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The Honorable Edwardi It was with of the Pacific Anjain last week. At the time that I learned of the death of Lekoj I was in Cleveland where the two Marshallese girls were undergoing thyroid surgery. I went immediately to Washington to be with the family and help with final arrangements. At the NIH Clinical Center, probably the best hospital in the world for the treatment of leukemia, Lekoj was given the best known chemotherapeutic agents and everything possible was done for him. However, in spite of all this, pneumonia, complicating the leukemia, proved to be too much for him resulting in his death. I was sorry I was not able to leave with the family but Mr. William Scott, from this laboratory, who has worked with me on many surveys and knows the Rongelap people well, agreed to accompany the family to Rongelap for the funeral. Dr. Knudsen was already out there. I was happy that Peter Coleman was able to go also. I understand that after some difficulties in getting the remains to the islands, the funeral was finally held yesterday. It was good of you to arrange the sea plane. I was at the Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital for thyroid surgery on the two girls done by Dr. Brown Dobyns. The nodules were successfully removed. In one case (Rokko Iso), benign adenomatous nodules were found, and in the other case (Billiam Jabwe), a small papillary carcinoma was found. However, no metastasis or lymph nodes were found. The prognosis in both cases is excellent. The girls had uneventful recoveries and by now should be on their way to Majuro. I am writing Dr. Iaman about follow-up care in these patients. Assuming that the surveys are to continue, we would like to plan the next one for March to include examinations of all exposed and control Rongelap people. In view of the finding of the case of leukemia, > the usual careful hematological examinations will include bone marrow-’ study if indicated, and we also plan to carry out additional examinations of the blood on the Rongelap exposed people at six-month intervals.
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The Honorable Edward Johnston From what I have heard, I understand that the reports the medical observers who were with ua in September, were favorable and this hopefully should clear the atmosphere. I am greatly indebted to many people for their sympathetic assistance during these trying times. These include: you and your people in the Trust Territory; the doctors and social workers at NIH and Cleveland; the AEC in Washington; the AEC in Honolulu -- particularly Mr. Willism Streenan and his wife; Dr. Knudsen; Mr. Frank Granich and others at would particularly like to extend Trust Territory personnel: Sebeo sympathyfbr his friend Lekoj; for with the bereaved family; Marshallese patients; and I sincerely hope that smoother sailing from now With best regards, my sincere gratitude to the following Shoniber for his help and compassionate the sympathetic help of Martan Lacjohn able help of Ruth Harris with the two help of John Iaman and Ezra Riklon at thinge will calm down and that we shall have