bikini teats, “for the good of mankind and to end all world wars.” Of eleven United Nations Trusteeships created after World War II, only Micronesia was designated a “strategic” trust, reflecting its military importance to the United States. Ihe U.N. agreement haa allowed the U.S. to use the islands for military purposes, while binding the U.S. to advance the well being of the people of Micronesia. Western nuclear powers have looked on the Pacific, because of its small isolated populations, aa an “ideal” location to conduct nuclear activities unwanted In their own In addition to Bikini and Enewetak, the U.S. has tested nuclear weapons at Johnston and Christmas Islands; the British at Christmas Island and In Australia; and the French continue to test at Moruroa and Fangataufa Atolls in “French” Polynesia. More than 180 atomic and hydrogen bombs have been detonated in the Pacific region since 1946; over 100 by the The health and safety of people, be they Marshallese or American citizens and military personnel, has been a very low priority in the U.S. government’s nuclear testing program. As Commissioner Libby of the Atomic Energy Commission said in 1953: “People have got to learn to live with the facts of life, and part of the facts of life are fallout.” The Marshall Islands Chronology tells the story of U.S. military activities In Marshall Islands and their effect on Marshallese peoples’ lives and environment. story that has remained untold for too long. Bravo H-bomb test at Bikini, 1954 6 Enewetak People Moved to Ujelang, 1947 9 tidioactive Fallout Contaminates People 8 Kwajalein Missile Tests Begin 16 Kwaj alein Landowners Crisis on Ujelang Bikini Declared Safe Evacuated for Tests 13 Inadequate Medical Treatment Protested 22 Enewetak Cleanup Planned 23 Enewetakese Force Cancellation of Tests 24 Ebeye: A Biological “Time Bomb” 27 Study Shows Unexpected Cancer Increase 26 Bikini Resettlement Attempt Fails 31 Marshallese Health problems Worsen 32 Kwajalein People Occupy Islands 33 Sources 36 Bikini, A Nuclear Waste Bump? 37

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1945 AUGUST 6 Japan: The U.S. drops a 13 kiloton atomic bomb on Hiroshima city, killing approximately 100,000 people. Three days later a second atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki city, killing approximately 70,000 people. NOVEMBER Washington: American military and political leaders begin planning nuclear experiments for further development of nuclear weapons. Two tests, code named Operation CROSSROADS, are planned to demonstrate the effects of atomic explosions on naval vessels. A search is begun for an appropriate 1946 JANUARY Washington: Navy officials in Washington, D.C. announce that Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands fulfills all climatic, geographical and other requirements for Operation CROSSa small population of 167; a protected anchorage; and under the control of the gins and includes two atomic bomb blasts, Able (July l), an air drop, and Baker (July 25), an underwater test. These bombs 3re about the size of the About 42,030 military men and scientists participate in this test series.. 947 DECEMBER Enewetak: The Navy decides that Enewetak Atoll will be riods ad were subjected to mnStudies of Participants in Nuclear Tests, National Academy of Sciences, September 1980. 1948 APRIL Enewetak: Operation SAND- :ISTONE begins and includes three atomic blasts ranging in strength from 18 && 49 kilotons, detonated from towers: XRay (April 151, Yoke (May 1) and Zebra 1951 APRIL Enewetak: Operation GREENHOUSE begins. This series includes four atomic tests exploded on towers: Dog (April 8), Easy (April 211, George (May 9) and Item (May 25). Easy test is 47 kilotons; information on the others remains classified. Approsimately 3,200 military men participate in this series. 1947 JULY The Marshall Islands, along with the Caroline and Mariana Islands, formerly under a League of Nations Mandate to the Japanese, become the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific, administered by the United States. 1952 NOVEMBER Enewetak: Operation IVY begins. It includes the first Mike (November 11, estimated at 10.4 megatons (750 times greater than rbe described as a "high yield" 500 kiloton

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Excerpt from the United Nations United States Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands: ligations under Article 76(b) of the Charter, the administering au2. promote the economic advancement and self-sufficiencyof the inhabitants, and to this end shall regulate the use of the natural resources; encourage the development of fisheries, agriculture, and industries; protect the inhabitants against the loss of their lands and resources; and improve the means of transportationand 3. promote the social advancement of the inhabitants, and to this end shall protect the rights and fundamental freedoms of all elements of the population without 1944 FEBRUARY Enewetak: United States forces attack and overcome major Japanese fortificationson Enewetak Atoll after heavy pre-invasion bombardment in which some Marshallese are killed. FEBRUARY Kwajalein: U.S. forces capture Kwajalein Atoll from the Japanese after heavy fighting. Americans recruit Marshallese to remove battle debris and build warehouses, air strips, air craft hangers and other military facilities on Kwajalein Island. Families join Marshallese workers at Kwajalein labor Kwajalein: The world's largest atoll is made up of approximately 93 tiny coral islands that encircle an 839 square mile ocean lagoon. Total land area of 93 islands is only 6.64 square miles. 1945 Enewetak: The Americans build a runway, barracks, warehouses and other base facilities to carm on the Pacific war. The Enewetak people are fed,clothed and housed by the U.S.Navy on Aomon and Bijire Islads in Enewetak Atoll. 1946 JANUARY Bikini: Washington, D.C. officials select Bikini Atoll for the first series of nuclear bomb tests and its population of 167 must be moved FEBRUARY Bikini: One month after the decision was made in Washington, D.C. to use Bikini Atoll for nuclear'experiments, the military governor of the Marshalls obtains the consent of Bikini's paramount chief for the relocation of his people. The American military governor informs the Bikinians that the scientists are experimentingwith nuclear bombs ti...for the good of mankind and to end all world wars." The Bikinians, with no alternative, agree to leave their home. THE TRUST TERRITORY OF THE PACIFI AND OCEAN AREA OF THREE MILLION MARCH Bikini: As the Bikinians prepare to leave, approximately 250 naval ships 150 aircraft for observation and transport and thousands of military and scientific personnel begin arriving for MARCH Bikini: Because the Americans sai that Bikini would be returned to its people at the conclusion of the tests, the Blkinians believe their move ie

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atomic test. The Mike blast vaporizes Elugelab Island leaving a crater one mile in diameter and 175 feet deep in the coral reef. NOVEMBER 16 Enewetak: Ujelang Atoll, 150 miles southwest of "ground zero" is contaminated with radioactive fallout from the 500 kiloton King test. ing up to the blast the prevailing upper level teughs indicated that wind was blowing to the vicinity of our island." U.S. MILITARY COMMANDERS ARRIVE IN Gene Curbow, HQ Weather Report- FEBRUARY 1946 TO TELL THE BIKINIANSI ing Element, iU.S.Air Force) on THEY MUST LEAVE TREIR ATOLL TO MAKE 1 1954 JANUARY Rongerik: 25 Air Force and 3 Army men arrive on Rongerik Atoll, 125 miles east of Bikini, to set up a weather monitoring station in preparation for Operation CASTLE. This nuclear test series is to include the largest announced hydrogen bomb exploded by the L.S. The Rongerik weather station begins regular observations to determine temperature, barometric conditions and wind velocity up to and including 100,000 feet allove sea level. FEBRUARY Roilgelap: John Anjain, the Hagistrate oi Rongelap Atoll, is warned by an American Navy friend that the Rongelap people may be in danger from the upcoming Bravo hydrogen bomb test. But he doesn’t know the date of the test, and says there are no orders from Washington to evacuate the people. Rongerik: The weather station men intensify their observations, as the test date draws near, checking surface wind directions and barometric conditions hourly and upper level weather condi- -.. tions ever'y two hours. They report to quarters that winds are blowing east from Bikini towards Rongerik and other inhabited atolls. MARCH Bikini: Operation CASTLE begins WAY FOR THE NUCLEAR TESTS. at Bikini and Enewetak lasting through May. The series includes Bravo, a*Qmegaton hydrogen bomb blast, and five other tests. Koon test (April 7) is listed at 110 kilotons; information on imately 7,200 military men participate in this test series. MARCH 1 Bikini: At 6:45 a.m., the Bravo surface detonation creates a blinding flash of light followed by a fireball of intense heat, tens of millions of degrees, shooting upward at a rate of 300 miles an hour. Within 10 minutes the giant nuclear cloud reaches more than 100,000 feet. Winds several hundred miles per hour at the center and 76 to 100 miles an hour at the blast's edge rock the placid lagoon like a full "The sky was suddenly completely lit up, brighter, if possible than daylight itself...The shock wave that came after the initial blast was so tremendous that all the damaged in one way or another. Almost all of the windows just Xmald Laker, Air Force radio operator, Rongerik Atoll, 1954.

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re-settle on nearby Rongerik Atoll, 125 miles east, although they recognize its drawbacks: poor quality coconuts, unusable well water and many species of fish which are edible on Bikini but are poisonous at Rongerik. BIKINI ATOLL, SITE OF 23 ANNOUNCED NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS relocation is accomplishedwith little planning. ‘Ihe people are moved swiftly from Bikini to uninhabited Rongerik, whose 17 islands barely contain onehalf square mile of dry land surrounding a lagoon of only 55 square miles, compared to Bikini's 2.3 square miles of land and 299 square mile lagoon. MAY Rongerik: Less than two months after their arrival the Bikinians express anxiety over Rongerik's meager resources, and make the first of many requests to return home. Enewetak: In preparation for the July atomic tests at Bikini, the Enewetak people are evacuated to Meek Island in Kwajalein Atoll, and the Rongelap and Wotho people are relocated to.Lae Atoll for the duration of the Bikini tests. Rongerik: The people of Rongelap Atoll, just 25 miles from Rongerik, catch fish and prepare food and transport it by outrigger canoes to Rongerik to help JULY Bikini: Bikini magistrate Juda ie flown to view the results of the first atomic test. Detonated over the lagoon, the bomb had caused little,visible damage to the islands. When he reports this, the Bikinians' desire to return ation on Rongerik worsens. Food shortages occur during late 1946 and early 1947 MAY Rongerik: A disastrous fire damages an estimated 30% of the productive coconut trees on Rongerik. JULY Rongerik: The situation on Rongcrik further deteriorates. A medical officer, after visiting Rongerik, reports the AUGUST Rongerik: An investigat?o? board eppointed by the U.S. administration to look into the Bikinian's pligb: meets with the people on Rongerik and reports: insufficient food, a bankrupt store, low supplies of water and only one brackish well on the island. Pe pear that their departure from Rongerik has been too long delayed." SEPTEMBER Rongerik: Harold Ickes, a fcrmer cabinet member under Presilznt Frankiin Roosevelt, in a nationaliy syndicated newspaper column makes Feritration for neglecting the Bikinians orI Rongerik and arouses a storm of critilage on Rongerik that anyone woulc? be proud to live !;)...Thz natives are delighted, enthusiastic about the atomic bomb, which has aiready brought them prosperirly and a nw U.S.Navy press statement, April

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Bikini: JTF-7 ships are located in monitoring positions about 40 miles east of Bikini. Within minutes of the explosion, Navy personnel see the eastward movement of the radioactivecloud and the ships begin to record a steady increase in radiation levels. All men are ordered below decks and hatches and watertight doors are sealed. Bikini: Hundreds of millions of tons of material from Bikini's reef, islands and lagoon are lifted into the air by Bravo. Approximately one and a half hours after the blast, a "gritty white ash" begins to fall on the 22 fishermen aboard the Japanese fishing vessel, the aware that the ash is fallout from a nuclear test. Soon after the fallout, they begin showing the effects of acute radiation exposure: itching skin, nausea and vomiting. Rongelap: About three to four hours after the blast, a white, snow-like ash begins to fall on the 64 people living on Rongelap and the 18 Rongelapese on Ailinginae, about 100 miles east of Bikini. The Rongelap people receive no official warning of the Bravo test, nor any notification of precautions to take to protect themselves from the fallout. The radioactive dust soon forms a layer on the island 2 inches deep. It turns the drinking water a brackish yellow and contaminates the food. Ry nightfall, as a result of perience severe vomiting and diarrhea. Atomic Energy Commission press re- "During the course of a routine atomic test in the Marshall Islands, 28 United States personnel and 236 residents were transported from neighboring atolls to Kwajalein Island according to a plan as a precautionary measure. These individuals were unexpectedly exposed to some radioactivity. There were no burns. All were reported well. After the ,vmpletion of the atomic tests, the natives will be returned Rongerik: The 28 Air Force and Army men, although providing hourly weather reports to Enewetak headquarters, are not warned when Bravo will be exploded. Within hours of the blast, 125 miles away, radioactive ash begins falling on them. "If you can imagine a snow storm in the middle of the Pacific, that's what it was like," said one Rongerik Air Force man. Rongerik: The weather station reports the fallout to the Enewetak JTF-7 headquarters but receives no instructions about precautions to take. A second message is transmitted to Enewetak requesting evacuation, but headquarters replies that there are no airplanes available to evacuate Rongerik. Utirik: Almost 275 miles east of Bikini, the Utirik people are the last to ex-q< perience the fallout from Bravo. The fallout begins late in the day and is Bikini: Ailiniizae, Ailuk, Bikar, Likiep, Rongelap, Rongerik, Taka, Wotho, Utirik, Jemo and Mejit are contaminated with radioactive fallout from the 15 megaton Bravo test at Bikini Atoll. MARCH 2 Rongelap: Radiation monitoring personnel from Kwajalein arrive by seaplane at Rongelap, spend 20 minutes taking radiation measurements, tell the people not to drink the water, and leave to report their findings. Rongerik: The weather station men continue sending radio messages to JTF-7 headquarters requesting evacuation. MARCH 3 …