Aomon-Biijiri-Ro joa - Lt. Col. A. H. Frye, Jr~ The initiation of construction on these islands was delayed until the 22d of December on which date the Navy completed the evacuation of some lL2 native inhabitants. It was possible, however, to complete enough of the initial ~rvey work prior to 22 December to enable tower erection crews to start construction promptly ‘onthat date and to complete all foundationwork in time to receive steel erection crews early h January. By 5 January, ‘Dn Company of the 532d Engr. Boat and Shore Regt* was established ashore and constructionactivities were in fti *g. The Hawaiian Dredging Company was getting set up ashore on Biijiri Island to begin constructionof a steel sheet pile causeway to Aomon Island and MK-PK~s personnel were sorting steel for tower erection. Simultaneous constructionon three separate ielands introduced a large and time consuming transportationproblem. LCTS, LCMS, and LCVPS were utilized euccessfilly for transporting large pieces of equipnmnt and quantities of supplies, and a DUKW detachment solved the constant mnmmemt back and forth of pereomel, tools, and minor equipment and materials. The clearing and grading, which involved a total of 135 acres> was started on Aomon on 1 January 1948. The topsoil, avera~g foot in depth on both Aomnand a Biijiri, is a very fine, alnmt powdery black dirt, which -de all clearingand gradingof these islands very difficult because of the large quantities of dust. Rojoa is practically all sand and there was no dust problem. 23 Section XVI