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ZROOXEAVEN NATICNAL LABORATORY
“sseciated Universities,Inc.
Seton, L.I.,
N.Y.
cr. Charles L. lumnam, lirector
Division of Fiology and Medicine
stomie Cmtrazy Commission
Washinztca 23, D. C.
Dear Chucs:
I would lize to briefly summarize for you some of the highlights of the
recent survey. Everything really went very smoothly and I vas quite pleased
at the fine spirit of cooperation shown by the Trust Territory officials.
Bill Scott (medical technician from Brookhaven) and I arrived at Kwajalein
March 9th. Dr. Ezra Riklon, the practitioner at Ebeye, had rounded up
about ten Rongelap people now residing there for examination. Drs. Fennel
and Shippey, in charge of the Kwajalein Hospital, were most cooperative
ard allowed us to use their facilities for the examinations. They were also
kind enough to loan us several items which we needed for use at Rongelap.
Mr. William White, at present the DISTAD assistant at Kwajalein, whom you
probably remember well, was also very helpful.
boxes which had been shipped in custody.
He had our three medical
The Navy flew us to Majuro on the l2th. Dr. John Taman, the medical
practitioner who has taken Dr. Hicking's place at Majuro, had rounded up
several Fongelap people to be examined as well as a few children for height
and weight measurements as part of the growth and development control group.
These examinations were completed the following day.
Mr. Maynard Neas, Dr. H. B. Macdonald and I carried out final arrangements
for the survey at Rongelap. The survey team consisted of the following
people in addition to Dr. Macdonald, Bill Scott end myself:
Dr. Ezra
Riklon, Dr. Isaac Lanwi and two technicians, Kiosan and Sabio, and in
addition, Dr. Jaffe and one of his dental technicians went along to carry.
out dental examinations.
.Mr. Neas also accompanied the group.
He went
along apparently to look into the agricultural situation on Rongelap.
We
sailed on the Roque, the Trust Territory cargo ship, on Wednesday morning
the 16th, arriving at Kwajalein one day later where we picked up Dr. Ezra and our three medical boxes which contained mainly the electronic Coulter
counter and laboratory equipment. We did not sail for Rongelap until the
afternoon of the 18th since, in view of Captain Robert's unfamiliarity with
Rongelap lagoon, he wished to arrive at a time when. the sun would be to his
back as he entered the lagoon in order to steer through the coral fieads.
When we dropped anchor in the lagoon off Rongelap village on Saturday afternoon, Mr. Neil Morris, the agriculturalist who hid been living on the island
for the past year, and the new magistrate (Bnos) came aboard.
Emos. indicated
that the Rongelap people would like to have a meeting and ask us certain
questions before commencing with the examinations.
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9002244