boarding target ships returning to Kwajalein.
The most difficult
responsibility concerned removal of ammunition from the ships.
Due
to the uncertainty about internal absorption of radioactive
material, we required men to wear respirators during the operation
on the ship.
The safety procedures at Kwajalein were well adhered
to and I do not recall any overexposures.
CROSSROADS was an operation great in scope and number of
participants.
There had been no previous radiation experience with
Operations of this type.
It is not surprising that unexpected
radiation hazards developed.
However,
I was impressed with how well
the Rad-Safe administration kept abreast of the radiation situation,
acting promptly to prevent overexposure of personnel when hazardous
Situations developed.
Rad-Safe section,
In spite of the problems faced by the
I think they functioned well.
The scarcity of
individuals exceeding the permissible level attests to this.
AS a post-script I would like to comment on several aspects of the
fallout effects on the Marshallese exposed to fallout which have a
bearing on exposures of CROSSRAODS personnel.
First, with regard to radiation of the skin.
The Marshallese had
heavy contamination of the skin which resulted in development of so
called "peta burns”
in three fourths of the Rongelap people within a
few weeks of exposure.
However, the burns healed rapidly and after