rete a Bn dean 8 Wiebaelly DUWala saa eda ob bre thee aM Ba eee BIKINI... > continued from preceding page then started a clockwise circle at lowaltitude of all the islands ringing the 10 by 25 mile lagoon. The tiny land spots flashed by under our right wing as we followed the reef line around the atoll. Old installations—camp sites, bunkers, in- strumentation towers, landing docks—could be plainly seen from our vantage point, although from ground level much is obscured by dense overgrowth. Like a moving map the islands passed beneath —first Airukijji (Oboe), Airukiraru (Peter), Bigiren (Roger), Reere (Sugar), Eninman (Tare), Entirikku (Uncle), Rukoji (Victor), Chieerete (William), Arriikan (Yoke), Ourukaen (Zebra), Bokoaetokutoku (Alfa), Bokororyuru (Bravo), Namu (Charlie), Yurochi (Dog), Uorikku (Easy), Romurikku (Fox), Aomoen (George), Bikini (How), Bokonfuaaku (Item), Yomyaran (Jig), Fniairo (King), Rochikarai (Love), Ionchebi (Mike), and finally once again Enyu (Nan) where we landed. For those interested in geography each island has a third name—that given by the Marshallese— in addition to the Japanese and the phonetic names used for scientific test operations. For inStance, Reere is called Lele, and Chieerete is Jelete to the Bikinians. Other Japanese names differ only slightly from the Marshallese, such as Enyu which is Eneu. To keep the record straight for the map reader, two islands, Bokobyaadaa (Able) and Bokonejien (Baker), no longer exist. Baker was blasted from the surface of the lagoon by a high yield hydrogen bomb shot. Changed water currents washed the sand away from Able, leaving only a massive block house still standing in shallow water. A number of the smaller islands shown as separate entities on the map, actually are connected by sandspits which are covered by water only at high tide. Some others were connected during nuclear test operations by causeways. As we landed at Enyu and taxied up to the now dilapidated structure that once served as air terminal during the years when LASL scientists came here for nuclear test operations, myreverie of the past ended. This was real. The activity outside gave positive proof that the displaced people of Bikini will return. Through the cabin windows we could see heavy construction equipment—trucks, bulldozers, cranes, and front loaders. And in the background 4 * was a typical Holmes and Narverstyle, Pacific island, temporary work camp. consisting of opensided floored tents, screened mess hall, and a portable shower room. For 23 vears the Bikinians have yearned to once again live on their homeland; to harvest the teeming abundance of fish in the lagoon; to be able to visit their ancestors’ graves on the island of Bikini; and to introduce a generation of their young people to the good life that only the elders still remember. Last August, the dreaming ended and hopes soared when President Johnson announced that Bikini Atoil was once again safe for human habitation and the Bikinians would be allowed to return. This decision was based on an Atomic Energy Commission report on the 1967 radiation survey of Bikini made at the request of the Secrecontinued on page 6 Vice Admiral Lloyd Mustin peers at weather-worn Japanese monument on Bikini Island. As translated by Fumiyo Campbell, 1-9, the inscription on side facing camera reads, “Chitose Aircraft Company ... tomb of two brave men who died for their duty.” ce ee enn 2 vm