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

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