Memo, Subject: Reports on Evacuation of Natives and Surveys of Several Marshall Island Atolls

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JOINT TASK FORCE SEWN R San Francisco, Calif. SUBJECT: Ibeportson Evacuation of Natives and Su~eys of Seveml Marshall Island Atolls TO: See Dietribution BEST COPY AVAIMBLE 1. Reference is made to letter this headquarters, Radiological Surveys of Several Larshall lslmd -toLs, 2, Attached herewith for your tiformation and ret=tion are copies of additional reports and memoranda pertaining to the above reference. 3. In addition to the above material, motion picture and still photography was accomplished on various phases of the initial p~evacuation suxweys and on the reception of natives at Kwajalein. Contact black and white prints of the still photography are being prepared as further materia~ to document the native evacuation effort. These prints will not be of professional qualdty and will be foxwarded primarily to indicate the over+~ photogmphic coverage. Distribution wi~ be made approximately 30 Apxil 1954, avaibbility of prtits permitting distribution to the folLowing only: CMFSWP , COMNAVSTAt’WAJ. Additional prints in specific sizes and quality, and nmtion picture coverage, my be procured in accordance with Ann= T to CJTF SEVEN Operation Otier 3-53. particular attention is invited to paragraph 2b, Annex T covetig Distribution and Control of photographic materials by the Atomic Eher y Commission and the Department of Defense.

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YUSS PHILIP (DIE-498) (1 Cy Repofi by CO USS PHILIP, Ser 061, subj: Evacuation of Rongelap and Report by CO USS LXSFAi, Ser 038jcs:b~” Report of Evacuation of NatlvesS Utlrlk ntolly Report by CO USS NICHOQLS, (and 1st Ind by CTG 7.3, Ser 0698 dtd 25 Mar 54), basic ltr ser 0L9, subj: Radsafe Survey 8-11 Mar 54, dtd 20 Mar 54. Report by CO USS NICHOMS, Ser 054, subJ Rongelap Survey Trip~ 25-26 Mar 54, dtd 28 Mar 54. M/R : Miscellaneous Radsafe Surveys of hongerik. Drinking Later Samples (Analysis Report). Soil Samples (Jmalysis Repofi).

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From: Commanding Officer To: Commander, Task Group 7.3 Subj: Evacuation of Rongelap and Ailinginae Atolls on 3 liarch1954; Ref: (a) COMT.4SKGRCLT7.3 Disp 0208482 of March 1954 (b) COM JTF SEWN Disp 0212252 of March 1954 Encl: (1) Passenger lists of evacuees from Rongelap snd Ailinginae (2) Radiological statistics reported by monitor teams, RongelQ and Ailinginae Atolls (3) Location of water cisterns, Rongelap 1s1and 1. In compliance with reference (a), the PHILIP got uodenay from Bikini at 214%! on 2 March and arrived and anchored off Rongelap Islad in the lagoon at 0730?4on 3 March. A PBM-5A (VT-29) aircraft, No. 2085, piloted byLCDR WELCH which previously had been dispatched from Kwqjalein anchored about 100 yards off the beach of the same island shortly before the PHILIP an:’lored. Prior to anchoring, the PB1;,in good radio communication with the PHILIP, made a thorc’~ghreconnaissance flight around the atoll. Also on departure the previz.z evening, the Commending Officer of the PC 1546 offered much val.tiblenavigationeJ and general information which was of great help to the PHILIP. 2. The beach party including the Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, Radiological Safety Officer and a three men monitoring team proceeded from the PHILIP in a motor whale-boat to the PBM and picked up Mr. Marion WILDS, civilian representative of the Civil Administraticr.Unit, Maraholls terpreter. The beach was such as to allow an easy close-in landing without danger to the boat. 3. The party was met at the bench by John, the Magistrate of Rongelap. Monitoring of the island commenced immediately. On the basis of initial recidingsit appeared obvious that ev~cuation was definitely in ordar. The Commanding Officer, U.S.S. PHILIP presented Mr. Wilds with the general picture based on monitoring information, end on being informed that Commeader Joint Task Force SEVEN had stated that the actual evacuation should be re?uested by trust territory officials, Mr. Wilds was very CoP/@, emphatic regarding the need for ev~cuation. Through the interpreter

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it was explained that it was to the best interests of the Rongelap people to leave the tioll and that the PHILIP was there for that purpose. Mr. Vilds wos present during eJl the conversation with John the Magistrate and WM of much assistance as also wcs LC2R Government background proved very helpful in ocwr?incir.gthe Ms.rehellese that they should leave, ,, 4, The information that the peopls would leave Rmgslap was passed v~?y quickly. Each person was asked to bring a small handbag as tho only baggage siace the monitors ”readings indicatsd c high dosage on sleeping mats, palm baskets, end other personal belongings, It is considered very important that once the accepted laader is established and identified that all requests be mada through him without exception. This procedure expedited the entire opar.ation. 5. It was decided to utilize the PB!!to transport the eldsrly and the sick to Kwajalein. John designated sixteen (16) persons and this p~rty Y-.Sembarked in the aircraft in about an hour and a half after the perty first landed. These passsngsrs are listed in Enclosure (1) which is fonwrded herewith. 6, Fortunately, the Marshdlese were not reluctcnt to leave the islcnd. The magistrate explainsd thst the peoplz had been sick and he obviously d~duced that all of the people would soon be provided ths necessruy medical care. John was sapprehensivaabout the safety >i’his bozt, a 30 foot sloop. The sloop WLS towed by the shipls whclc boat to a bettzr lee. Two anchors were dropped md the boat appeared to be in good holding 7. The forty eight (48) remaining Marshcdlesa W:re trmsported via * -hip’s whale boats to the F131LIP. Names of evacuees are listed in ‘tion teams on station reedy to guide the passengers to the ds-contcmiaaoft and cfter a thorough shower clean cloths wcra ra,adilyavailable at the exit. The cr?w donated sufficient white md dungmee trousers, been as effective.

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9. Women end children were billeted i: the torpedo room and the men provided to~porary shelter under a canvas tarpadin rigged on the 01 level betv.ee?the stacks. Cots were avzilcble 9S seats in both tance from the torpedo room was desigr.atedfor use by the women and childran. The men had the use of tha Tha separation of the Marshdlose was space available in the torpedo room. wc.tch,all petty officers, was set at to assist in cny requests made by aftar crewts head and washroom. mmdatory due to the limited A continuous 24 hour sentq both loc~tions to insure privacy All children were providad milk shotily after ds-contanin~tion. Marsh.allesewant through the regular mess line for maels and had same ration as the craw. The maat coursz was the least popular. msjority of the party asked for more SOUp, bread and vaget~bles. soup was most in demmd. Ice cram W%S th~ naturnl favorite of The contaminated clothing was washed i~ the shipts laundry with 3 strong soap solution, dried, pressed md returned within four hours after the party embarked. JWelve (12) cots and two (2) stretchers a=re set Up in the torpedo room and the remaining deck space covered vrlthkapok life jnckets. Thz men slept on the fantail under the deck avming. Life jackets provtidto be clacks. ‘Withths above arrangements each person had Q sleeping space. on Eniaetok Island (Rongalap Atoll). A pe.rty,including John and Oscar DeBrum, tha interpreter, laded on this island at 031245M. A thorough se=rch was made but no Marshzillesewere located. Thz hlagistrateinsured siccc n boat was not nemby. Monitor team readings indic:.tedon nv~r~ge of 3.02 Roentgons, with a mcximum reading of 3,65 Roentgcns. Monitor tam statistics sre included in enclosure (2). It WM lucky that this island was not inhabite’. 14. Six (6) smplss of water taken from wells on Rongclap hmre baen forwnrded in compliance tith refarance (b). Approxim2ta locations of wells are indicated in enclosure (3).

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15. The ship thin,proce~ded to Ailinginnc Atoll. The Yngistr?tc bcliov~d it possibls that a party wss on Enibuk Island. A party WTS mlinod in the vicinity of Enibuk while the two fiale boats proc~~dcd to Sifo Isl=d. A sloop was sighted mchorcd in the logoon off Sifo Island. The party Innded @d John the Ms~istr~te once ag~in explcinsd ported from this islend. Both this group, end Jo~, assured the P~Y thzt there wero no M~rshdl~se on any of the othar islands and the isl~~d in Q good lea. The same procedures for hsndling the 18 cvzcucss from Sifo were followed as dascribsd in ths pr~caeding par~graphso were disembarked during the mormin~ of 4 ld~rchxnd removed to the NavQl 17. In spite of the willingness of th~ peoplz to l.av~ their homss behind at Rongelap cnd Sifo, Th~se bo~ts arc a community assst for h~uling copra cnd returning the basic food staples, medicines and clothing during the period thct Trust Territory fi~ld trip ships Ire dEG left on the islmd. Since the people wore not given an cstim~t~ of no doubt increase as the absence from their homzs grows longer. 18. It is recommended th~t aircraft periodically ohcck the condition of the two sloops at Rongel~p and Sifo. It is further rocommcnded thlt some consideration bc givsn to the transf~r of livestock, copru md personal belongings on Rongelep, Sifo, Eniwtok. There is u possibility thtt these animals could be of much v~luc for scimtific resticrch. demonding cnd axemplary in conduct. It wns a distinct plozsuro for the crew of tha PHILIP to hav~ baen affordad the opportunity to nssist th;ss

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A LIST OF WHALLESE EVACUATED VIA PBM FROIi page 1 of Enclosure (1)

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short time it wzs to bc worn. NOTE +2. Decontamination upon leavin; the ship: 20-22 M@+.

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%Fleet Post Office In Reply Refer to From: Cormnding Officer, U.S.S. To: Commander Task Group SEVEX Subj: Reprt of evacuation of Natives, Utirik Atoll, 4 March 1954 Iimcl: (1) Informal i~arrativeof Evacuation of Utnlk IsUnd Natives 1. M accordance with reference (b), enclosure (1) is submitted herewith. 2, A limited number of photographs were taken of some phases of the evacuation by the ship’s official photogmphert These are not being processed end it is hter plar.r.edto submit prints as a supplement to t’hs report. 3. The four dtitig water s~ples mentioned in enclosure (1) as ;b~~~d from the regular living area, Utirik, were delivered to CJTF 7 on 1954 via Major h. D. Crea, USA, staff CJW 79

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of Eniwetok Atoll and set course eastward to pass south of Bikini enroutc. Speed was adjusted to arrive at daylight the next day and the 400 mile VCj-aLC was completed without incident. Meanwhile, Lc:ractivity was evideritin Renshaw, Charts, sailing directions, tide tables and all possible sources oi information on the Atoll were b= evacuated was not known on board unzil late in the night of tf.e~rd, plar,s were firmed up for handling the pecple. S.vvral sch.mes were put foxward but Tryba, &~C, USN. He had seined a tour of duty in trust territories west of th= Larshalls and had experience in evacuation of natives. Although the Douglas A, Mmro (DE-L22) was detailed to assist RensWw, her estimated arrival was not until OL1330L, henc~ plans were made fcr the possibility of receivtig on board Kenshaw z1l the re~rted 180 natives o: TP,eapproach to the target Atoll was made from the westward and north C! or: the MOIYJJg of L Larch and course was set soutn~astward to Pass betw=n we passed close to the reef on the westzm sid~ b order to get a 100!<at Utirik Passage, There was no thought of entering this channel inasmuch as Sailing Directions were very definite that no ship larger than a PC should make th= attempt. Nevertheless, a look was desired to determine if charted beacons were present (they weren?t) and to deteminf= the feasibility of our boats enterin~ the lagoon or perhaps even the DL should it be found too dangerous on the south sid= for the evacuation. Theoretically, it would have even beerlpossi’blefor Rmshaw to enter at high tide about 1600L when our 18 ft. dra~ aft would clear the channel about 3 ft. if the chs.rteddspths were correct and if the sun at our Lacks r,adcthe chann:l ALU coral heads visibl=. IL was reckoned that the thrilJ of entering ttis channel for the C.O. would be about like that of Russian roulette. Upn rounding the Sk tip of the Atollj course was set eastward to skirt the reef along tb; southern leg which appeared to offer the best lee froni wind and surf for the evacuation. Fortunately the weather was exceptionally good with Ught NE winds and only moderate swdls. At 0735iithe s~P hove to at about 500 yds just south of Utirik 1s., the largest of the Atoll and k. on which all the natives were remrted to five. At this time trust terriand intemreters had not arrived nor had an ETA been received.. directive to cour,mce evacuation at daylight it was decided

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if necessary witnout them. It was hoped tnzt we might find a tiSS10~i2rY, Now, as the boats left the ship, wc commmced execution of our plats side s? -ips from the deck to the redge zmpes. Aditional life lices were the fantail were closed or roped off and awr,ingsrig~ed where necessa.~ to side salt water shower W2S rigged, a receptacle was pravided for th.ir clot:..s and sufficient clean dungaree shirts, trcus~rs, etc., were rais~d by Qn by closing off access to a 3“ pm tub. he planned to tether c,hiiker.sto life lines on the 01 deck and let th. does roam free amongst th. popul~cc. here and elsewhere has a coritinuousouter perimeter of tabl~ r..fs extending sonfiLO @s out into the water aver which th~ waves produced a surf of mdi”urr. size aridpresented considerable small boat hazard. Ha.vtigselected a point wherk th= surf was slight and cppearecito offm the best spot, tn~ titictitiv~ it Zfter ~icktig up a b~.iled-outjet pilot last fzll), which had a lins appeared to experience aifiicult~ wit[(tri.surf w.i scae urseen force resulting the ixecutive Officer furiously padaiing, each stroke wcirlin~ the raft lFCO in the western part of the lagoon and commenced taxiing eastward towards

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certaintig the number of passengers, the U. CU-,:VSOfficer wzs dircctcd ta truss over to th~ lagoon side ariduse t~.c mb’o.r raft or any means to land the X.O. with the rubber raft, set out in an a’Jtrig~ercanoe towards the might try landing outside the lagoon near tr.c skip, Upon hearing this suggestion, the Flanc took off immediately an5 after onc try, a trmmdous Meanwhile, the gig having disembarked the Executive Officer was inthe natives said Imdings could be made with norc ease and safety. This was done but calling it a COVG is a misuse of the term. Ease and sa.fcty did not secm to fit th~ situation eiti,crbut it did appear less dangerous. edge where th. Fadsafe Officer and his tean disembarked and waded ashore to the sac friendly wdcome, handshakes and “Good Uoming” from every nativ~. beach from th~ lagoon and his tr~ at redeiving the plane passengers and adnatives who seemed to undcrstar,dantis~k~ some broken iinglishwere of zrekt assistanc~ in this. At this the tr,eship was advised by the X.Ot of th.: necessity for evacuation on southern and s~awarJ sid~ of Utirik Island and atoll, reprted thterekrc rio breaks in tr,ereef nar landing places of ~r.iAfter the gig had disembar~ed the remainder of the beach party, it …